November 2019
The Rinaldi family (from left: Cristina, Eliseo, Giovanni and Giacomo) and elders Mimmo Altobelli and Vittorio Calderaro, in the new members class I am teaching on Monday evenings. We are going through the Heidelberg Catechism together and having wonderful discussions
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday in America, the end of November seems to be for many of us a time of reflection upon the goodness of God and the reasons we have to be thankful. Although Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Italy, we did enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner and took time to express our gratitude to God. First and foremost, we are thankful for Jesus, our gracious Savior and omnipotent King. As St. Ambrose, the fourth-century bishop of Milan, said so well: “In Christ we have everything…and Christ is everything for us: if you are oppressed by guilt, he is your righteousness; if you need help, he is your strength; if you are afraid of death, he is life; if you desire heaven, he is the way; if you want to escape darkness, he is the light.”
We are also thankful for God’s blessing on the ministry and mission in Milan. By God’s grace, the person and work of Jesus continue to be preached here in Milan. His little flock of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia is growing (albeit slowly) spiritually, numerically, and in maturity. One particular praise report is the new members’ class that I have been teaching on Monday evenings. I developed a curriculum in Italian similar to the one I used in English for many years as a pastor in the United States. It takes people through the Heidelberg Catechism as they prepare for membership. The Rinaldi family - Eliseo, Cristina, Giovanni, and Giacomo - are currently in the class. They have been attending our church for about 8 or 9 months and have integrated well into congregational life. Upon completion of the course, they will be interviewed by the Consistory and subsequently take vows in public worship. Giacomo, who is 18 years old, is preparing to make profession of faith and be baptized! Another couple, Oscar and Anita, who come from a Roman Catholic background, have requested to take the same course in January. We are grateful to God for reaching people with his gospel and adding to his church.
In addition, we are thankful for God’s faithfulness to us as a family this past year. November 22 marked our one-year anniversary of living and serving in Milan. Uprooting our family from San Diego, California and moving across the world to a new country was not easy. There have been numerous bureaucratic difficulties and logistical trials, not to mention the daily challenge of mastering a second language, as well as missing our three grown children in the States. Yet, our gracious Heavenly Father continues to sustain us, and we have many reasons to give him thanks. For example, the congregation here in Milan has been WONDERFUL in making us feel at home. They have been remarkably patient with our progress in Italian and helpful in getting us settled. We also see God’s blessing on our children. Iain (14) is doing well in school here in Milan and has adjusted well to a new culture and life. Our son Isaac (22) is in his junior year at Providence Christian College, and continues to grow spiritually and be shaped for the future. Kayla (25) lives in Pasadena, California (down the street from Issac), is a member of a PCA, and is doing well. Her twin sister Aly (25), is married and lives in Washington DC, where she and her husband Kevin attend a PCA. We have recently received the blessed news that Aly is pregnant with our first grandchild! God be praised!
Finally, we are thankful for God’s encouragement to us through YOU! Thank you to everyone in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world who pray for us regularly. We could not possibly fulfill this mission without the faithful intercessions of the saints. Thank you, especially, to all of you who have occasionally emailed us a note of encouragement, called us, or otherwise shown your support for the mission in Milan and Italy. Your expressed love helps us remember that we are not alone.
Here are a few items for prayer as the year of 2019 is drawing to an end:
The continued spiritual growth of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia.;
Outreach and evangelism in the dark and massive city of Milan;
Securing financial support for 2020.
On behalf of your brothers and sisters here at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia, I want to thank you for remembering us in prayer and supporting us. May the person and work of Jesus continue to be known in Milan, throughout Italy, and to the ends of the earth!
Gratefully,
Rev. Michael Brown
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
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.
