Nov-Dec 2002 (Year 4, Number 2)
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“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the
past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I
am making a way in the desert and streams in the
wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19
Looking back at where God has brought us during 2002, we celebrate the “new thing” that He is doing here in Palermo. Thank you for your priceless prayer investments for our friends and neighbors here – don’t let up! Keep praying that God would truly pour out streams of living water on the dry soil of this city. We have seen hardened hearts softening more and more as those around us have been attracted to the Christ who lives in us!
News Tidbits
1. Several friends came over for Joel's birthday party in November. We ate Mexican food, talked together, and played games until 2 am. It was another perfect opportunity to interact with these youth on “our turf,” and it was good for them to spend time together. They are starting to get to know one another and be comfortable around each other. That’s an important step in the formation of Christian community! God is at work in their hearts. . .keep praying for life-changing steps of faith!
2. Youth leaders retreat to erupting volcano! Just after Christmas, we held a retreat and training weekend for youth leaders from the Italy South district. We “retreated” to Fleri, a small town on the slopes of Mt. Etna, where we enjoyed the spectacular lava shows at night as God blessed our time together. We explored together creative and dynamic methods to better interact with today’s youth and lead them toward a relationship with Christ.
Check out some youth retreat photos
3. Just think of the possibilities that 2003 holds for Palermo! God is going to make a way in the desert! Wouldn’t you like to be part of what God is doing here? We are looking for volunteers interested in committing a year or more to prayer ministry, relational evangelism, staffing the youth center, teaching English (or other languages), teaching computer courses, and more... The possibilities depend on your gifts and talents. Contact us soon if you would like more information about this ministry opportunity.
4. We just enjoyed our second Christmas in Palermo, and we are amazed at all the people God has brought into our lives in the past year. We prepared homemade cards and candy for our neighbors and friends. The chocolate-covered peanut butter balls were definitely a hit! Many were touched by the personal gift and thoughtful gesture. Pray that such simple hospitality and Christian kindness will continue to be a meaningful way to minister to our neighbors.
5. Plans are in place for our field youth congress in Madrid, Spain in August 2003 with special speakers Davide and Tanya Cantarella from Moscow, Russia. They will build on the theme “But, I’m too young!” from Jeremiah 1 in order to challenge our youth to step up and answer God’s call on their lives. Pray with us that this congress would be a foundational event for these youth as they realize their common identity in Christ, build relationships with each other, worship and seek God, and respond to what he is calling all of us to be and do!
Answers to Prayer
Note: We hope you see answers to prayer in every phrase of our newsletter! God is truly working miracles, and we just keep hanging on to see what happens next. God has continued to open up significant opportunities for spiritual conversations, especially with our English students and some of our neighbors, and each encounter is a specific answer to prayer!
1. Recently, one of our students has been asking a lot of questions about what we believe, why we are here, and our plans to open a youth center. He is one of the last people we would expect to be open to Christianity. The first time Joel met him, he was reading a book by the philosopher Nietzsche about the death of God! Now we see that God is clearly working in his heart, and we expect him to work miracles. He has grown to greatly respect Joel, and we pray that he will begin to recognize his need for God.
2. Another of our students has been experiencing some challenging situations in his life, and he has begun to come to us for advice. He claims to be an atheist, but we can see his hunger for truth. Pray that this hunger would continue to draw him closer to the God that he has rejected for so long. God is longing for relationship with him!
3. This Christmas we spent time with two of the neighbor families we have grown especially close to in the last year. It was an honor that they invited us at a time usually reserved for family and close friends. It was another reminder to us of the incredible responsibility and God-given opportunity we have to lead them closer to Christ.
4. Thank you for praying for the Italy North and Italy South district assemblies in the month of November. We were able to share presentations on youth ministry, Italian literature, and our ministry in Palermo. We praise God for the encouragement we received and for the ”new thing” he is beginning to do among our churches in all of Italy.
5. We see some signs that youth are beginning to rise to the challenge of leadership in our churches in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal! Continue to pray that momentum would build among our youth as God is calling them to serve.
Prayer Requests
(Would you like to join our prayer intercession team and receive more frequent prayer request updates? Email us for more information about becoming a “Palermo Prayer Partner!”)
1. Pray that there will soon be new births in Christ in Palermo!
2. Pray for volunteers! There is an immediate need for volunteers who will minister in Palermo while we are on home assignment in the US for 3 months this summer. A longer term need is for volunteers willing to commit to one or two years of ministry here! God is calling to someone. . .
3. Pray for “L’Incrocio” (The Intersection), the Christian youth center we hope to open in Palermo! We are trusting God for continued guidance concerning timing, location, finances, volunteers, and ministries to offer.
4. Pray for the youth leader training weekend in Madrid, Spain on February 14-15, 2003.
5. Pray for the Western Mediterranean Youth Council as they minister among youth in their respective countries and as they work together to coordinate youth ministry across the field. Members are: Ernestina Pereira (Azores), Elio Joseph (France), Jean Charles Flores (France Midi), Joy Cereda (Italy South), Susana Reis (Portugal North), Cláudia Luis (Portugal South), Zulema Vargas (Spain), and Joel Mullen (Coordinator). Check out the youth council photos
Miscellaneous Notes
1. Our new website is online, and new photos were added this week! It is designed as a guide for prayer as well as to give you and your church a glimpse into life and ministry in Palermo. Give it a look! <homepage.mac.com/joelmullen>
2. “Much of Italian life revolves around. . .food. Whenever possible, meals are shared and eaten in company. The very word ‘company’ comes from two Italian words, con (with) and pane (bread), implying breaking bread in friendship.” Quote from “Xenophobe’s Guide to the Italians” by Martin Solly.
3. Keep collecting and sending your Christian music CDs!!! It’s a dynamic ministry tool and a great way to get your local youth involved in missions! Email us if you need more information.
4. How important is God in the life of Italian youth? According to the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” (31 October 2002), the priorities of Italian youth (in order from top to bottom): family, love, friendship, work, freedom, democracy, self-realization, fun, solidarity, equality, comfortable life, career, studies, sports, social obligation, patriotism, religious obligation.
5. Perchance people will be prompted to pray for the populace of Palermo while partaking of portions of pizza or pasta!
May God be near and shine his light on your path!
Joel and Sara Mullen
Email: <jsmullen@interfree.it>
Website: <http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen> Check it out!!!
Isaiah 43:18-19
Looking back at where God has brought us during 2002, we celebrate the “new thing” that He is doing here in Palermo. Thank you for your priceless prayer investments for our friends and neighbors here – don’t let up! Keep praying that God would truly pour out streams of living water on the dry soil of this city. We have seen hardened hearts softening more and more as those around us have been attracted to the Christ who lives in us!
News Tidbits
1. Several friends came over for Joel's birthday party in November. We ate Mexican food, talked together, and played games until 2 am. It was another perfect opportunity to interact with these youth on “our turf,” and it was good for them to spend time together. They are starting to get to know one another and be comfortable around each other. That’s an important step in the formation of Christian community! God is at work in their hearts. . .keep praying for life-changing steps of faith!
2. Youth leaders retreat to erupting volcano! Just after Christmas, we held a retreat and training weekend for youth leaders from the Italy South district. We “retreated” to Fleri, a small town on the slopes of Mt. Etna, where we enjoyed the spectacular lava shows at night as God blessed our time together. We explored together creative and dynamic methods to better interact with today’s youth and lead them toward a relationship with Christ.
Check out some youth retreat photos
3. Just think of the possibilities that 2003 holds for Palermo! God is going to make a way in the desert! Wouldn’t you like to be part of what God is doing here? We are looking for volunteers interested in committing a year or more to prayer ministry, relational evangelism, staffing the youth center, teaching English (or other languages), teaching computer courses, and more... The possibilities depend on your gifts and talents. Contact us soon if you would like more information about this ministry opportunity.
4. We just enjoyed our second Christmas in Palermo, and we are amazed at all the people God has brought into our lives in the past year. We prepared homemade cards and candy for our neighbors and friends. The chocolate-covered peanut butter balls were definitely a hit! Many were touched by the personal gift and thoughtful gesture. Pray that such simple hospitality and Christian kindness will continue to be a meaningful way to minister to our neighbors.
5. Plans are in place for our field youth congress in Madrid, Spain in August 2003 with special speakers Davide and Tanya Cantarella from Moscow, Russia. They will build on the theme “But, I’m too young!” from Jeremiah 1 in order to challenge our youth to step up and answer God’s call on their lives. Pray with us that this congress would be a foundational event for these youth as they realize their common identity in Christ, build relationships with each other, worship and seek God, and respond to what he is calling all of us to be and do!
Answers to Prayer
Note: We hope you see answers to prayer in every phrase of our newsletter! God is truly working miracles, and we just keep hanging on to see what happens next. God has continued to open up significant opportunities for spiritual conversations, especially with our English students and some of our neighbors, and each encounter is a specific answer to prayer!
1. Recently, one of our students has been asking a lot of questions about what we believe, why we are here, and our plans to open a youth center. He is one of the last people we would expect to be open to Christianity. The first time Joel met him, he was reading a book by the philosopher Nietzsche about the death of God! Now we see that God is clearly working in his heart, and we expect him to work miracles. He has grown to greatly respect Joel, and we pray that he will begin to recognize his need for God.
2. Another of our students has been experiencing some challenging situations in his life, and he has begun to come to us for advice. He claims to be an atheist, but we can see his hunger for truth. Pray that this hunger would continue to draw him closer to the God that he has rejected for so long. God is longing for relationship with him!
3. This Christmas we spent time with two of the neighbor families we have grown especially close to in the last year. It was an honor that they invited us at a time usually reserved for family and close friends. It was another reminder to us of the incredible responsibility and God-given opportunity we have to lead them closer to Christ.
4. Thank you for praying for the Italy North and Italy South district assemblies in the month of November. We were able to share presentations on youth ministry, Italian literature, and our ministry in Palermo. We praise God for the encouragement we received and for the ”new thing” he is beginning to do among our churches in all of Italy.
5. We see some signs that youth are beginning to rise to the challenge of leadership in our churches in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal! Continue to pray that momentum would build among our youth as God is calling them to serve.
Prayer Requests
(Would you like to join our prayer intercession team and receive more frequent prayer request updates? Email us for more information about becoming a “Palermo Prayer Partner!”)
1. Pray that there will soon be new births in Christ in Palermo!
2. Pray for volunteers! There is an immediate need for volunteers who will minister in Palermo while we are on home assignment in the US for 3 months this summer. A longer term need is for volunteers willing to commit to one or two years of ministry here! God is calling to someone. . .
3. Pray for “L’Incrocio” (The Intersection), the Christian youth center we hope to open in Palermo! We are trusting God for continued guidance concerning timing, location, finances, volunteers, and ministries to offer.
4. Pray for the youth leader training weekend in Madrid, Spain on February 14-15, 2003.
5. Pray for the Western Mediterranean Youth Council as they minister among youth in their respective countries and as they work together to coordinate youth ministry across the field. Members are: Ernestina Pereira (Azores), Elio Joseph (France), Jean Charles Flores (France Midi), Joy Cereda (Italy South), Susana Reis (Portugal North), Cláudia Luis (Portugal South), Zulema Vargas (Spain), and Joel Mullen (Coordinator). Check out the youth council photos
Miscellaneous Notes
1. Our new website is online, and new photos were added this week! It is designed as a guide for prayer as well as to give you and your church a glimpse into life and ministry in Palermo. Give it a look! <homepage.mac.com/joelmullen>
2. “Much of Italian life revolves around. . .food. Whenever possible, meals are shared and eaten in company. The very word ‘company’ comes from two Italian words, con (with) and pane (bread), implying breaking bread in friendship.” Quote from “Xenophobe’s Guide to the Italians” by Martin Solly.
3. Keep collecting and sending your Christian music CDs!!! It’s a dynamic ministry tool and a great way to get your local youth involved in missions! Email us if you need more information.
4. How important is God in the life of Italian youth? According to the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” (31 October 2002), the priorities of Italian youth (in order from top to bottom): family, love, friendship, work, freedom, democracy, self-realization, fun, solidarity, equality, comfortable life, career, studies, sports, social obligation, patriotism, religious obligation.
5. Perchance people will be prompted to pray for the populace of Palermo while partaking of portions of pizza or pasta!
May God be near and shine his light on your path!
Joel and Sara Mullen
Email: <jsmullen@interfree.it>
Website: <http://homepage.mac.com/joelmullen> Check it out!!!
Posted: Thu - January 2, 2003 at 11:14 PM
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