The Rome Italy Spring 2025 was absolutely amazing. It was a great time to visit our very own missionary family in Rome, care for them, and partner with them and their local church in ministry.
As we prepped for the trip, we knew that the Catholic faith was different than ours. But seeing it in person during the year of Jubilee, and engaging with people from all across the world was a totally different story. We were able to have 38 Gospel conversations on the trip, and we are praying that the Lord will water these seeds and bring about salvation in these individuals in His perfect timing.
Breccia de Roma set a great example for us in how to engage with Catholics or others during the year of Jubilee. We would often ask tourists questions like, "Are you here for the year of Jubilee?", "Do you think the Jubilee year has strengthened your faith?", "Do you think your faith could be strengthened any other way than just the year of Jubilee?", "Do you read your Bible?", and then we would get into the Gospel based on their answers. It was a dark and heavy trip seeing people walk through the Holy Doors, crawl up the Holy Steps, and more to "earn extra grace" or "feel more holy." It was also very sad to see people worship idols in the basilica, instead of worshipping Jesus.
When engaging with Catholics on our trip, we would often ask basic questions like, "do you believe we are justified?" They would say yes, but their meaning of justification and ours are totally different. We learned that it is very important for us to ask, "so what does it mean that you are justified?" and leave it an open ended question. We really learned apologetics, and how to defend our faith and share the true hope of the world, Christ alone.
A few prayer requests is for our church at Breccia de Roma. They need more male members in their churches, and also pray for their evangelical presence to grow in the city. Pray for their churches in San Paolo and Patti to secure a long term building. Pray for Andrea, a regular attender at Pratti who is not yet a believer but asks great questions and comes regularly--that he would come to a saving faith in Christ. Pray for their local nationals, being an evangelical Italian is hard and they would have boldness, courage, and to make disciples! Pray for our missionary family as they seek to move to San Giovanni in the next few years and potentially help lead a church plant in that area. Also, pray for Abbi-- a Catholic who did not know if he was going to heaven. The gospel was shared and he wanted to profess Christ as his Lord and Savior. We invited him to Breccia de Roma and told him what it takes to be saved. We also told him to read the book of John and Romans. Pray he will do that and surrender to the Father. Pray for Austin and Melissa, an agnostic couple visiting from the UK. The Gospel was proclaimed, they believe in Jesus and God the Father, but not ready to make Jesus their Lord. Pray they will come to Him.
As we prepped for the trip, we knew that the Catholic faith was different than ours. But seeing it in person during the year of Jubilee, and engaging with people from all across the world was a totally different story. We were able to have 38 Gospel conversations on the trip, and we are praying that the Lord will water these seeds and bring about salvation in these individuals in His perfect timing.
Breccia de Roma set a great example for us in how to engage with Catholics or others during the year of Jubilee. We would often ask tourists questions like, "Are you here for the year of Jubilee?", "Do you think the Jubilee year has strengthened your faith?", "Do you think your faith could be strengthened any other way than just the year of Jubilee?", "Do you read your Bible?", and then we would get into the Gospel based on their answers. It was a dark and heavy trip seeing people walk through the Holy Doors, crawl up the Holy Steps, and more to "earn extra grace" or "feel more holy." It was also very sad to see people worship idols in the basilica, instead of worshipping Jesus.
When engaging with Catholics on our trip, we would often ask basic questions like, "do you believe we are justified?" They would say yes, but their meaning of justification and ours are totally different. We learned that it is very important for us to ask, "so what does it mean that you are justified?" and leave it an open ended question. We really learned apologetics, and how to defend our faith and share the true hope of the world, Christ alone.
A few prayer requests is for our church at Breccia de Roma. They need more male members in their churches, and also pray for their evangelical presence to grow in the city. Pray for their churches in San Paolo and Patti to secure a long term building. Pray for Andrea, a regular attender at Pratti who is not yet a believer but asks great questions and comes regularly--that he would come to a saving faith in Christ. Pray for their local nationals, being an evangelical Italian is hard and they would have boldness, courage, and to make disciples! Pray for our missionary family as they seek to move to San Giovanni in the next few years and potentially help lead a church plant in that area. Also, pray for Abbi-- a Catholic who did not know if he was going to heaven. The gospel was shared and he wanted to profess Christ as his Lord and Savior. We invited him to Breccia de Roma and told him what it takes to be saved. We also told him to read the book of John and Romans. Pray he will do that and surrender to the Father. Pray for Austin and Melissa, an agnostic couple visiting from the UK. The Gospel was proclaimed, they believe in Jesus and God the Father, but not ready to make Jesus their Lord. Pray they will come to Him.