August 2021

We are pleased to announce that our church building is being renovated. We have removed a wall in order to join the main auditorium and fellowship hall, thus creating one large sanctuary. This will double our seating capacity from 60 to 120. Our congregtion is very encouraged by this project as it provides our church with much-needed space for numerical growth. We are also adding a small nursery, a new floor, and new lights. 

While the renovation is being done, we are meeting in a local cafe, which has a large, covered patio (pictured below) that we are renting for a low price. God willing, the work in our building will be completed by the end of August and we can begin worshiping there by the first Sunday of September. 

The timing of this project is good, given that August is the slowest month of the year for the ministry of the Word and congregational life. This is when most Italians take their annual vacations. For some, it is the only time of year in which their employers grant time off. Here in Milan, the city becomes a ghost-town, as many businesses close shop and residents leave to spend time at the sea or in the mountains with their families. At the end of the month, everyone returns to begin a new season of work and school. This is the ordinary, annual rhythm throughout Italy, but especially here in the north. 

During August, we pause our catechism classes, Bible studies, and prayer meetings. We continue to meet for worship on the Lord’s Day, however, and often have visitors from other cities and countries. 

Residency Renewal
Janie, Iain, and I have applied for the renewal of our residency permits, which are due to expire later this month. Thankfully, the process at the immigration office went smoothly. In the coming weeks, we should receive our new cards, which will be valid for two years.

We also applied for a residency permit for our son Isaac, who is now living with us. We need to collect some additional documents for him and then reappear at the immigration office on September 3rd. We pray that this appointment will go well, and that Isaac will receive his residency permit. Otherwise, he will need to return to the United States and apply for a visa.

Rev. Vincenzo Coluccia Scheduled to Preach at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia
God willing, on September 26, PCA missionary Vincenzo Coluccia, who is overseen by New Life Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Escondido, California and serving in southern Italy, will preach at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia. The Consistory has extended this invitation to Rev. Coluccia for our mutual enouragement and to strengthen our relationship with him and the mission work in Lecce. We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to renewing fellowship with our brother.

The Need to Plant More Churches in Italy
Recently, my family and I had the opportunity to share a meal with another family in our congregation, along with a close friend of theirs who was visiting from Tuscany. This godly woman shared with us how she has been listening online to my weekly sermons for more than a year, and has grown substantially in her faith. She is quite Reformed in her theology and hungry to hear the gospel each week. Sadly, however, she explained with tears that there are no churches within two hours of her home. She has searched diligently, but her only options are the Roman Catholic Church, a Pentecostal church, or a Brethren church. It was a painful reminder to us that this country is in desperate need of more Reformed and Presbyterian church plants. Ideally, it needs at least two or three solid churches in each of its 20 regions in order to serve its 60,000,000 citizens.

I share this little story with you as a request for prayer. Please continue to pray that the Lord may open more doors of opportunity to plant faithful, Christ-proclaiming, confessional churches where there are none. Italy desperately needs more missionaries and ministers. I also share this story with you as a way of saying thank you for your prayers and support. Although this woman currently has no church to attend in person, she is at least connected to us from afar and able to listen to the preaching and teaching via livestreaming every week. Thank you for partnering with us in this mission, which is making an impact on the people of Milan and other parts of Italy.

May the Lord bless you and strengthen your faith in Christ, your hope in heaven, and your love for God and neighbor.

~ Pastor Mike

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”  ~ Acts 20:24

If you would like to help by making a donation, you may give online here on our website or send a check to:

Escondido United Reformed Church
1864 N. Broadway
Escondido, CA 92026
Attn: Mission Milan

Checks should be made out to Escondido United Reformed Church. Please indicate that the support is for Rev. Michael Brown as a missionary to Milan, Italy.