Our glance back on ITA’s ministry in February, and a good part of January, in this month’s review focuses in on our shepherding role in the midst of the Covid crisis.
ITA is acquiring gradual recognition as a vital resource for local churches in Rome and central Italy.
Currently, more and more local churches in Italy, generally speaking, appear to be weighed down by the over excessive burden that government imposed restrictions are having on their community life. Believers struggle to understand Covid and their response to it.
There is no end in sight to this already trying season on the church. Churches continue to meet on Zoom or similar technology while others have begun to meet in-person. Most do both. We have been told that some are not meeting at all.
The current spiritual crisis has created the conditions for the ITA to be sought after for edification and equipping. The impression acquired from our students is such that theological training ministries like ours are no longer viewed as additional to life in and nourishment from one’s local church.
Rather, in Italy at the moment, ITA is filling a present spiritual void. Our survey through the Bible (the OT presently) and more practical study of life in the local church (the two main courses we now teach) are entrusting students with the theological discernment necessary to come to terms with Covid and its implications for the world and for the church.
ITA in this respect is providing doctrine relevant for life and godliness in the present difficult days. This, when church continues to demonstrate a significant need in Italy for “knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,” (Titus 1:1). By that we intend Gospel truth that sanctifies and renders the church’s witness to the world at such a time as this… as hope for the present age (Titus 2:12-13).
Biblical doctrine therefore must be taught and applied, now more than ever. Believers face the risk of being increasingly “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph 4:14).
We thus thank the Lord for the opportunities bestowed to us during the past months. Our first online conference on TheChurch, at the end of January this year, was of great encouragement both to ITA and to the several churches that joined us through technology. In fact, we came away from it with the intention of pursuing more online instruction in terms of both preaching and teaching.