ON A WING AND A PRAYER

by Mark Detzler

A helicopter pilot was flying over the city of Rome recently. As he approached Ciampino airport he began to have twinges in his chest and realised that he was in the early stages of a heart attack. Miraculously, he managed to set his helicopter down on a six-lane ring road just 500m from the runway without causing a single casualty.

Many in Christian work here in Southern Europe today find themselves in a similar situation. They have the training, and an important role, but they find their ministries severely curtailed and often threatened by a chronic lack of financial backup.

An evangelist working in his own country does not have to study a new language or culture or go on furlough, but raising financial support in his own country can be a major problem. I know of men with successful ministries who may soon have to take secular jobs to provide for their families.

For many the need is quite modest: £200-£300 a month could make all the difference. This kind of sum is beyond most individual's possibilities, but several gifts of £10, £20 or £30 a month could transform the ministries of pastors, teachers and evangelists all over southern Europe.

In Italy we have several excellent candidates who could make good use of any help. One is an expert in ancient languages who, over the last 15 years, has overseen the revision and reprinting of the Italian Bible, set up a publishing house, trained dozens of men for ministry and planted a church. Another is an Italian graduate of London Bible College, planting a church in Naples.

Let me encourage you to consider this challenge and maybe to invest some of your time and money in freeing up Europeans to evangelise Europe.