THE PORDENONE MINISTRY

"To evangelize the ‘hardened people’ is equally as urgent and mandatory as reaching the ‘hidden’ people.”

(Dr. Saphir Athyl, program chairman for the Lausanne Congress in Manila)

We need hardy men and women to reach a hardened people.



Italy is a difficult field. It is a sowing field, not a harvesting field. Similar to other Western European countries Italy has often been called “the graveyard of modern missions.” That is, over the years more people return to the homeland than stay in Italy to finish the task.
But above all it is a hardened field. The soil of the nation’s heart has become hardened to the truth of the gospel by centuries of adhering to a religion of Christianity rather than to the Person of Christianity. Contributing heavily to this hardened soil is secularism, a belief system that negates the need for God and religion.
So we need hardy individuals to work in this field.

Are you a hardy person?Does this kind of ministry challenge you?If so you might want to know more.

WHO WE ARE



The Missionaries: Gene & Susan Coleman serving with TEAM in PordenoneItaly.

Gene was born in Canada but raised in Nigeria where his parents were missionaries. His mother led him to the Lord when he was seven.

Susan was born and grew up in Orlando, Florida. At age 16, she received Christ while attending a Bible study connected with Campus Crusade.

In 1983, Gene and Susan went to Sicily as part of a church-planting team. They had the joy of seeing a church started in the city of Syracuse in Sicily. Then, in 1987 they changed missions and went to Udine (located in northeastern Italy). They ministered there with a team until July of 2001. Realizing that the church in Udine was becoming strong enough, they relocated to Pordenone.

They have two children. Christopher is a junior at Taylor University, Indiana. And Vicki is a sophomore at Houghton College, NY.

The Colemans’ home church is Northside Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Body at Pordenone

The church in Pordenone began in 1975 with informal Bible studies in homes led by two missionary families. These studies were soon moved to a newly rented meeting hall in the same year. In 1978 weekly Sunday services were initiated, as well as the beginning of a radio ministry that lasted for ten years. By 1979 the original missionary team of two couples had grown to three couples and three singles, and in 1981 the church was guided by 5 elders along with two missionaries. The group grew in number as people's lives were changed through the ministry of Radio Punto Luce, a Christian radio station, through summer teams, and through the personal witnessing on the part of the church members.

Unfortunately, the following years were beset by difficult times. None of the elders lasted, the missionary force decreased, the radio station was discontinued, and the church suffered a division.

Today, however, the church is on the rebound. We have two deacons (after over 20 years with no leader except the missionaries), the members of the church have taken responsibility for most of the ministries of the church.And we are praying (1) for godly and gifted men to become leaders of the church, (2) for a musician to lead worship,(3)for a pastor, and (4) for a new meeting hall.

WHERE WE ARE

Pordenone is situated between the beautiful Italian Alps and the tourist resorts of the Adriatic Sea.

WHERE WE WANT TO BE

When our work is done in Pordenone what kind of church do we want to leave? Five E’s help us measure our progress.

Our goal is to Entrust the church to the Lord and to godly and gifted leaders who are able to lead a church that:

Evangelizesunreached people in Pordenone and beyond;


Establishes new and growing believers in Christ-like maturity, so that they can feed themselves spiritually and bear spiritual fruit;


Equips maturing believers so that they might demonstrate God’s love through service by using their spiritual gifts;


Exalts God by their lifestyle and in corporate worship; and it does all of the above without dependence, financially or otherwise, on the missionary or TEAM.

How will the church and the missionaries know when the church is ready to be on its own?

When it is practicing all of the above E’s without dependence, financially or otherwise, on the missionary or TEAM.

What steps are we taking to reach our goal? We take our cue from the example of the apostle Paul alluded to in a passage in Acts 14:21-24.

When our work is done in Pordenone where will we go next?

Realizing that the church in Pordenone could be on its own in 3-4 years we have targeted a triangle of cities about an hour’s drive west of Pordenone. (See maps below.) Between three triangle cities of Vittorio-Veneto, Conegliano and Orsago there is a population of 114,000 where there are no evangelical churches . As far as we know there has never been an evangelical church in the area. Right now there is a small informal group of believers that meets. We have a couple from Vittorio-Veneto that attends our church. Our goal would be to place a team in Conegliano.

HOW CAN YOU BECOME A PART OF FINISHING THE TASK IN PORDENONE AND STARTING A NEW CHURCH IN CONEGLIANO?

Pray

For the PordenoneChurch to be on it’s own, Lord willing, by 2011

(1) for godly and gifted men to become leaders of the church,

(2) for a musician to lead worship,

(3)for a pastor, and

(4) for a new meeting hall.

For the new church plant in Conegliano

1.That God would raise up a church-planting team consisting of a leader, evangelist, music/worship leader, and discipler who are united in vision and calling for this area.

2.That God would prepare the hearts of those in Conegliano/Vittorio-Veneto/Orsago he has chosen for himself to be saved.

Give

Towards the Colemans’ ministry

If you are interested in helping support the Colemans’ ministry please write them at genecoleman@libero.it or write to TEAM headquarters indicating your desire to support the Colemans at the following address:

TEAM

P.O. Box 969

Wheaton, IL60189

Towards the new church plant in Conegliano

The answer to this item is still under consideration.

Come

For a starter, please write the Colemans at genecoleman@libero.it or write to TEAM headquarters indicating your desire to become part of the Conegliano team.