Making the name of Jesus famous in Bologna
Church planter Marco Martella shares how support from Union Mission is helping Nuova Vita Downtown church reach Bologna with the gospel.
Nuova Vita Downtown church was planted in the city centre of Bologna. About three hundred thousand students live in this city, and about ninety thousand new students enrol each academic year.
Bologna is famous for its university, which is recognised as the oldest in the western world, founded in 1088, to guarantee free teaching independent from ecclesiastical schools. Not only that, but it is also very famous for its hedonistic lifestyle, and its nightlife, which strongly characterise its culture. The historic centre hosts thousands of entertainment and catering activities and offers a strong appeal, especially for the younger population who usually frequent this area of the city.
NV Downtown was born as a foundation project of the Nuova Vita church with the idea of extending the vision, values and passion that characterise it in the Gospel. There is currently only one Reformed church committed to authentically preaching the Gospel, one historic liberal church, and a couple of very closed and historically inactive small denominational groups in the downtown area.
Our vision is to make the name of Jesus famous by preaching the Gospel in the centre of the city of Bologna. Our desire is to make known to everyone who knows us the true happiness that every person can find only in God, our Creator. In this regard, we are committed to making passionate disciples for Jesus so that, through the transforming power of the Gospel that changes our lives, we can reflect the beauty and love of God as a new community that lives the values of His Kingdom. Therefore, we want to invest in the Gospel-centred biblical training of new leaders to see the church grow and multiply.
Looking for belonging
The main need in the cultural context of the downtown area is a sense of belonging. Many people for work or study reasons are away from their families, so it is easy to feel and be alone. Many students, for example, to avoid loneliness get carried away in the hedonistic entertainments of the city and very often get lost in the darkness that the city offers.
So our commitment as a church is to welcome and become that family or point of reference for the people around us. Showing how in Christ it is possible not only to be part of a global and eternal family, but also to be part of something more glorious than a life spent behind the false momentary pleasures of sin.
To meet these needs, we have started several ministries such as hospitality, helping and visiting people who have just arrived in town, elderly people, single widows and the disabled. Our ministry is to be a gospel community which reaches out to people around us, and while having something to eat and drink we also study the Bible. We also organise themed evangelistic events to invite our whole neighbourhood to.
How is Union Mission helping?
Union's financial support helps us to be able to cover many of the expenses we face in all these areas, such as buying materials needed for events and food for families in need, and allows us to support the full-time pastor of the church.
Pray for Nuova Vita Downtown church
You can pray specifically for:
The various ministries listed above
Events scheduled in the coming months
The people we have developed relationships with so far, who have various mental and physical health issues and whom we long to see know Jesus.
The good relationships we have with the neighbourhood and local leaders.
The unity of Nuova Vita Downtown church and for wisdom for its pastors and deacons.
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