March 2020
The always busy and bustling Galleria in downtown Milan, now deserted due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
Since my last update on February 28, the number of reported cases of Coronavirus in Italy has skyrocketed from 888 to 6387, and deaths have climbed from 21 to 366. Again, it is worth noting that the majority of those who have died were elderly and/or in poor health. The vast majority of these numbers are here in Lombardy, the region in which we live. The entire region is now designated as a “red zone”, meaning that no one is permitted to enter or exit, and everyone is encouraged to stay at home and not leave unless absolutely necessary. All schools and churches in the entire country are under a strict mandate to remain closed until at least April 3. Scenes like the one above, in which the otherwise bustling and busy Galleria is now almost completely empty, are commonplace for the moment in Milan.
For our church, this means that all worship services, classes, and meetings are cancelled until further notice. I have been preaching sermons from home via the internet and staying in contact with everyone in the congregation. This will continue until the restrictions are lifted and we can resume worship services. By God’s grace, all the members are currently healthy and well supplied with food and water. The greater crisis at the moment, however, is the devastating toll the panic is taking on the fragile Italian economy. 30% of Italy’s GNP is dependent on tourism, which has come to a screeching halt for the moment. In our congregation, some members are unable to work because of school and restaurant closures, and most are seeing a drop in business. It is trying time to say the least.
One encouraging piece of news, however, is that with the temporary closure of churches, we are seeing a huge spike in views of our online sermons. Each Sunday, we’re seeing well over 500 views just in Italy alone. Some have also reached out and expressed their gratitude or asked for more information about our church. This is very encouraging and means that, with the spread fo the Coronavirus in northern Italy, God is causing his Word to spread as well. For that, we give him praise and trust that he will use these difficult times for his glory, just as he has done so many times in the past.
For the church of Jesus Christ, we seek to be prudent and use commonsense, but there is never an appropriate time to panic or act as if God is not in control. He has given us “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Throughout the centuries, he has brought his church through many periods of plagues, diseases, wars, and natural disasters. Our hope and confidence is not in our circumstances, but in Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead, reigns in heaven, and will return in glory. What a comfort to know that we belong to him in body and in soul, in life and in death.
Thank you for your prayers! We appreciate it greatly!
~ Pastor Mike
