Recent research (the Patmos Initiative) reveals that millions of Italians are curious about the Bible and Jesus, yet they neither attend church nor read Scripture. Meanwhile, local churches struggle to reach them.
Many pastors juggle full-time jobs alongside caring for their congregations, leaving little time for outreach. Most evangelical churches are small with few volunteers, making it difficult to sustain evangelism efforts. And with evangelicals making up only about 1% of Italy’s population, many Italians may never personally meet a believer. Over time, Christians also tend to have fewer non-Christian friendships, as church activities naturally pull them inward.
Our vision is to serve Evangelical churches in Italy by:
Creating a 24/7 online outreach ministry that clearly presents the Gospel.
Forming strategic partnerships with church networks to connect seekers with local congregations for discipleship and support.
Supporting church-planting efforts where no local church exists, helping new communities of faith take root among those eager to know Jesus.
I (Dan) grew up as a missionary kid and later became both a PAOC pastor and a psychotherapist. In both roles I saw the same challenge: churches struggle not only to meet the ongoing needs of their congregations but also to move them outward in mission. As a therapist, I often met clients who were open to spiritual conversations, yet attending a church felt like too big a step. I knew the seekers were there, and I knew churches struggled to reach them.
A few years ago, while in Oxford for Jenn’s Ph.D. in Medieval History, God called us to reach nominal Catholics and secular Italians. But could we help churches overcome their practical barriers?
What if spiritual conversations were available online, 24/7, and people could choose their level of engagement? What if we could walk with them toward faith, then connect them with a local church for discipleship and community?
That’s the vision God has given us: to serve local churches by sharing the Gospel online and helping seekers find their way into the family of God.
