Hello everyone, The last update for the 2016 years! What an incredible year it’s been for me and my wife. Getting engaged. Seeing many students come and go From the Bible College closer to the Lord and more Equipped with His word. Getting married! Seeing my family and friends. Meeting many new people. Seeing the faithfulness of the Lord throughout it all. Even in this last update, there is much happening here In Montebelluna and in the ministry. Calvary Montebelluna/Feltre.
These past few months for our churches have been honestly pretty difficult. All of our staff is mostly gone for holiday and Pastor Craig hasn’t been doing very well health wise. He has asked me to fill in for him These last two months. It’s been quite a challenging when your pastor isn’t healthy and well and Serving along side of you. But in all this the Lord will be Glorified and we are trusting Him In this moment of testing and trail. He’s asked me to teaching our Sunday and Wednesday services and I’ve been teaching Through the letters of the Thessalonians and Philippians on Sundays. Calvary Bible College. We are so looking forward to Spring ’17 And a new group of students. Also there will Be quite a few students who are returning. I’ll most likely be teaching through the book Of Hebrews this semester and involved in other Aspects of the college. Such as our evening of Community Worship, and our Footsteps of Paul trip to Athens and Corinth. Prayer Requests.
We love all of you and are so thankful for your support and prayers. Please feel free to message us, we always love to hear from others who read these. Also, if you would like to get involved in what the Lord is doing here in Italy. One practical way, besides prayer, is to support us financially. We are 100% supported missionaries. And this next year we are praying for more finical supporters as we can not continue to live here and serve without them. If you feel lead, please contact us for more information or any questions.
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In studying Philippians 1, I found this great account from Warren Weirsbe about two great theologians. Despite having differences they both understood humility and they were united in a common goal; preaching Christ. "It is a matter of historic record that the two great English evangelists, John Wesley and George Whitefield, disagreed on doctrinal matters.
Both of them were very successful, preaching to thousands of people and seeing multitudes come to Christ. It is reported that somebody asked Wesley if he expected to see Whitefield in heaven, and the evangelist replied, “No, I do not.” “Then you do not think Whitefield is a converted man?” “Of course he is a converted man!” Wesley said. “But I do not expect to see him in heaven—because he will be so close to the throne of God and I so far away that I will not be able to see him!” Though he differed with his brother in some matters, Wesley did not have any envy in his heart, nor did he seek to oppose Whitefield’s ministry." Philippians 1:6 - "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"
I recently shared this verse last Sunday at Calvary Montebelluna and Calvary Feltre. Satan always wants to hinder, stop and destory the work of God. No matter how big or small. Any work of God Satan hates and he Hates all those who participate in God's service. How do you battle an enemy that "goes to and Fro like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour"? Prayer. Are you feeling attacked spiritually? Fight with prayer. We as a staff here at CC Montebelluna Have been praying for strength and Protection in this time as we experience Different attacks from the enemy. Whenever there is a work of God There will be attacks to try to counter What God is wanting to do. But as I shared Sunday, God's work in His church And in His people will never be stopped. Through all the trials, all the suffering, all the sickness; God will see His work to the end. - Blessings Jake
CCBC Italy. This semester we have 20 students. It’s been a great start with Jenn overseeing the M199 practical ministry class of the students organizing the areas in which they serve in the church and the school. She is really enjoying that. I am teaching 1st and 2nd Thessalonians to 14 of the students and it’s been great to see how God has used these teachings to transform and further grow the students in their relationship with Him and in His word. We got back from our Footsteps of Paul trip to Naples to see the cities of Pompeii, Puteoli, Positano and climbed Mt. Vesuvius. Prayer Requests: - Our marriage. - Pastor Craig's health. - Financial provision and more monthly supporters. - The Last half of the Fall Semester of the Bible College. - "La Via", the college group of the church. - Greater vision in serving the Lord as a married couple. - The students and the church people we have been discipling to grow in the Lord. Hey Everyone!
So happy for this video update as Jenn and I do it together as a married couple! Thank you all for your love and support. Look ahead for a in depth update on our wedding and what the Lord did in our lives during the process. Blessings! Jake and Jenn Ministry in Italy Facts: CC Montebelluna.
The past month of June was a fury of ministry And amazing opportunities to share the gospel With a region of people who have never understood The simplistic message of God's love and grace. We were able to go to a Resting Home and put on a Small gospel skit and play different worship songs For the elderly folks that were there. It was a great time seeing their faces light up with joy From having visitors come. I was also given the opportunity to Teach Wednesday Night Study. It was very nerve racking teaching in Italian but by God's grace it Went very smooth and encouraging to see the Lord grow me in Being able to do Bible studies more and more in Italian. We also had our yearly Calvary Chapel Italy Conference where All the Calvary's in Italy meet for a few days. It was awesome seeing How God has grown this work over the past 20 years to 4 people to over Hundreds and hundreds of Italian believers. This past month I've also been blessed to see our College Group grow And new young people having more of a desire to seek God and how The Lord is drawing more and more new people. Lord willing I will be able to focus more on this group when I get back And really build them up with God's word and solid fellowship that they Can't get anywhere else being the only Christians in their College's and Universities. August 6th. I have safely arrived to Florida and am reunited with my Fiancé Jennifer. We are continuing in our planning and preparations for our wedding and Could not be more excited for this season of our lives and blessed to see How God has been providing miraculously for everything! Prayer Requests. - Praise for a car we received for free! - Last month of preparations before the wedding. - Our families. - Monthly supporters as we increase our budget now being a married couple. - All the new people coming to church! - Summer Baptisms. - Next Bible College semester. Ciao Ragazzi! CCBC Italy.
We have concluded our Spring 2016 semester here at CCBC Italy! It's been my 9th semester on staff here and Jenn's 1st semester on staff. We watched 4 students graduates this semester at our campus. There were three Americans and 1 Italian. Two of the three American actually did 3 semesters here! It was a joy to see how the Lord continually called them back And how they finished strong at our campus. And we had one of our Italian students Stefano graduate as well! It's always a blessing to see young Italian guys come And finish the program here with a Greater understanding of God's word. When he was up there I couldn't help but See how the Lord used His word and The school to shape his life in a greater way. Pray for more Italians to come and study God's Word here at the Bible College. There truly is such a lack of God's word here in Italy. Outreach To Siracusa, Italy. Jenn and I were able to lead a team of 3 Italians to Sicily to help the first Calvary Chapel ever planted there! They started about a year and a half Ago and have a small group of People attending every week. It was such a blessing to come along side of Seby (the pastor), And Laura his wife in their new church plant and encourage them And the few believers that have begun to attend the church. Seby asked me to teach the Sunday service and Jenn and the rest of the students were able to help out with kids ministry. It was so cool to see a new fresh work in another part of Italy! But we felt such a burden for this city and prayerfully will be able To do an outreach there every semester bringing students to Encourage the church and reach out to evangelize a city In which the Gospel is definitely lacking. Follow this church on instagram and being to Pray for Seby & Laura as they continue to faithfully Teach God's word. CC Montebelluna. Lately I've had the privilege to be able to teach At Calvary Montebelluna. I taught on a Sunday and another Time on a Wednesday night. It was such a blessing to share what the Lord Has been speaking to me in this season. I really do love teaching God's word And it's amazing to see Him continually Giving more and more opportunities to Do it. Jake and Jenn. August 6th is right around the corner and Jenn And I are so excited to start our new life together Serving as Husband and Wife in Montebelluna! At the end of the semester Jenn went back to FL As her 90 day tourist visa expired. While she's in FL she will be preparing for the wedding, Spending time with her family and church and Getting her things organized as she will be moving to Italy indefinitely and preparing to apply for her Missionary Visa. I will be going to FL as well at the end of June to be With Jenn before the wedding, to help her with the Preparations and spending time with her family. Prayer Requests. - Jenn's time in Florida to be a blessing and preparations to go smoothly. - Jake's remaining time in Italy serving in the church, youth & college group. - Financial provision for our wedding and missionary support as a married couple. - All those serving in Italy to be encouraged in the work they are faithfully doing. Praise Reports! - Jenn was blessed with a wedding dress that a friend in the church gave her! - We signed the contract to our new apartment and we got the keys! - The church body blessed us abundantly at our engagement party! - Our 4 graduates and 1 Italian graduate who finished Bible College! - Another semester went smoothly by the grace of God! Click below to support Jake and Jenn's Wedding!
"For all the chosen race |