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ITALY - Challenge and opportunity

Italy. Land of pizza, gelato, history, sea, sun..... but a country of challenge and opportunity, and certainly remains a mission-field. Vast areas of Italy are still virtually untouched by the Gospel.

Challenge:
Did you know:
• '32,000 (out of 33,500) Italian communities have no established evangelical witness'
• 'Only 10% (of expatriate missionaries) on average return for a second term.'
• there are 616 official religions in Italy
• there are an estimated 100,000 recognized fortune-tellers
• less than 5% of Catholics are actually practicing
• Islam is the second religion in Italy. Jehovah's Witnesses are as numerous as all Evangelicals put together
• 2.6 million foreigners live in Italy
• in Milan alone more than 1000 teenagers commit suicide each year

Opportunity:
• children and youth: churches often struggle to develop relevant, incisive programs; little is done to minister in schools.
• universities: in some of the most historical universities, Italy has a small, struggling campus Christian witness; in Milan an estimated student population of more than 190,000 and has only a handful of Christian workers.
• families: divorce is alarmingly on the rise (as in all western societies); people are increasingly living together. Family-aimed ministry is so important but is rarely offered.
• senior citizens: Italy has one of the highest populations of older citizens in the world. Often forgotten as an important ministry, opportunities exist in such places as retirement homes and social venues.
• international population: increasingly the 'mission-field' has come to Italy; one of the most receptive areas of mission today, multi-ethnic Italy offers a wonderful opportunity to meet and reach out to minority groups such as the Senegalese, Bangladeshis, Romanians and Egyptians.

Far from being a Christian nation, Italy is land steeped in tradition, superstition, apathy and hopelessness. Often taken off the 'mission-map', Italy remains a country in need.

Italian Ministries is a growing network of like-minded missionaries committed to facilitate missionary work in and from Italy. IM is in a position to be able to inform and challenge as to mission-ministry in Italy.

AIMS!
Italian Ministries (IM) exists:
• to facilitate the development of missional vision and action for the church in Italy.
• as a missional network in Italy bringing together like-minded missionaries to form a field-based. fellowship.
• to offer a window of opportunity for Italians to be involved in mission service (in close collaboration with GMI and 9.37).
• work alongside local churches, organisations and individuals (in Italy and elsewhere) to facilitate a vision for mission.

To learn about ways in which you can be involved in the challenge of missions in Italy go to the Home page.