October 2024
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we draw near to October 31st and another annual remembrance of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, I would like to encourage you to reflect on what happened in Italy at that time, and what God is currently doing in this country by the power of his Word. Unlike European countries like Germany, Switzerland, and England, Italy did not enjoy the light of the Reformation beyond the first half of the sixteenth century. Although the Reformation thrived in Italy during the 1530s and early 1540s due to the labors of courageous reformers such as Peter Martyr Vermigli, Pietro Carnesecchi, and Benedetto Fontanini, it was violently crushed by the Roman Inquisition which began in 1542. Since then, the country has languished under Roman Catholicism. Today, more than 70% of the population is nominally Roman Catholic and there are no Reformed or Presbyterian denominations in the country.
By God’s grace, however, we are working to change that. Our church in Milan, “Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia”, is growing numerically and spiritually under the preaching of the Gospel. On Sundays, I am currently preaching through Luke and teaching the Heidelberg Catechism. On Wednesdays, I lead a Bible study and prayer meeting. On the first Friday of the month, the men of the church gather for prayer, study, discussion, and food. On the third Saturday of each month, the ladies do the same. I also teach a Bible study for widows, in which several of the elderly women are reading Scripture for the first time in their lives. We have visitors to the church almost every week, some new university students who attend regularly, and several people who are currently pursuing membership. The congregation is learning to sing the psalms, and I am collaborating with others in the slow process of making an Italian Psalter-Hymnal. Our church seeks to build bridges with other Protestants in Italy, and we currently laboring toward the establishment of a confessional Reformed denomination. We are grateful for all that God is doing through his Word and Spirit, and ask that you join us this Reformation Day in thanking Him for this fruit. Please continue to pray for Italy, that the Lord will cause the light of his Word to shine in the darkness.
Annual Conference on Reformed Theology
On Saturday, October 19, we held our fifth annual Conference on Reformed Theology in Milan (la Conferenza sulla teologia riformata a Milano), also known as “la CTRM”. The purpose of this conference is threefold: 1) to awaken interest in Reformed theology; 2) to cultivate fellowship among Christians in Italy who are of the Reformed tradition; 3) to garnish resources to strengthen the churches in Italy. This year the theme of the conference was “The Bible and the Future: Understanding the End Times.” We had four speakers. Rev. Francesco Pollicino, pastor of Chiesa Riformata “Buona Novella” in Messina, Sicily, spoke on what the Bible says about the return of Christ. Rev. Vincenzo Coluccia, pastor of Chiesa Presbiteriana “Pietra Vivente” in Lecce, spoke on how we should understand the millennium of Revelation 20. Dr. Dan Borvan, pastor of Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim, California, spoke on the difference between dispensationalism and covenant theology. I had the privilege of speaking on the resurrection of the body and God’s promise of a new earth.
As in past years, we were once again blessed with a great turnout and warm fellowship. There were many new attendees, including some Italians who traveled from as far as Genova to be present. The conference ran from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. We are already looking forward to planning next year’s event.
New Podcast
I am happy to announce that I am collaborating with my colleagues and friends Rev. Vincenzo Coluccia and Rev. Gavino Fioretti on a weekly podcast called “Ad Fontes”. Our goal is to awaken interest in Reformed theology and help listeners rediscover how the Gospel is true, good, and beautiful. This is a podcast in the Italian language for the Italian people. To my knowledge, it is currently the only Reformed podcast in Italian on Apple and Spotify. Hopefully there will be more like this in the future. We pray that we can be a voice for a modern reformation in Italy. If you know of any Italian speakers who would benefit from this conversation, or if you would like to listen in yourself, look for us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or visit our website: adfontesmedia.it.
Pastors Gavino Fioretti, Vincenzo Coluccia, and Michael Brown
Iain Goes to College
In late August, we traveled to the United States to move our son Iain into Grove City College in Pennsylvania, where he will be studying biochemistry. Although it was difficult for Janie and me to say goodbye, we are extremely grateful to God that Iain is in an excellent, Christ-centered environment. He has already made many friends and is enjoying his studies. THANK YOU for praying for him and also for us! We look forward to seeing Iain at Christmas.
As always, Janie and I give thanks to God for all who support Mission Milan. Thank you for your prayers, letters of encouragement, and generous support. May the Lord continue to strengthen your faith in Christ, your hope in heaven, and your love for others.
Pastor Mike and Janie
How you can help
Making disciples of Christ in Milan is only possible with the faithful partnership of God’s people. If you want to get involved in the Great Commission in Italy, here are three ways you can help:
1. PRAY for the church in Milan (Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia) and for Pastor Mike and his family. Pray that the gospel will be proclaimed boldly, that people will come to know Christ, and that they will grow in their faith. Pray that more faithful churches will be planted in Italy.
2. SHARE the news about Mission Milan. Pass on this newsletter to others and tell them about the need in Italy. For more information, visit our website: missionmilan.org.
3. GIVE a donation of any amount. Your gift helps! You can give online at missionmilan.org. Or 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.
