Sept-Oct 2003 (Year 5, Number 1)
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News
Tidbits
1. Bentornati a L’Incrocio! Welcome back to the Intersection!
In October, we re-launched various L’Incrocio activities, and there is a notable increase in participation. Just in the last few weeks, over 20 new high school and university students have contacted us because they had heard good things about L’Incrocio from their friends. This has doubled the number of youth with whom we have regular and significant contact each week!
Check out recent L’Incrocio photos:
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum69.html
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum51.html
2. Family Connections
In the last month, one of our students has introduced us to his family and several of his friends. Several of these have started coming regularly to L’Incrocio. Recently, we went to his family’s home for dinner. As soon as the first plate was served, they asked us to share our faith experience with them. God was truly present during this 3-hour conversation. A few days later, his sister came to us seeking spiritual guidance, and she has now begun reading the Bible each day. Pray for this family in their disillusionment with Christianity, their search for truth, and their longing for spiritual comfort. God wants to save entire households in Palermo!
3. Neighbor family
One of our neighbor families called us one Sunday evening and asked us to come over to join a discussion they were having with some dinner guests about original sin. After a very lively Italian discussion of original sin, baptism, holiness, forgiveness, transformation, we left them with a final promise that God desires for us to live lives of freedom and joy. Pray that this family would realize their need to submit their lives completely to Christ. God wants to save entire households in Palermo!
4. Seeking God
Keep praying for one of our friends. He has come regularly for long spiritual discussions about anger, forgiveness, grace, repentance, freedom, the Holy Spirit, and the cross. We have read Bible passages with him, prayed with him, shared with him, and listened to him. God is pulling on his heart, but he is still fighting it. Pray that he would soon choose to take that first big step of faith!
5. Chris and Anndee Stringer
We continue to marvel at the way God has answered prayer on behalf of Chris and Anndee. First, God provided them with an Italian visa that arrived in the mail less than 24 hours before their scheduled departure! Then, from their safe arrival, to finding an apartment, to a smooth process of applying for residence papers, to enrolling in a language course, to adjusting to life in general here in Sicily, God has been faithful to them. They have already been a great assistance in building relationships with our new friends, teaching English lessons, and an incredible source of encouragement to us.
Stringer’s website:
http://homepage.mac.com/mobimac
Answers to Prayer
1. We are thankful for several significant spiritual conversations that have been initiated by our friends and neighbors recently. Pray specifically for Marco, Daniele, Alessandra, Alessia, Barbara, Rita, the Renda family, and the Mangano family.
2. After 3 weeks of house-hunting, we found an apartment for Chris and Anndee that is just a 5-minute walk from ours.
3. We are encouraged that many of our friends are beginning to see us as a spiritual authority for their lives.
4. The increased momentum we see building around L’Incrocio is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work here in our neighborhood!
5. We are thankful for the time of fellowship, learning, and sharing together during our recent Prayer Summit in Switzerland.
Prayer Requests
1. Pray for our weekly spiritual activities at L’Incrocio. Pray for God-blessed conversations. Pray for our Sunday evening worship services. Pray that our friends who have expressed their need for spiritual guidance would feel welcome to join us.
2. We are so thankful for the positive interaction and extended spiritual conversations (and incredible Sicilian meals!) that we have had with neighbor families over the last few weeks. Pray for many more opportunities to minister to neighbor families and the families of our friends and English students.
3. Pray for specific conversations to take place with some of our friends that still have not talked to us about spiritual things.
4. Continue to pray for Chris and Anndee especially in the area of language acquisition. They are doing a great job of learning Italian! Pray that God will bless their efforts.
5. Pray for us as we invite friends and families into our home to experience an “American” Thanksgiving dinner. We will use this gathering as a springboard to explain the significance of Thanksgiving as well as to invite them to a series of Advent devotionals and discussion times leading up to Christmas.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. We are becoming more and more aware of deep spiritual needs among Italian youth. According to a recent study, only about 50% of Italians attend at least one church service in any given month. The same study reveals that only 58% of Italians believe that Jesus was both God and man (Corriere della Sera, 10 October 2003). These stats reflect a country that is moving farther and farther from God.
2. “Italy has more laws than any other European country. . .The irony is that Italy, so painfully legalistic, is as a result almost lawless.” (From “The Dark Heart of Italy” by Tobias Jones)
3. Want more news and updates on ministry in Italy? We recommend Chris and Anndee Stringer’s and Tim and Danielle Whetstone’s email newsletters. They would be glad to include you on their newsletter lists!
To sign up for the Stringer’s newsletter, email them at: <stringers@interfree.it>.
To sign up for the Whetstone’s newsletter, email them at <tdwhetstone@interfree.it>.
4. Send more Christian CDs!!! We want to continue to use them in ministry on the West. Med. Field. However, there are several other countries on the Eurasia region that could also use Christian music CDs as a means of discipleship and outreach. If you’ve been collecting CDs, email us to find out where to send them. If you’re interested in this project, contact us anytime!!!
5. Merry Christmas (far in advance). :-)
May God broaden the path beneath you so that your ankles do not turn! (2 Samuel 22:37)
Joel and Sara Mullen
E-mail: jsmullen@interfree.it
Website: http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen
Remember: Pizza + Pasta = Pray for Palermo
Links directly to specific pages on our website:
1. L’Incrocio Youth Center
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum51.html
2. Palermo Friends
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum69.html
3. Palermo Neighbors
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum10.html
4. English Students
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum24.html
5. West Med Youth Council
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/westmednyi/PhotoAlbum55.html
6. West Med Youth Congress
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/congress/PhotoAlbum53.html
7. West Med College Students
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/westmednyi/PhotoAlbum60.html
8. Quizzing
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/quizzing/PhotoAlbum49.html
9. Joel and Sara
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/people/PhotoAlbum3.html
10. Palermo Sites
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/places/PhotoAlbum19.html
1. Bentornati a L’Incrocio! Welcome back to the Intersection!
In October, we re-launched various L’Incrocio activities, and there is a notable increase in participation. Just in the last few weeks, over 20 new high school and university students have contacted us because they had heard good things about L’Incrocio from their friends. This has doubled the number of youth with whom we have regular and significant contact each week!
Check out recent L’Incrocio photos:
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum69.html
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum51.html
2. Family Connections
In the last month, one of our students has introduced us to his family and several of his friends. Several of these have started coming regularly to L’Incrocio. Recently, we went to his family’s home for dinner. As soon as the first plate was served, they asked us to share our faith experience with them. God was truly present during this 3-hour conversation. A few days later, his sister came to us seeking spiritual guidance, and she has now begun reading the Bible each day. Pray for this family in their disillusionment with Christianity, their search for truth, and their longing for spiritual comfort. God wants to save entire households in Palermo!
3. Neighbor family
One of our neighbor families called us one Sunday evening and asked us to come over to join a discussion they were having with some dinner guests about original sin. After a very lively Italian discussion of original sin, baptism, holiness, forgiveness, transformation, we left them with a final promise that God desires for us to live lives of freedom and joy. Pray that this family would realize their need to submit their lives completely to Christ. God wants to save entire households in Palermo!
4. Seeking God
Keep praying for one of our friends. He has come regularly for long spiritual discussions about anger, forgiveness, grace, repentance, freedom, the Holy Spirit, and the cross. We have read Bible passages with him, prayed with him, shared with him, and listened to him. God is pulling on his heart, but he is still fighting it. Pray that he would soon choose to take that first big step of faith!
5. Chris and Anndee Stringer
We continue to marvel at the way God has answered prayer on behalf of Chris and Anndee. First, God provided them with an Italian visa that arrived in the mail less than 24 hours before their scheduled departure! Then, from their safe arrival, to finding an apartment, to a smooth process of applying for residence papers, to enrolling in a language course, to adjusting to life in general here in Sicily, God has been faithful to them. They have already been a great assistance in building relationships with our new friends, teaching English lessons, and an incredible source of encouragement to us.
Stringer’s website:
http://homepage.mac.com/mobimac
Answers to Prayer
1. We are thankful for several significant spiritual conversations that have been initiated by our friends and neighbors recently. Pray specifically for Marco, Daniele, Alessandra, Alessia, Barbara, Rita, the Renda family, and the Mangano family.
2. After 3 weeks of house-hunting, we found an apartment for Chris and Anndee that is just a 5-minute walk from ours.
3. We are encouraged that many of our friends are beginning to see us as a spiritual authority for their lives.
4. The increased momentum we see building around L’Incrocio is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work here in our neighborhood!
5. We are thankful for the time of fellowship, learning, and sharing together during our recent Prayer Summit in Switzerland.
Prayer Requests
1. Pray for our weekly spiritual activities at L’Incrocio. Pray for God-blessed conversations. Pray for our Sunday evening worship services. Pray that our friends who have expressed their need for spiritual guidance would feel welcome to join us.
2. We are so thankful for the positive interaction and extended spiritual conversations (and incredible Sicilian meals!) that we have had with neighbor families over the last few weeks. Pray for many more opportunities to minister to neighbor families and the families of our friends and English students.
3. Pray for specific conversations to take place with some of our friends that still have not talked to us about spiritual things.
4. Continue to pray for Chris and Anndee especially in the area of language acquisition. They are doing a great job of learning Italian! Pray that God will bless their efforts.
5. Pray for us as we invite friends and families into our home to experience an “American” Thanksgiving dinner. We will use this gathering as a springboard to explain the significance of Thanksgiving as well as to invite them to a series of Advent devotionals and discussion times leading up to Christmas.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. We are becoming more and more aware of deep spiritual needs among Italian youth. According to a recent study, only about 50% of Italians attend at least one church service in any given month. The same study reveals that only 58% of Italians believe that Jesus was both God and man (Corriere della Sera, 10 October 2003). These stats reflect a country that is moving farther and farther from God.
2. “Italy has more laws than any other European country. . .The irony is that Italy, so painfully legalistic, is as a result almost lawless.” (From “The Dark Heart of Italy” by Tobias Jones)
3. Want more news and updates on ministry in Italy? We recommend Chris and Anndee Stringer’s and Tim and Danielle Whetstone’s email newsletters. They would be glad to include you on their newsletter lists!
To sign up for the Stringer’s newsletter, email them at: <stringers@interfree.it>.
To sign up for the Whetstone’s newsletter, email them at <tdwhetstone@interfree.it>.
4. Send more Christian CDs!!! We want to continue to use them in ministry on the West. Med. Field. However, there are several other countries on the Eurasia region that could also use Christian music CDs as a means of discipleship and outreach. If you’ve been collecting CDs, email us to find out where to send them. If you’re interested in this project, contact us anytime!!!
5. Merry Christmas (far in advance). :-)
May God broaden the path beneath you so that your ankles do not turn! (2 Samuel 22:37)
Joel and Sara Mullen
E-mail: jsmullen@interfree.it
Website: http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen
Remember: Pizza + Pasta = Pray for Palermo
Links directly to specific pages on our website:
1. L’Incrocio Youth Center
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum51.html
2. Palermo Friends
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum69.html
3. Palermo Neighbors
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum10.html
4. English Students
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/incrocio2003/PhotoAlbum24.html
5. West Med Youth Council
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/westmednyi/PhotoAlbum55.html
6. West Med Youth Congress
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/congress/PhotoAlbum53.html
7. West Med College Students
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/westmednyi/PhotoAlbum60.html
8. Quizzing
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/quizzing/PhotoAlbum49.html
9. Joel and Sara
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/people/PhotoAlbum3.html
10. Palermo Sites
http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen/places/PhotoAlbum19.html
Posted: Sun - November 2, 2003 at 08:32 PM
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