Hello fellow ministers from MFG!
I am delighted to share a great news with you today, but before let me give you a brief recap of the amazing things God has done in our lives in these last few years in Italy:
•In the beginning 2020, just before the outbreak of the pandemic, the Lord put in my heart the dream of opening a new church in a town without a Christian witness.
•In September 2020 we started in my house: my wife Jessica and I plus a young man.
•In April 2021 God provided a rent free venue in the town we wanted to reach through a non-Christian retired entrepreneur so, while churches shut down all over the world, by the grace of God, we managed to plant a brand new church. By then we were 7-8 people.
•In March 2022 we had to move to a rented place (the free building did not last forever). By then we had baptised 4 people and we were about 20 on Sundays.
We felt reassured that for a few years we needed not to worry about a venue. We had a solid six years rental contract and now wanted to focus only on souls and discipleship, but we got attacked: all those who began with me left, leaving us with the burden of leading a new growing church without any help. Both my wife and I work also in secular employment and have two little girls (one boy on the way!!); you can imagine how hard it is to be out for work 10 hours a day, being parents of small children, lead a church and being without helpers... But God saw the need and sent us one lady, on fire for God, that helps me as secretary and treasurer and covers me occasionally.
As we managed to get back together, our building began to flood, continually for weeks. We could use no longer the children room, the proprietor began accusing us of nonsense and we were stuck: little money, a very few committed people, an unsuitable building and an irresponsible landlord. We did not know what to do; rents are really expensive (we had paid little where we were because we had adapted ourselves in a mediocre place), we could not afford to buy or build, our place was flooded and the proprietor did not want to take its responsibilities. Well, we prayed!
I am delighted to share a great news with you today, but before let me give you a brief recap of the amazing things God has done in our lives in these last few years in Italy:
•In the beginning 2020, just before the outbreak of the pandemic, the Lord put in my heart the dream of opening a new church in a town without a Christian witness.
•In September 2020 we started in my house: my wife Jessica and I plus a young man.
•In April 2021 God provided a rent free venue in the town we wanted to reach through a non-Christian retired entrepreneur so, while churches shut down all over the world, by the grace of God, we managed to plant a brand new church. By then we were 7-8 people.
•In March 2022 we had to move to a rented place (the free building did not last forever). By then we had baptised 4 people and we were about 20 on Sundays.
We felt reassured that for a few years we needed not to worry about a venue. We had a solid six years rental contract and now wanted to focus only on souls and discipleship, but we got attacked: all those who began with me left, leaving us with the burden of leading a new growing church without any help. Both my wife and I work also in secular employment and have two little girls (one boy on the way!!); you can imagine how hard it is to be out for work 10 hours a day, being parents of small children, lead a church and being without helpers... But God saw the need and sent us one lady, on fire for God, that helps me as secretary and treasurer and covers me occasionally.
As we managed to get back together, our building began to flood, continually for weeks. We could use no longer the children room, the proprietor began accusing us of nonsense and we were stuck: little money, a very few committed people, an unsuitable building and an irresponsible landlord. We did not know what to do; rents are really expensive (we had paid little where we were because we had adapted ourselves in a mediocre place), we could not afford to buy or build, our place was flooded and the proprietor did not want to take its responsibilities. Well, we prayed!
Our secretary is an estate agent in her secular life, so I asked her to keep her eyes opened. She saw a place in the neighbourhood of about 250 m2 for sale at a very competitive price. Market value about 230 K€ but for sale for only 165 K€. It was a deal, but we had only 2-3 K€ in the bank; not enough to even think of buying!
We talked to the owner and found out that she was willing to rent it to us for 3 years and would have subtracted the rent-money from the selling price. This would have allowed us to "save", through the rent, for the down payment. It felt miraculous so we offered 150 K€ and she accepted!
Unfortunately someone else made an offer for the building promising to buy by January 2024. The seller could no longer wait the 3 years agreed with us, she needed to sell quickly. The negotiation went downhill. It seemed a closed door, we were still at the beginning point. But God had not finished yet.
We talked to the owner and found out that she was willing to rent it to us for 3 years and would have subtracted the rent-money from the selling price. This would have allowed us to "save", through the rent, for the down payment. It felt miraculous so we offered 150 K€ and she accepted!
Unfortunately someone else made an offer for the building promising to buy by January 2024. The seller could no longer wait the 3 years agreed with us, she needed to sell quickly. The negotiation went downhill. It seemed a closed door, we were still at the beginning point. But God had not finished yet.
The seller called us suggesting that we took over her remaining mortgage rather than applying to a new one in three years time. In this way the down payment wasn't required and everything could move quicker and smoother. She clearly said that she preferred selling to us rather than to the others. Without boring you with many details, we closed the transaction and purchased this place, for the glory of God, on July 28th 2023!
Today I can declare the first part of this miraculous story: our small church, run by volunteers, with no employees, less than 3 years of history, only 11 members (most of which with financial difficulties), owns a building of more than 250 m2 - purchased with less than 3.000 € in the bank. Rejoice with me my brethren! It is really true what the Bible says: the more they persecute us, the more we expand and are victorious in building God's Kingdom! Exactly, this is not my story, not the story of 'La Parola Vera' church; this is OUR story, the story of the Church of God, of how He blesses the work of people who step out in faith also in 2023 AD all over the world.
The new building has a huge potential (yellow walls will be demolished; the red ones will be built):
•Main auditorium of about 100/110 m2
•2 rooms for children of about 28/30 m2 each
•2 offices (bottom right) which we will rent to help us paying the mortgage
•1 more room to store food to assist families in need
The new building has a huge potential (yellow walls will be demolished; the red ones will be built):
•Main auditorium of about 100/110 m2
•2 rooms for children of about 28/30 m2 each
•2 offices (bottom right) which we will rent to help us paying the mortgage
•1 more room to store food to assist families in need
We envision this place to be the one to grow and to start impacting at a deeper level the community. As you can imagine, we feel a bit like Philip when Jesus asked him to provide food for the 5.000. Somehow we managed to buy without money, but now we need to work on it to make it fit our needs. We are offering Jesus our personal bread and fish, aware that it is not enough, but trusting God for his miraculous provision that will happen. I have the feeling that this testimony is not over yet...
Today 7th August 2023, as I write this article, is the first day of the renovations. The one you can see in the picture is going to be our main auditorium.
Hallelujah, we are very excited of the things God has done and we trust him that He will provide all we need to bring to finish this project and give Him all the glory!
Yours in Christ,
Hallelujah, we are very excited of the things God has done and we trust him that He will provide all we need to bring to finish this project and give Him all the glory!
Yours in Christ,
Gioele & Jessica Gallo