JANUARY 2026
Dear prayer companions,
After a busy Christmas season, here we are to update you on what's going on here in Perugia! Despite our many shameful failures, we can say that we continue to experience God's presence with us in our pilgrimage in the desert of this world. We are grateful for the heavenly food that sustains us in our journey towards the fullness of the new creation and for the safe place that was provided for us to be gathered together as God's people, that is, the church of the living God (Revelation 12:6, 14). We also express our felt thankfulness to you for joining us in persevering prayer for our small flock, for the city of Perugia, and for the region of Umbria in Central Italy.
Evangelistic Opportunities in December
After devoting considerable attention to the Nicene Creed from June to October 2025, culminating in our Annual Reformation Conference on "The Reformers and the Reception of the Nicene Creed," we concentrated on evangelism in December. As usual, at this time of the year, we try to make the most of opportunities to meet people for Christmas and for the end of the year, giving out books, tracts, and especially Bible calendars for 2026 (a day-by-day calendar with a short reading from the Bible followed by a meditation). Cristina and I met personally with around 70 people (possibly more), inviting some to our home and visiting others at theirs. These visits usually last for about 45–60 minutes, and every year, a growing number of people enter the circle of our acquaintances and, most importantly, we see that a growing number of people attend our services (even though still sporadically).
Christmas Concert
On Friday, December 19, 2025, we had our second Christmas Concert (the first was in 2024). I advertised the event on the church's Facebook page and via WhatsApp. Moreover, I used some leaflets that were distributed in various places in a big shopping mall not far from the church. Also, our members used both WhatsApp and the leaflets I gave them to invite relatives and friends. As compared to 2024, this year the attendance doubled, and we had a turnout of over 50 people! ☺ Of these people, 17 were (few) practicing or (more) nominal Roman Catholics, some of whom (around 10–12) we met for the very first time, while others had already attended last year's Concert or our Annual Reformation Conference last October; another 30 people were members of other evangelical churches in Perugia or nearby, while the rest were members of our own church. For the Concert we invited an Italian pianist who is a university professor of music, history of music, and sacred music (both Protestant and Roman Catholic). At the beginning of the Concert, before the pianist played music by Bach and Schubert, I gave a short speech on the incarnation and the meaning of Christmas, after having read from the gospels of Matthew 1 and John 1. At the end of the Concert, people had some cookies, chocolate, coffee, tea, and sodas, and they spent 20–30 minutes in conversation. During this time, many took Bibles, New Testaments, gospels of John, and other books, booklets, and Bible calendars that were displayed on a table at the entrance of the church. Overall, it was a beautiful and encouraging evening that served to enlarge and strengthen the witness and reputation of our church in the city.
Relationship with Other Evangelicals
Both our Annual Reformation Conference and Christmas Concert were useful in promoting and strengthening our communion with other evangelical churches in our city. Since last November, I have begun to visit a Hispanic Pentecostal church. Every other Friday, I teach a Bible study on the Book of Psalms for the benefit of that congregation (our Mission Coordinator, Rev. Richard Bout, visited that church with me during a visit last November, preaching a sermon in Spanish). Moreover, as we try to do at the beginning of every new year, we will have a shared prayer meeting hosted in our church building, open to pastors and other people belonging to various evangelical churches in our area, in which we will join our hearts in prayer for our city of Perugia and the region of Umbria.
Please pray with us for the following:
That the Lord may bless the sowing of the seed of the gospel in Perugia, giving light to the people that we met and that visited our church on some occasion;
That the Lord may strengthen our relationship with other churches in Perugia;
That the Lord may help me to be full of humble zeal to continue to reach out to people, especially young people who are more and more harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
On behalf of all the members of the Chiesa Riformata of Perugia, I express a felt sense of gratitude for your faithful prayers and generous support.
Those of Italy greet you (Hebrews 13:24). ☺
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Pastor Andrea Ferrari