With it being our last week in Ariano, we have had a lot of opportunities to minister to the people.
Our week began with ministry in the park. On Monday afternoon the team went to the park. We began playing a simple game of sketch-a-sette to get the kids involved in a game. After playing the game for a while, we introduced a few water balloon games to the kids.
After an hour or so of playing games, we invited the kids in for a snack and Bible lesson. On Monday, our lesson was about putting our trust in Jesus. We repeated the same schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon but changed the Bible lesson each day. On Tuesday, our lesson was about being fixated on God. On Wednesday, our lesson was about God transforming our lives and how to let it show.
Each day we illustrated our Bible lesson with different games and activities. The activities included getting the kids involved and making a mess. Eggs, face paint, and Kinder Bueno Chocolate bars were a success.
On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings we have had a series of meetings. We have been witnessing to the people we come into contact with. These series of meetings were to encourage those people we have come into contact with throughout our time here to come out and worship with us.
Our theme for these meetings has been “Get Connected”. Our hope is to encourage them to make a connection with God throughout the week. God gives us 168 hours in a week, we should be able to give Him at least one hour out of our week.
Each meeting has consisted of singing, dancing, and a dramatic presentation from our team. Each night a different member of the team has brought the Word of God to the people. Chris spoke on Thursday, Emmanuel on Friday, and Susie on Saturday night.
This week has been a busy week of ministry. We, as a team, consider it a blessing to be able to reach the people through many different functions: dance, drama, park evangelism, and visitations. We have truly been blessed this week by the number of people we have come into contact with and have had the opportunity to minister to, praise God!
(Written by Emma)
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Monday, 19 July 2010
Ariano Week 3 Report
This was a week that in many ways was looking forward to next week. We can see the end of our time here rapidly approaching, and we had much to prepare for as our outreach comes to a culmination.
But first, early in the week we had the opportunity to pay a visit to Naples. The lieutenant there was gracious enough to show us around the city and give us some historical background. As we walked all over the city, she also shared with us some of the spiritual obstacles they face in ministry there. We had a chance to see the Corps building and some of the programs that go on there. Our day was capped by a time of prayer and praise together.
Back in Ariano, we continued to prepare and promote for next week’s programs: children’s outreach and an evangelistic campaign. We visited people in their homes, we passed out fliers in the market, and we played games in the park. We have been building towards these events and have a sense of anticipation about what God will do.
We also continued our schedule of evening outpost meetings in the homes of various Corps members. We count it as such a blessing to be able to share in fellowship in this way. This week Bethany preached on Acts chapter 4, on having boldness to speak the name of Christ because it alone brings salvation.
On Saturday, we had a big soccer match scheduled with some teens in the park across the street from the Corps. It was USA versus Italy. It became apparent very early on that we were out-skilled, as the youngsters took us apart with their dribbling and passing. Despite a severe disparity in scoring chances, USA managed to hang close until exhaustion led to a late flurry of goals and a 7-4 defeat.
Despite the loss, we had a great opportunity to continue to build relationships with the people here. That has been a big theme of our time here and it continued this week. People graciously invite us into their homes. Young people greet us jubilantly in the street. We thank God for all these interactions and pray that He will continue to shine through us.
(Report Written by Josh)
But first, early in the week we had the opportunity to pay a visit to Naples. The lieutenant there was gracious enough to show us around the city and give us some historical background. As we walked all over the city, she also shared with us some of the spiritual obstacles they face in ministry there. We had a chance to see the Corps building and some of the programs that go on there. Our day was capped by a time of prayer and praise together.
Back in Ariano, we continued to prepare and promote for next week’s programs: children’s outreach and an evangelistic campaign. We visited people in their homes, we passed out fliers in the market, and we played games in the park. We have been building towards these events and have a sense of anticipation about what God will do.
We also continued our schedule of evening outpost meetings in the homes of various Corps members. We count it as such a blessing to be able to share in fellowship in this way. This week Bethany preached on Acts chapter 4, on having boldness to speak the name of Christ because it alone brings salvation.
On Saturday, we had a big soccer match scheduled with some teens in the park across the street from the Corps. It was USA versus Italy. It became apparent very early on that we were out-skilled, as the youngsters took us apart with their dribbling and passing. Despite a severe disparity in scoring chances, USA managed to hang close until exhaustion led to a late flurry of goals and a 7-4 defeat.
Despite the loss, we had a great opportunity to continue to build relationships with the people here. That has been a big theme of our time here and it continued this week. People graciously invite us into their homes. Young people greet us jubilantly in the street. We thank God for all these interactions and pray that He will continue to shine through us.
(Report Written by Josh)
Friday, 16 July 2010
Ariano Week 2 Report
This week we were able to participate in more evangelism in the park. It was amazing to see how starting up a game of soccer, or football here in Italy, could attract so many people in the community. Children ranging in age 7 to about 15 came up and started playing with us. Afterwards, we were able to invite them to church on Sunday. While some of the team members played soccer others walked around the park and started talking to people.
On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to visit an old command area in a countryside town called Faeto. We cleaned the quarters and prepared it for the Cadet who will be arriving in less than a month.
We traveled with Major Paulo and his son, Simone, to Brienza. When we first arrived we were shown the village that had been built using funds sent from the USA Eastern Territory Salvation Army. We learned that the territory sent funds and people to rebuild this place after an earthquake hit in 1980. It is always such a blessing to see how these kinds of funds can help in tangible ways. We also visited a small village called Atena Lucana. The Army’s center there was built in 1987 that is used for camps and at one point they provided a place for refugees. In the evening we were able worship with Christians from another evangelical church. The meeting was located in a tent next to a park, almost like an open air meeting. It was a great opportunity to meet youth and adults in that area of Italy who are on fire for Christ and desire to spread the Gospel.
The next day we spent some time at the seaside and then prepared for the evening service. We had no clue what to expect from this service, only that 3 other corps would be joining us for worship that night. Words cannot even express how blessed we were from this service. We estimated that there were about 55 people total who came and filled the seats of the chapel. The whole team participated in a few presentations, Susan sang a solo, Emma gave her testimony, and Stephany gave the message for the evening. It was a great way to end what little time we were able to spend in Brienza. We hope that the corps officer there was encouraged in the work that he is doing.
We had a great time in Brienza and it was one of the many highlights from the week. We were also very blessed by the second Sunday service we had here in Ariano. Our team was very encouraged to see that many people came to the service who do not usually come on a Sunday. Some of them were people that we have been able to hang out with during the week. We are praying that this will continue to be the case for the rest of our time in Ariano and after we leave. Majors Paulo and Virginia truly have a heart to see that more and more people be set on fire for Christ, and we will continue to pray that their ministry can grow.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Ariano Week 1 Report
The Hands-On team here in Italy comes from the Eastern Territory in the United States. The team came together a week before coming to Rome, Italy where we stayed and worked with Captains Emmanuel and Stefania.
As soon as we arrived in Ariano, Majors Paulo and Virginia (along with Simone, their son) welcomed us - immediately making us feel at home here.
One of the first days, we went out into the marketplace where we handed out invitations to the services here at the Corps. We also handed out small tracts containing the gospel message for evangelism. For the Hands-On team, the largest difficulty has been the language barrier. To our surprise, Fortunato has graciously offered his time and teaching skills to give us Italian lessons daily! I am slow at learning the Italian language, but am excited and very grateful for the opportunity.
This week, we visited some families in their homes, having the chance to share tea, coffee, biscuits, and good company. At many of the homes, we were able to lead some praise songs and short Bible lessons. One of our items is a sketch on the parable of the intelligent person who built a house on the rock and the foolish one who built a house on the sand. Emma gave a challenging thought following this sketch, saying that we must be like the wise man and remember to build our lives on the Rock, Jesus Christ.
Personally, and I think that the team thinks the same way, I am very challenged and motivated by the prayer life of the Ariano Corps. Where there is prayer, there is the Spirit of God moving! We praise God for that.
I believe that God has called each of us to come to Italy for a reason; that reason is not for our contribution to the Corps or the people alone, but we have been personally encouraged and benefited ourselves. Whether by a dance or a drama sketch or a praise song or an evangelistic tract, we are glad to share our personal testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is clear that God has been at work in Ariano far before we arrived, making disciples to proclaim the gospel. We praise God for His hand at work here, are privileged to be a part of it, and excited to see what will happen in the days to come!
As soon as we arrived in Ariano, Majors Paulo and Virginia (along with Simone, their son) welcomed us - immediately making us feel at home here.
One of the first days, we went out into the marketplace where we handed out invitations to the services here at the Corps. We also handed out small tracts containing the gospel message for evangelism. For the Hands-On team, the largest difficulty has been the language barrier. To our surprise, Fortunato has graciously offered his time and teaching skills to give us Italian lessons daily! I am slow at learning the Italian language, but am excited and very grateful for the opportunity.
This week, we visited some families in their homes, having the chance to share tea, coffee, biscuits, and good company. At many of the homes, we were able to lead some praise songs and short Bible lessons. One of our items is a sketch on the parable of the intelligent person who built a house on the rock and the foolish one who built a house on the sand. Emma gave a challenging thought following this sketch, saying that we must be like the wise man and remember to build our lives on the Rock, Jesus Christ.
Personally, and I think that the team thinks the same way, I am very challenged and motivated by the prayer life of the Ariano Corps. Where there is prayer, there is the Spirit of God moving! We praise God for that.
I believe that God has called each of us to come to Italy for a reason; that reason is not for our contribution to the Corps or the people alone, but we have been personally encouraged and benefited ourselves. Whether by a dance or a drama sketch or a praise song or an evangelistic tract, we are glad to share our personal testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is clear that God has been at work in Ariano far before we arrived, making disciples to proclaim the gospel. We praise God for His hand at work here, are privileged to be a part of it, and excited to see what will happen in the days to come!
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