Saturday 14.05.2022, what a day! Weeks of preparation, months of work and finally the day of celebration!
We planted the church “La Parola Vera” in September 2020, during the pandemic, from my living room. During the previous spring we had began giving practical help to local people and the first man we donated food to was in a town called San Vittore Olona (MI). He was with us on our first service.
Soon after others joined and in April 2021 we had our first service in a building that a local retired entrepreneur (not saved) rented us for free! This hall was in the very same town where we reached out to that very first man. We never officially dedicated that building to the Lord as Covid restrictions did not allow many people in a room, but in the 11 months there, we grew from an attendance of 7-8 to about 25 people on Sundays, 4 people got baptised and the members grew from 6 to 11. Praise God! That place was not entirely ours, we had to share it. God opened great doors, but nothing was easy. The very first service was on Sunday 4th April but during the previous night, my sister was taken to intensive care unit in an induced coma with Coronavirus… yet God called to serve!
We planted the church “La Parola Vera” in September 2020, during the pandemic, from my living room. During the previous spring we had began giving practical help to local people and the first man we donated food to was in a town called San Vittore Olona (MI). He was with us on our first service.
Soon after others joined and in April 2021 we had our first service in a building that a local retired entrepreneur (not saved) rented us for free! This hall was in the very same town where we reached out to that very first man. We never officially dedicated that building to the Lord as Covid restrictions did not allow many people in a room, but in the 11 months there, we grew from an attendance of 7-8 to about 25 people on Sundays, 4 people got baptised and the members grew from 6 to 11. Praise God! That place was not entirely ours, we had to share it. God opened great doors, but nothing was easy. The very first service was on Sunday 4th April but during the previous night, my sister was taken to intensive care unit in an induced coma with Coronavirus… yet God called to serve!
At the end of 2021 things got complicated. The owner of the building gave me a call, not to wish me Merry Christmas, as I hoped, but to tell me that the place where we gathered was being sold and that we had a few months to leave. It ruined my holidays. Our income was limited, we had only a few people saved and committed compared to the unsaved ones. Surely we could not afford to rent a place like the one we had.
2022 began with the “distraction” of looking for a new place within 2 months, which for a pastor like me who has a full time secular employment, small kids and a wife who works on shifts was very demanding. On top of that, in January Jessica got Covid for the second time so we were confined at home for 3 weeks and in March I was taken to hospital with a few infections (most probably due to stress). It was difficult to prepare Bible studies and sermons in those days, it was a challenging time, but God had called us to plant the Church and the gates of hell would not prevail!
2022 began with the “distraction” of looking for a new place within 2 months, which for a pastor like me who has a full time secular employment, small kids and a wife who works on shifts was very demanding. On top of that, in January Jessica got Covid for the second time so we were confined at home for 3 weeks and in March I was taken to hospital with a few infections (most probably due to stress). It was difficult to prepare Bible studies and sermons in those days, it was a challenging time, but God had called us to plant the Church and the gates of hell would not prevail!
When we found the new hall, it was a disaster! It was the only place we saw which had the space we needed at the budget we could afford, but it was a mess! The previous tenants used it to store all sorts, there was also a broken van without wheels inside! Covid delayed things, the leaving of the tenants also and the place had to be cleaned up, redecorated to be made suitable for the community. We took about 2 months to prepare it and during this time we met in streaming. Funny enough, when the churches closed down for Covid, we opened, and now that churches opened up, we closed… now you understand why we were so excited on the day of dedication!
I hadn’t seen Colin and Samuele Aru for about 6 years. They represent an important part of my history. Samuele and I were together in London for about 2 years when God called me to the ministry while helping him and his family in the planting of the Church now called “Living Christian Church”, where Samuele is today the pastor. Colin is a spiritual father; he is the one who believed in my calling more than anyone else. He supported us while pastoring in the UK in 2016 to keep believing in me even when I failed. Having them with us on this day was highly encouraging and inspiring! They also brought the flavour of MFG to our new fellowship, helping them to see bigger and beyond!
On the day of dedication we had the presence of the Mayor and believers from about 4-5 local churches. We were about 70 people, there was a great atmosphere and the presence of God was tangible. Not one of the local pastors I invited came along; sadly often we are interested in God’s work only if it belongs to our group or denomination… Anyway, God’s approval means more than church politics, and that is why I love MFG.
Now a new chapter starts with new challenges. Pray for us for God to bring a revival in our community and to give us strength and wisdom to serve with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Gioele & Jessica Gallo