A recent highlight was our campus campaign. Thirteen students from five states came for four weeks to help us start a campus ministry. They raised their own money for flights and for some extra Italian fun. We are very thankful to the IMS for helping with metro passes and some money for food. Without their support they would not have been able to come. During the campaign, we divided the students into two groups. One group would focus on Bocconi (the top business school in Italy) and the other group went to Politecnico (a large university mainly focused on engineering, design, and many other majors). They would have daily bible talks, one on one studies, and various activities to build relationships. They shared with tons of students every day. Saturday was a day to visit various parts of Italy. The universities in Milan are mainly commuter in nature, so the campuses are completely dead on the weekends.

At one point during the campaign, we were all feeling  very challenged in our faith because the majority of the students are now atheists and agnostics (totally different from the States).  We set up a "skype" devotional with Ronny Yttrehus, who serves as an evangelist in Bergen, Norway.  Ronny did a great job teaching on how to reach atheists on campus, and gave us several resources to help study with them.  What a difference it makes to be connected in God's kingdom! I do believe this was a boost for the students and the church as a whole. The students continued to preach and share daily.  New friends came to the majority of our church services and events.  We currently have one student who is very close to being baptised and some other studies studying the Bible.

Of course the impact on the rest of the church was tremendous.  Although we cannot live in a campaign mode, we can re-focus on the mission and get back to the daily walk of being disciples of Jesus.  The church is more inspired, and has more faith and love as a result of the students touching our lives.  Please pray that we can reap a harvest from these efforts, and continue to please God in every way.  Thanks again for our partnership with the IMS and our family churches around the world!

Much Love, Joe and Annie Silipo