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Greetings!
It has now been almost 3 weeks since we quit our "regular" jobs to start our new careers as full-time missionaries. While it has been challenging at times as we've tried to adjust to a new schedule that includes both fundraising and homeschool, it has also been a wonderful time of faith-building and family closeness. The Lord has been teaching us so much and we know that it will only continue as we move forward in this call.
If you're interested in reading more about what God has been speaking to us individually, you can visit our blogs at the links below:
We have a busy and exciting month planned for September. Please continue to keep us covered in your prayers as we move forward in God's plan.
Until All of Italy Hears,
Stephen and Brandy |
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90 x 40 Challenge - Last Chance!
When the Lord led us to start the 90x40 Challenge at the beginning of the summer, we didn't know exactly what to expect. Then God started adding people to our team right away, with our first new ministry partner coming on board within 1 hour of us launching 90x40!
Every few days, the Lord would bring us new partners! Many were family and friends, but there were also several people we had never met before who heard the story and were so moved by the need in Italy that they joined in too.
Two churches and a small group jumped on board and a few of our ministry partners who had already made commitments increased their monthly amounts in response to 90x40! We even had a couple of other missionary families join our team! All in all, we've received 38 out of the 90 commitments needed to get us to our goal. Almost half! Not too shabby, huh? With only a couple of days left until our deadline, a lot of other people would hang it up. But we're just crazy enough to think that God might want to do something amazing before the clock strikes 12:00 am on Sept. 2. If you've felt the urge to get involved, but for whatever reason haven't made a commitment, it's not too late to make a difference. Your monthly partnership will impact lives, bringing those far from God into loving relationship with Him. You can help build thriving communities of believers in Italian cities that have NEVER had an evangelical church! Just click the 90 x 40 Challenge button below to let us know your decision. |
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"Wake Up Italy" Video
Ever since our vision trip to Italy in the spring of 2010, it has been on our hearts to produce a short video to tell the story about the need for evangelism and church planting in Italy. We know many people have never been to Italy. Others have visited and seen it through the eyes of a tourist. But we wanted to expose the irony of Italy - in spite of a deep religious heritage, many Italians are detached from the church and immersed in secularism and materialism. Thanks to our friend and ministry partner, Darius Dunson, we are nearing the completion of our video. Darius is using his talent for video production to express the great need in Italy in a very compelling way. Also, thanks to Herman Jones, another great friend and ministry partner, who is adding his vocal talent for the voiceover that accompanies the video.  | | Herman recording the voiceover |
The video should be available later this week so be on the lookout! We are excited to have this new tool to communicate the spiritual state of Italy to churches, small groups, and future supporters! Once it has been published we encourage you to share it with friends who also have a heart for missions. |
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Kids' Korner
Bryson and Laynie were so excited a few weeks ago to receive their passports in the mail! They wanted to pack immediately to leave for Italy, so we had to explain that the process is a little more complicated than that. Next step: visas!
 | | Bryson and Laynie with their new passports |
The kids are really enjoying homeschool! Actually, they are part of a virtual school called Georgia Cyber Academy. They each attend a couple of online classes each day and then Brandy works with them to cover the rest of the material through a curriculum called K12. The flexibility of the program has been great so far during this time of transition for our family. Even Stephen has pitched in to help with school in between his appointments!
 | | Playing a geography game during homeschool |
 | | Our homeschool space |
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Join Our Facebook Group!
As a way to more easily communicate regular prayer needs, we created a Facebook group - Pray for the Verners. We currently have 77 members and would love to double that number.
If you haven't already, would you click on the link below and join right now?
www.facebook.com/groups/theverners |
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Praise Reports
Since our last newsletter, the Lord has brought us a new church partner and 10 new individual/family partners for a total of $405 in monthly support!
In the last month, we have received $550 in special gifts! |
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Quick Prayer Points
There are still a couple of days left before our 90x40 Challenge ends. Join with us in prayer that God would bring in the remaining people needed to meet our goal.
Balancing the needs of homeschool and support raising can be challenging. Please pray for continued adjustment to our new schedule.
Please keep Stephen in your prayers and he continues to heal from a back injury. |
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Upcoming Events
September 1 - Last Day of 90x40 Challenge
September 2 - Speaking at Gunawans' Small Group
September 10 - Brandy speaking at "Women Growing in Grace" Ladies Group
September 16 - Helping lead all-night prayer event in Jonesboro, GA |
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Fun Facts
While Bryson and Laynie are being homeschooled right now, they will attend Italian public schools when we move to the mission field. Here's a glimpse of what schools in Italy are like:
Preschool is for children ages 3-5 years old and elementary school begins with 1st grade. The general schedule for elementary school is 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
There is a lunch break and some of the children go home for lunch. However, due to the fact that both mothers and fathers generally work nowadays, most children stay at school for lunch. The children that stay eat in the cafeteria and the lunch is a nice one with a primo (first course) and a secondo (pasta and some sort of protein). Children do not bring their own lunches to school.
Middle school and high school students are in school from 8:00 am to 1:00 or 2:00 pm. They wait to eat lunch until they get home. |
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Stephen and Brandy Verner
TEAM Missionaries to Italy
PO Box 466154
Lawrenceville, GA 30042
Stephen: 706-201-5570
Brandy: 770-837-2846
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