July 2020

New members Anita Matichecchia and Oscar D’Angelo taking vows of membership during the worship service on June 28, 2020.

Dear friends in Christ,

With great thankfulness to our faithful God, I am pleased to report that our church in Milan has been able to continue gathering for worship on the Lord’s Day since we were granted permission to reopen on May 24. Moreover, this past Sunday, we were allowed to resume our catechism service. Although we must still conform to the social distancing requirements, we are overjoyed to be together again, receiving Word and sacrament, and enjoying fellowship with one another. As you know, nothing compares to the communion of saints in person! What a privilege we have been given by our gracious Lord.

New Members
On June 28, we had the privilege of welcoming two new members into full communion with Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia: Oscar D’Angelo and Anita Matichecchia. Oscar and Anita began attending our church over a year ago and, by God’s grace, have grown tremendously in their faith in Christ and understanding of Christianity. They were in the new-members class taught by the Concistory before the three-month lockdown in Milan. They completed the course after the lockdown ended and publicly professed their faith before the congregation. What a joy it was to receive them and see the Lord add to his church! Please remember Oscar and Anita in your prayers. They are engaged to be married and are both very excited to be part of our congregation.

Opportunity for Fellowship
This past week I met with a Brazilian pastor of a Presbyterian church on the northern outskirts of Milan. He is a missionary of the Brazilian Presbyterian Church. We were both excited to learn of one another’s ministries. His church (which, like ours, is Italian-speaking) invited me to preach on the first Sunday of August, as well as teach their Catechism class. The elders of our church believe this is an excellent opportunity for our respective churches to get to know one another and granted me permission to fill the pulpit that Sunday. Please pray for this open door so that Christ’s church in Milan will be strengthened.

Iain is High-Schooler!

Our family is doing well. Iain completed middle school and will begin high school in September. We are very thankful to God for granting Iain the courage to move to a new country, learn a new language, and adapt to a new culture. He is a gifted student, continues to grow in his faith, and is becoming more and more interested in apologetics. We are grateful for your prayers for him.

Trip to the U.S. (?)
Our children in the States are doing well, although we miss them dearly. We have not seen our daughters in over a year. Our son Isaac, who was able to visit us last Christmas, will begin his senior year at Providence Christian College this fall. We have plans to visit Washington D.C. in August in order to see all of our children, our son-in-law and our first grandchild, whom we have not yet seen.. However, given the restrictions on travel between Italy and the United States due to the pandemic, we may have to postpone this trip once again.

It is always difficult when circumstances are beyond your control, but the Lord is good and knows exactly what we need. We trust that he will continue to sustain us and our family with his grace, while we wait for the next opportunity to see one another. Until then, we are grateful for the privilege to serve Christ here in Milan, proclaiming the gospel, loving our neighbors, and making disciples.

As always, we are humbled and grateful for your prayers, encouragement and support as we seek to fulfill this mission. May the Lord continue to strengthen your faith in Christ, hope in heaven, and love for neighbor!

~ Pastor Mike

This mission to Milan is only possible with the faithful prayers and generous contributions of people like you. If you would like to help us meet our goal by making a donation, you may 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 Italy.