A Guest Writer

Last week Jim and Linda Allen flew in from the States to join our team for a week of prayerwalking around the city, in preparation for the launching of our ministry this week. It was an incredible, if challenged, time. I asked them if they would write about their impressions of Bologna and Italy for the Blog, so that you could read about an "outsider's" perspective. This is what they shared:

The last week of September we had the privilege of joining Cody and Jen in Bologna to pray for Italy in general, and for the university students in particular. It was a daunting task to “stand in the gap” for so many people – what can a few people say to an Almighty God that would actually make a difference for a whole country? Yet He tells us to call to Him, and He will answer us, and tell us great and mighty things we do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

We got to see that God is at work in Italy. He has burdened the hearts of two small evangelical churches in Bologna to pray for an outreach to the university students. In answer to that, He is clearly calling workers to go there to share the gospel – the Phipps family being one example of that.

Being in Italy helped us to understand the context in which Cody and Jen are working. It is a different culture to which they must adapt in order to build the social networks necessary for communicating spiritual truths. It’s a culture with a tradition of religion that doesn’t promote the gospel of grace. And, like in much of the world, there is a focus on materialism and humanism that ignores the need for a deeper life. These are the obvious obstacles that Cody and Jen face daily in their ministry. However, the greatest and often less obvious obstacle is spiritual attack from Satan. We experienced it in the short time we were there. Of a team of 8 people, 5 were unable to join the prayer walks for most of the week because of health problems they encountered. What an affirmation that prayer for Italy is vital – it’s threatening the enemy’s territory! Our discussions with Cody and Jen reaffirmed this fact. Missionaries on foreign soil deeply need prayer and encouragement from the body of Christ.

On another note, our trip to Italy had personal significance for me, Linda. My father was in Italy during World War II. He participated in the campaign that brought liberation to the Italians. Understandably, it was a grievous experience for him – one that affected him emotionally and spiritually for life. Over the years I heard so many of his war stories and descriptions of Italy that I suppose I adopted some of his grief. As a result, I never had a desire to visit Italy. So what does the Lord do? He sends us to Italy! Even though we didn’t visit the specific sites Daddy did, I sensed a significance in just being in the same country. Part of it was that my bias against Italy was dispelled. But also, the Lord has been showing me a bigger picture: He is at work to complete what the Allied army began over 60 years ago. They brought military and political liberation to Italy; now God is working to bring true, lasting spiritual freedom. Daddy’s grief is rendered powerless and I am allowed the privilege of being, through my prayers, part of God’s redemptive plan for Italy!

Often we can feel so overwhelmed not only by the task at hand but by the opposition we encounter relentlessly. During our week of prayer, I was reminded often of the verse in Matthew where Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God "forcefully advancing." I pictured that happening tangibly that week. It brought countless blessing and encouragement to our whole team.