Our heading this month is not about college basketball naturally… but captures with some humor hopefully our ministry travels at ITA throughout the month of March.
A fundamental part of our pastoral training in Italy is our enduring relationship and partnership with The Master’s Academy International (TMAI) and Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, California, the church home of pastor-teacher John MacArthur. This significant bond entails a yearly overseas trip to the US during the month of March.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, our team literally hits the ground running. The five day stay is made up of many meetings. Much consists of providing updates on the work on the field and receiving updates from the pastoral training ongoing in other fields (countries / regions) and the home office at Grace Church. The fellowship with the other men be they serving in the US or overseas in various parts of the world always provides for an additional source of encouragement. The ITA board (advisory council) has its annual meeting as well during this time.
Our visit also includes participation in two very strategic conferences: TMAI’s Missions’ Conference and The Shepherds’ Conference.
We at ITA rejoice in the privilege of being a part of this formidable network of like-minded convictions in both doctrine and philosophy of ministry. This week and these events continue to be… anchors… for us. Our endeavor to train a new generation of expositors in Italy is in essence the result of the profound influence these important institutions (TMAI & GCC) have had on the ministry of ITA.
Our ministry travel this year did not only include LA. Prior to Los Angeles, there was a weekend stop over in Seattle. Eastridge Community Church shepherded principally by pastor John Leprohn welcomed ITA to their faithful body. It was a joy to be with additional friends once there, particularly associate pastor Ryan Treziak. Following our time in LA, there was another weekend stop over in Winston-Salem, NC, where ITA was hosted by Twin-City Bible Church, the home of pastor Carey Hardy, long-time ITA board member and mentor. Finally, there was yet another trip this year. After leaving Twin-City, the ministry headed north to Canada, Montreal to be precise. Enjoyed rich fellowship and ministry in the french language at Église Baptiste Évangélique Emmanuel Dieu Avec Nous.
After a three week road trip we are back at home base Messina, Sicily, Italy ready to begin a new year of training men for pastoral ministry in Italy.
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