Wisdom from Campus Crusade in Italy

We are about building movements. We want the Gospel to impact students, influencers and families in a real way in Italy and for movements to spread. Unlike our US counterparts, movements in Italy, as far as we have seen, are not necessarily defined by a geographical location. We believe these movements will happen through relational networks. For example, in student ministry, the campus may be the best place to meet students initially, but it may not be the best place to continue to process the Gospel. Because of this reality, consider these questions:

Within your missional audience where do people gather?

Within your missional audience where do people conduct their relationships?

We must distinguish between these two questions because the answer may not be the same place. You may meet a student at a certain faculty, but his entire group of friends gathers someplace else when they get together. Most likely, movements will start and grow where the relationships are conducted. What things do we need to do or change to fit this reality into our strategies?

To get movements started everywhere, all over Italy, we must keep meeting Italians and sharing the Truth of Jesus Christ with them. As most of us have experienced by now, the average Italian response to the Gospel is a foggy cloud of defenses. They have certain walls up, specific issues in their hearts that are both personal and cultural. In these moments of communicating the Truth, what context are we creating for the Gospel to be seen and heard?

We are asking students and families to embrace something they may have never seen or experienced. What if service was one of the contexts in which the Gospel was understood? This is where we need to continue to learn and try new things and ask how we can do better.

How can we invite them into service with us--through good deeds?

How can we serve them--our missional audience--through good deeds?

“Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39