Christians for Israel starts to grow in Italy

Andrew Tucker and I visited Italy from 29 February – 3 March for three days of intensive working meetings. Christians for Israel International has been working for over 6 years in Italy. Willem Glashouwer has been invited to Italy many times to speak at conferences, and some of his books are available in Italian. A significant network has been developed. But it is only recently that a local C4I branch has developed. The Chairperson of Cristiani per Israele, Edda Fogarollo, is a lecturer in history at the University of Padova. She is specialized in holocaust studies and het history of Italian/Jewish relations. She came into contact with Christians for Israel International several years ago. Immediately she knew that this was the organizations she had been praying for years to work with. In May 2011 Cristiani per Israele was born.

It has been a great blessing to work for several years together with the Italian Publisher and Christian ministry Uomini Nuovi established by Giuseppe Laiso. We met with our good friend and supporter Romolo Giovanardi who is closely connected with this ministry, in addition to his many other activities, including pastoring a local church. Romolo finds it increasingly difficult to spread a positive message about Israel and the Jewish people in the churches in Italy. Even in the Protestant churches, replacement theology is deep in their veins. There is little knowledge about the Jewish people. The most important task is to capture the attention of the people. They need to be triggered to want to learn more. This is not an easy task.

One of the greatest challenges in Italy is the division between the Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches. There remains a deep mutual mistrust. Christians for Israel can potentially play a unique role, by uniting Christians from both sides. This will have to develop at the grass roots level, not via the church hierarchies. Many of the people we met shared with us that they see many more Roman Catholics coming to an understanding of God’s love for Israel.

The key to engaging the church in Italy is education, particularly about the history of Italy’s relationship with Israel and the Jewish people. This must be done by Italians in the Italian language. Out of this, we hope that a network will develop of people who will be given a genuine love for God’s people. In the meantime, C4I Italy will be dependent on the financial support of a limited number of individuals and churches.

In the last year, Edaa Fogarollo has spoken at many churches in Northern Italy about the history of God’s people. She is receiving more invitations from churches as well as secular institutions throughout the country. Edda has recently finalised a book about the holocaust which will shortly be published by Uomini Nuovi. The big challenge is to enable her to spend more time on the work of C4I. Edda has a senior position for Provincial Government in Padua. We are hoping and praying that sponsors in Italy will provide the funds necessary to enable Edda to reduce these commitments so that she can dedicate more time to the ministry of Cristiani per Israele.

Marloes van Westing
Christians for Israel International

Andrew Tucker (C4I International)
Edda Fogarollo (C4I Italy)
Romolo Giovanardi (Uomini Nuovi)
Myriam Giovanardi (Uomini Nuovi)
Chiara Canciani (C4I Italy)