From the April-June 2008 Issue
Serving the Lord in the learned, the red, and the fat city
Stefano and Jenny Mariotti
Stefano and Jenny Mariotti‘Bologna is a lot of things, my friend. It’s always been the centre of free thought and intellectual activity in Italy, thus its first nickname, la dotta, which means the learned. Then it became the home of the political left and received its second nickname, la rossa, the red. And the Bolognesi have always been serious about their food. They believe, and they’re probably right, that this is the stomach of Italy. Thus, the third nickname of la grassa, the fat.’ (Grisham, John (2005) The Broker. London, Century, p120).
In March 2008 begins our adventure of serving the Lord in Bologna, in north Italy, at the Independent Evangelical Church of San Lazzaro, a town next to Bologna. However, before we become lost in Italian verbosity, let’s follow the English golden rule of the five W’s.
Who?
Stefano: I am Italian and Bologna is my home-city. I was born into a Christian family, but it was the death of a friend that made me seriously think about my position with Jesus. That summer Christ overcame my final resistance. I was baptised when I was 18 and became fully involved in the church of San Lazzaro, serving as youth leader, Sunday school teacher and helper in evangelism. Alongside my job, I attended the IFED theological seminary in Padua at weekends. During those years the elders encouraged young men to prepare a short message to open the Sunday services or the Lord’s Supper. Some were further encouraged to preach at the midweek meetings. In 2003, the elders encouraged me to study at the EMF School, setting that period aside to consider a call to the preaching/pastoral ministry. I realised the need of godly servants for the church in order to continue the work begun by the generation of my elders, and I felt that it was my responsibility to dedicate myself to this. The church then encouraged me to complete a BA and MA programme at the Wales Evangelical School of Theology (WEST). There I met Jenny and in 2006 we married.
Jenny: I am English and was also born into a Christian family. I was brought up in Mount Road Baptist Church in Hinckley and it was there that I became a Christian when I was 10. As a teenager I was surrounded by many ‘missionary influences’. My closest school friend was from a missionary family; I had many Asian friends and was taken to missionary meetings. When I was 16, I was at a meeting where I heard of a need for more workers. I prayed that I would know the Lord’s will for my life. I went to university and trained as a teacher, becoming part of Westgate Chapel in Bury St. Edmunds. Throughout this time though, I still felt constrained to consider some type of Christian work and through praying about this with my pastor and with the support of my church I went to WEST to have a time of preparation, seeking the Lord’s guidance. It was there I met Stefano and as we prayed and saw the Lord leading us step-by-step I came to share Stefano’s vision to serve the Lord in Italy.
Where?
The church of San Lazzaro was founded in 1971 by a group of Christians from the Brethren Church of Bologna. In 1975, the elders felt the need to give the church a clear doctrinal structure, emphasising the personal commitment of every member, so they subscribed to a confession of faith. In 2002 the church, due to its Reformed convictions, left the Italian Brethren Assemblies and became independent. Today about 50 people attend the church and there are about 40 members. The church is pastored by three elders and meets every Sunday morning and every Wednesday evening. At the moment, alongside outreach activities in the community, the church is involved in pastoring another church in Sasso Marconi, a nearby village.
What?
A seven-year project has been drawn up with the church, concerning our service as a couple. Within the church, Stefano will share in the preaching ministry in San Lazzaro and Sasso Marconi. As a couple we will be involved in children’s and young people’s work in both churches, as well as starting a pastoral ministry for young families. Outside the church there are various areas of ministry which we would like to explore. These will include the setting up of an immigrant outreach, starting a schools’ work and entering into the cultural life of the Bologna area.
Why?
Our passion is to reach the 30,000 people of San Lazzaro and the 15,000 people of Sasso Marconi with the Gospel message of our Saviour. Our vision is also to establish a strong fellowship with other Evangelical churches in the area in order to reach the half a million people living, working and studying in Bologna.
When?
The initial step of the project started in March. This will involve two years when we will work part-time for the church and part-time in two ‘secular’ jobs. The aspect we most value is the church-based character of this project in which four churches are working together in partnership, two Italian churches (San Lazzaro and Sasso Marconi) and two English churches (Hinckley and Bury St. Edmunds).
We would much value your prayers, because for us, and for these churches in Italy, it is the very first time that such a project has been set up. There are lots of fears as well as expectations, but we know that the field is of the Lord and He will open the doors for His Gospel.