|
Warm greetings from Italy. Here is our latest news:
SARDINIA
We have just returned from the island of Sardinia where we had meetings in a small and struggling church. The Lord had blessed in a wonderful way and we were able to build up and encourage the
church, they were looking for outside help but I really felt that they had very good people to work with and that the Lord could raise up leadership from with in. We will continue to be in contact with them
and make visits from time to time as the Lord enables. It was also a very emotional time as it has been 23 years since we have visited the Island.
We started our ministry in Italy there 30 years ago!!!! One thing that I was very thankful for was the fact, that when we left Sardinia in 1981 discouraged and feeling like failures, on this visit we found that we did leave a good bit of fruit 23 years ago!!!!
TORINO
The church in Torino continues to grow, We are now beginning to think of looking for a bigger place to meet, as some Sundays there is no room. Part of the problem is that people are coming from other
churches that are having problems, we don't like to see that but we are able to Minister to them.
THE CASA DELLA BIBBIA
We have been asked by the Casa della Bibbia (the largest Evangelical Bible and Book distributors in Italy) to do a pastoral counseling ministry in the book store.
We go once a week for our appointments, there has not been a great deal of appointments, so far but the Lord has blessed those that we have had and continue to follow up on.
NEW CHURCH PLANTING PROJECT IN THE CITY OF CASALLE.
Caselle is a suburb of Torino where the air port is.
There is no evangelical church in the city or in the other towns and villages around it. A small group has formed of about 10 people and we are meeting once a week for prayer, Bible study and fellowship, with the hope of planting a church.
THE CHURCH IN LANZO
The church in Lanzo (35 km from Torino) is growing. Last Sunday 42 people were in attendance. The church building is small. At the end of the year the contract for the rent
expires, the landlord has already said that the rent will almost double, so we are looking for a new meeting place one that will give enough room for the Sunday school and church growth.
THE BIBLE CAMP AT ANGROGNA
The Bible camp at Angrogna in the mountains about 80 km from Turin is already full for this summer. 46 children (ages 8-12) most of which come from non Christian homes and 50
teen agars. We haven't been able to do all the work of preparation that we would have liked as there is still snow in the mountains!!!! The camps will be held from July 4th- July 28th.
THE COUPLES RETREAT MINISTRY
In March we had our 6th couples retreat with 12 couples present three of which were unbelievers.
This is always an important time as the Lord does a deep work in the couples present many have resolved difficulties that have existed for some time and an evangelistic appeal is made. The next retreat secluded from the end of September is already full.
THE PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY
The Lord has blessed this ministry and continues to meet deep needs in many people. A Short time ago a woman who has four children called me at 8 AM to say that she wanted to
take her children and go to her mother in Milan. We went to see her right away and spoke and prayed with her and then had to return to Torino for our weekly prayer meeting. When we returned home after
the prayer meeting there she was at our home waiting for us to return. As we talked her cell phone rang, it was her husband the phone line fell, and she thought that the phone was off, but it was still
connected and her husband listened to the conversation. The next day he came to see me and confessed that he needed help and wanted to change. The Lord is doing a deep work in them and they still have a
ways to go.
Thank you for your love and support of us. Warm greetings to all.
Larry & Lorrie Bendlin
|
