Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are deeply thankful for your prayers, encouragement, and faithful support of Mission Milan. Because of your partnership in the gospel, the Word of Christ continues to be proclaimed clearly and joyfully here in Italy. It is a privilege to labor in this land and to witness the quiet, steady work of the Lord as he builds his church through ordinary means—Word, sacrament, prayer, and fellowship.

A Historic Gathering of Reformed Churches in Italy

On January 6, our church had the joy of hosting a gathering of twenty-three ministers and elders representing ten confessional Reformed and Presbyterian churches from across Italy. These churches came from Milan, Monza, Lecce, Pistoia, Brescia, Asti, Legnano, Novara, San Remo, and Bergamo. Several of the missionaries who serve these churches have recently been sent by the Presbyterian Church in Brazil. We are happy to work alongside these brothers as we share a commitment to confessional Reformed theology.

We gathered for the purpose of hearing God’s Word, prayer, singing, and discussing how we might move forward together in the formation of Italy’s first Reformed denomination. It was a deeply encouraging time of unity, humility, and shared commitment to the historic Reformed faith.

During the meeting, two committees were established, each consisting of five men. One committee will study matters of liturgy and worship, and the other will focus on polity and church order. We plan to reconvene in one year to receive their reports. In the meantime, we are committed to deepening our communion through pulpit exchanges, joint retreats, and regular times of prayer. This gathering was a significant step forward, and we are grateful for the Lord’s guidance and provision.

Sixth Annual Milan Conference on Reformed Theology

On Saturday, October 25, we hosted our Sixth Annual Milan Conference on Reformed Theology, centered on the theme: “We Believe: Why the Nicene Creed Still Matters Today.”

More than 100 visitors attended, which is an excellent turnout for Italy. Believers traveled from across northern Italy to listen, learn, and enjoy fellowship together. Events like this continue to demonstrate a growing hunger for sound, Christ-centered theology. We pray that the Lord will use this annual conference to help many discover the riches of the Reformed faith and to strengthen His church for years to come.

Ad Fontes Podcast and Publishing Ministry

Our Italian podcast, Ad Fontes, continues to grow and now reaches listeners throughout the country. We are grateful for how the Lord is using this platform to introduce many Italian speakers to the gospel and to the theological depth and pastoral warmth of the Reformed tradition.

Connected to this ministry is the new publishing house we have created, also called Ad Fontes. We recently published our second title, a short pastoral commentary on the book of Jonah titled Grazia inarrestabile (Relentless Grace). Our goal is not to publish heavy academic books but short, accessible titles that will help Italians grow in their understanding of God’s sovereign and gracious mercy.

Ministry Opportunities Across Italy

In recent months, I have been blessed with opportunities to preach and teach beyond Milan. I traveled to the south of Italy to preach at the Presbyterian Church in Lecce and in two evangelical churches in Naples that have expressed growing interest in Reformed theology. The churches in Naples also invited me to lead a one-day seminar on leadership for several local pastors. It was a rich time of fellowship, encouragement, and theological discussion, and we thank the Lord for these open doors.

Family Update

In November, we celebrated the seven-year anniversary of Mission Milan. Through all of the challenges of leaving home and being far from family, the Lord has faithfully sustained us by his grace, giving us the joy of seeing fruit from our labor.

On a personal note, we are thankful to share that Janie and I moved into our new home in late October. While we remain pilgrims whose true homeland is the new earth, we are deeply grateful to the Lord to finally have a place of our own. This has been a great blessing for our family and has helped us feel more rooted and settled as we continue our long-term ministry here.

Thank you for standing with us in prayer and support. Your partnership enables us to remain here, to preach Christ faithfully, to shepherd His people, and to labor patiently for the advance of the gospel in Italy. We are encouraged by your love for Christ and His church, and we remember you often in our prayers.

May the Lord bless you richly as you serve Him in your own churches and communities.

With gratitude in Christ,

Michael and Janie Brown

Mission Milan

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

For more information about the Reformation in Italy then and now see these resources.

Learn more about Mission Milan here.

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Post authored by:

• Mike Brown

  

  Mike Brown is pastor of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia, Milan, Italy. Prior to serving in Italy he was pastor of Christ Reformed Church, Santee, CA. He is a graduate of Westminster Seminary California, a veteran of the United States Army, and author of Christ and the Condition: The Covenant Theology of Samuel Petto (1624–1711) (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books, 2012) and co-author (with Zach Keele) of Sacred Bond : Covenant Theology Explored (Grandville, MI: Reformation Fellowship, 2017).

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