Why Italy? Thoughts and experiences about ministry in a non-conventional mission field.

2. WHAT MATTERS TO CHRIST
MATTERS TO US AS
FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion for them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep
without a shepherd.

3. WHAT MATTERS TO CHRIST
MATTERS TO US AS
FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
John 3:19
And this is the judgment: the light has
come into the world, and people loved
the darkness rather than the light
because their works were evil. (ESV)

4. Penetrating
the darkness
with the light
of truth in
Perugia, Italy

5. Isn’t Italy alread a
Christian nation?
Here are a few
quotes
representative of the
Italian mindset:

6. “…to Jesus as a judge, it also
belongs to punish; but mercy
alone belongs to the blessed
Virgin…
We more easily find salvation
by going to the Mother than
by going to the Son.”
St. Anselm,
catholic theologian 1033 - 1109

7. “We should always be
disposed to believe that that
which appears white is really
black, if the hierarchy of the
Church so decides”
Ignatius of Loyola
(founder of the Jesuits)

8. Only 1% of Italians
claim to be
evangelicals.
Italy 2012
Population: 60 million

9. In Umbria,
88 out of 92
townships are
without a known
Gospel testimony.
Umbria

11. How can we reach the people of Italy?

12. 1. Faithfulness over time
2. Strategic Ministries

13. 1. Faithfulness over time

14. Claudio:
came to
faith after
attending
with his
wife for 20
years.

15. Centro Evangelico Battista
Then (1976-2008) Now

16. 2. Our Strategic Ministries

17. Prayer

18. Worship

19. Youth

20. Discipleship

21. Theological Training

22. 3. Other Strategic Ministries

23. TV and Radio
Ministry

24. Soccer Ministry

25. Men’s Ministry

26. Our Greatest Challenges
- Health problems (cancer)
- Bureaucratic challenges
- Transition from missionary
led work to indigenous work and reaching the
other areas of Umbria
-Bringing in new
missionaries

27. Prayer requests
1. Reach the unreached with the Gospel
2. Equip followers of Christ
3. Equip leaders for the church of tomorrow
4. Future church plants in central Italy
5. Spiritual and physical protection
6. Spiritual growth
7. Balance life’s demands in life
and ministry

28. What can I do?
Prayer: Adopt an unreached Umbrian
township.

30. What can I do?
Prayer: Adopt an unreached Umbrian
township!
Information: Inform others about the needs
in Italy
Invest: Continue to support missions in
Italy
Come: Send your pastor and/or key
missions people to survey
the ministry

31. “Some want to live within the
sound of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop within
a yard of hell.”
C. T. Studd, 1860-1931. English
missionary to China, India, and Africa

32. [14] “You are the light of the world. A city set
on a hill cannot be hidden. […] [16] In the same
way, let your light shine before others, so that they
may see your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14,16)

33. Pray for the Whitmans, Pray for Italy
www.jonnywhitman.com
A ministry in partnership with
Calvary Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI
and
Baptist Mid-Missions