This past Sunday, Laurel, Cara, and I ventured a little out of Florence to go to a church we heard about through word of mouth called Chiesa Logos. We took a trolley/train to get to the recreational center where the church is located. We walked into the room, the sound of a contemporary worship songs being sung, a tune recognizable to my ears, but in Italian. It was awesome. Though the congregation was small (about 50 people), it was so awesome to be worshiping the same God, only in a different language. If you’ve ever experienced something like that, it’s a wonderful experience. The message was also in Italian, but I enjoyed looking at the scripture references in Italian, and reading them in English in my Bible. It was kind of like a puzzle.
We met the pastor after church, who is an incredible individual. In addition to pastoring this church, he also translates at church conferences from English to Italian, so it was very comfortable talking to him . He went to the Theological Seminary in San Diego and came back to Florence with his wife and three daughters to preach. His wife is American and an inspiring woman. I can’t wait to have a coffee date with her.
Pastor Andrea was telling us after church about the spiritual burnout in Italy. Only 9% of Florentines are practicing Catholics, and less than 1% are Evangelical Christians. Italy is now further behind than India and many parts of Asia in spiritual revival. It was mind boggling to hear that, but also eye opening. The church is doing wonderful things in Florence, and Pastor Andrea asked to keep the church in our prayers, as the spiritual warfare is prevalent here.
We also attended an English speaking Bible Study on Tuesday nights at the home of CodyWilbanks. Cody, his wife Danielle, and their two little daughters moved to Florence two years ago to be missionaries and church planters. They started this Bible study last year when a couple of American students really just wanted to have some kind of Christian community while they were here studying. My heart was filled with so much joy Tuesday night when I saw a group twenty-some students who have the same desire to pursue Christ while studying here in Florence. The Bible study was awesome, filled with the Holy Spirit and the fellowship of other believers. Also pretty cool that many of them go to Grove City and know some people who I know there!
The Lord has provided abundantly. There I was, a Doubting Thomas and worrier, and the Lord basically told me, It’s okay, Kate, I’ve got awesome plans in store for you. Philippians 4:6.
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