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Missions Update
Greetings!
I'm so excited to share some great news with you! It's pretty common knowledge that Stephen and I are preparing to be missionaries to Italy. What may not be so well known is what it takes to get there. We are responsible for raising 100% of the funds needed to support our ministry and family while in Italy. As you can imagine, that is no small sum. Over the past several months, it became increasingly apparent that it was going to be very difficult to raise the money we need with both of us working full-time at our church.
We began to pray that God would provide an opportunity for me to work part-time in order to free up time for support raising and He did exactly that! As of tomorrow (Tuesday), I will be transitioning from my current position as Events Coordinator to a receptionist position at our church. This will allow me to have 3 full days each week (Mon, Wed, & Fri) to devote to the administrative work needed for our fund raising, so that Stephen and I will be better prepared to meet with potential supporters and churches. Isn't God good?!?!
Thank you for walking alongside us in this journey. We know that this change will bring us one step closer to the ministry God has called us to in Italy. We can't wait to share what God does next, so stay tuned...
Brandy & Stephen Verner |
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Going Public  It seems strange to see me behind a pulpit instead of a lighting console! However, this weekend we got the first chance to present the story of our missions call to Italy in a church setting when we visited Grace Assembly of God in Rainsville, AL. I preached a sermon called "Promoting God's Agenda", tying our calling back to God's Great Commission. It felt so awesome to finally go public with our support raising efforts! God really came through in a dynamic way! His people generously gave us over $1600 to be used for pre-field traning and outgoing expenses! Shout out to the great people there at Grace for the selfless giving and to Brandy's grandparents, Bill and Modean Watson, who approached their pastor about allowing us to come! Look for more updates like this one as we head into full swing with support raising. If you are interested in meeting with us one-on-one, in a small group setting, or large group setting, please let us know, as we are anxious to spread the news about the work that God is doing now in Italy, and how He is going to work through us there in the future. |
Get Involved! 
As we mentioned above, unfortunately it is not cheap to live and minister in Italy. However, the spiritual need there is great and we cannot allow the cost of living to deter us from reaching Italians!
We feel very strongly that just as God has called us, He has also called people to partner with us in this important work. We are trusting the Lord for 150 people/families to commit financially at a level of $25-$75 per month. This monthly support will provide funds for church planting activities, such as sports ministry, teaching English classes, technology and music training, etc., as well as provide our family's living expenses. While our target departure date is next summer, we cannot leave for the field until this amount has been raised in full. We need your help!!!
Would you please pray and ask God if He would have you partner with us on a monthly basis so that Italians can come to know Christ as Savior and Lord the way that you do? Any monthly donations received before our departure will go towards outgoing expenses, such as pre-field training, airfare for our family to Italy, costs to ship our belongings, housing deposits, language school, etc. For ways to give, please see below. |
Ways to Give
Give through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)This option allows you to set up automatic bank withdraw for regular monthly giving. Simply download the EFT form, fill it out with an original signature, and mail it into TEAM. This saves time and money, avoiding postage and check costs and ensuring that checks won't be delayed or lost in the mail. It also helps TEAM achieve better stewardship of your contribution by reducing processing time and costs, plus no fee is assessed, as credit card donations have.
This option allows you to give by credit card on the TEAM website. Simply select "Stephen and Brandy Verner" in the "Select a Missionary" drop-down menu, and the money will go directly into our account. Please be aware that the credit card company takes approximately 2.5% for their fees.
Give by Mail
You can mail a check to TEAM that will be deposited into our account. Make the check out to "TEAM" and write our names in the memo line.
Mail to: TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL, 60187-0969
Give by Phone
To make a credit card contribution by phone, please call TEAM's Stewardship Ministries Office toll free at 1-800-343-3144 ext. 4880 between the hours of 8:15 am and 4:45 pm (Central Time). |
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Please join us in prayer for the various cities in Italy where missionaries are currently spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Bologna, Italy
In October we will have Charlie Duke, an Astronaut who landed on the moon that is a believer, come to Bologna to speak in at least one of the High Schools, the University and maybe another location. Pray that we can work out all the details for him to speak and that there will be opportunity to follow up people from these events.
Imola, Italy
Pray for wisdom in following up on the contacts made with the Basketball camp and for wisdom in knowing when and where to find an office/public meeting hall.
Umbertide, Italy
Pray that the owner of the new meeting hall is able to quickly obtain the necessary occupancy permits so that we can quickly sign a rental contract upon our return from the USA and pray for wisdom in making decisions about renovating the new meeting hall--we will have limited time and money to work with.
Forli, Italy
Pray for us as we organize a youth weekend retreat September 5-8 at Camp Maranatha. Pray for opportunities to continue to share God's Word with those who come.
Faenza, Italy
As a church we had to give up our church hall, because we were not able to pay the rent. This situation leads us as group of believers to have our Sunday service in the homes again. Pray that the Believers would open their houses in order to get together and celebrate the Lord.
Venice - Mestre, Italy
Please pray for the many individuals, children and families who have had positive contact with Il Faro (the church in Mestre) and heard the Gospel message. Pray that the barriers that prevent them from seeking the truth will be overcome by the Spirit of God. Related to this, please pray as we plan to begin an afterschool program for middle-school kids, especially for those we have had contact with through our basketball camps.
Trieste, Italy
Pray for the Trieste team as we plan and prepare for various evangelistic outreaches for the coming months, including a ladies' meeting, possible businessmen's conference, Family Conference, Thanksgiving outreaches, Christmas Carolers. Pray for creativity in exploring new ways to develop relationships with people individually and through events. Pray that unbelievers who have been attending such events for years, hearing the Gospel but not responding, will be convicted of their sin and their need for Christ and fully surrender to Him.
Pordenone, Italy
Pray for godly and gifted leaders for the Pordenone church and for Roberto - our only elder. He desperately needs a job closer to the Pordenone church. |
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