Entry 14 / Facing the Council of Trent

Pastor Pippo Rizza

Trento, Italy

Where I stand, the Christian books were collected and set on fire.

Called the “Counter Reformation,” between 1545 and 1563, twenty five councils of the Church of Rome met here in opposition to the Protestant Reformation. This city became the “line drawn in the sand.” Protestantism might have come this far but it would come no farther.

Standing there in the Piazza, staring at the very church where this all took place, I felt the hair raise up on the back of my neck. I sensed the spirit of defiance come upon me. I felt similar to the time friends of mine took me from Napoli to the coast where at the port of Pozzuoli there stood a monument to St. Paul. He had been brought there in chains from Syracuse to eventually be beheaded in Rome. Indignation is the word that describes my feelings on both occasions.

Pippo and Emille

On Wednesday morning Emile drove me to meet Pastor Pippo, a Facebook friend that I had never spoken to but have come to admire at a distance. He is the leader of a growing evangelical church of some one-hundred people.

This is the place

This is a city with a history. To be a Protestant here has for me  added value and meaning. I love to think that God saves a man and sends him here to face down a giant. Pippo is a university Economics and Finance professor and as with most pastors here, they must be bi-vocational or they will soon be starved out.

We caught sight of him coming across the Piazza and after a quick greeting sat down and had a coffee. Following this, Pippo took us on a historical tour, inside the Duomo, through the streets of  almost Austrian architecture decorated with motifs and frescoes coming from as far back as the Renaissance. 

"The Devil's House"

Finally, when lunch time rolled around I was taken to an historical pizzeria. I have taken a photograph to show you what this was like. You will notice the number “408.” Let me explain that was our table number and it is my guess that we were only seated two-thirds of the way into the restaurant. It was enormous.

On the right you will see a doorway closed to the public. This was the meeting of the lutheran Church and now called the “House of the Devil” by the Catholic Church. Pippo had this novel idea to open it up for a meeting place but was promptly told.”No” by the city Fathers. There is always a protectionist and sympathetic City Hall which makes sure that it is made as difficult as possible (actually, IMPOSSIBLE)  for the Evangelical which is classified as an undisreable Cult (“sect” in Italy) by the Roman church.  By contrast, you would be stunned to see how the Bishop lives in Versaille styled opulence.

We left the restaurant, found our car and promised to stay connected. Emile drove me off to Parma where we met ACCI members, Francesco and Aldo two and one-half hours later.

Entry 13 / Sometimes I wish I were rich

Let’s say I was “filthy rich” as my mother used to call it. I would probably help God out… a lot…. too much.

Imra misled me. She said, “It’s only a short walk, about a kilometer.” That doesn’t sound like a lot if one is not hauling an additional forty pounds beyond their recommended body weight. It really isn’t far as long as it is not all straight uphill and one does not have a cold on the verge of  pneumonia. Being trained by my wife in the fine art of walking, I said, Sure, let’s do it!” What visitor wants to look like they are not interested in such things as mushrooms, wild remedies and winding nature trails through spruce and pine. Oh yes, and a shrine to Mary in an occasional tree.

And besides, Imra had spent time explaining how the Lord had laid this ministry and this building on their hearts. How much something like this, a Christian retreat center was needed in this part of the world – so I enthusiastically went along with the dream even though I know that, unless a miracle should happen, this should be impossible to expect.

This is an old Catholic facility with a chapel, modern commercial kitchen and  twenty-two, fully furnished rooms on two floors. “What if we could get this up and running and make it a gathering place for people from all over the region, and other parts of the world as well? This could be used as a pastoral training center! What if we could host retreats, have places for missionaries and pastors’ to ripose, imagine prayer conferences or youth groups coming here? People from all over? People from different kinds of churches and cultures? We could even offer rooms to bicyclists who come by and it wouldn’t matter if they were Christians or not. People from America could come and visit here. After all it is only a short distance from Bavaria, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Lake Garda, Venice!”

An entrepreneur, Emile wasn’t along with us but when he came back he explained that he had already put together a business plan. He asked me what I thought I might pay for such a grand facility and I had no idea. He convinced me that attempting to do this at all, even acquiring the land would be nigh to impossible. It would be well over a million Euro (1,300,000 US dollars) while this can be bought for 250,000 Euro ($300,000.) just as it is. I haven’t told Jeanne yet but I donated the first 100,000 dollars.

Of course, I can’t do that but maybe if I could, I might. This is the point and we all agree on it. If this something in the mind of God, how does He manage to make it happen? Where will such “a table in the wilderness” come from? 

Is there anyone out there that would like to invest in a miracle?   

Entry 12 / The Dilles, Montevelo

On the way up

One thousand feet above the city of Rovereto and on the edge of the Alps lives the Belgian family, the Dilles’.

There are seven of them altogether, Emile, Imra, four girls and one little boy. When Emile and Imra were just children themselves, before they new one another at all, before they were Christians, they knew that they would leave Belgium and live in Italy.

Eight years ago they took their leave and bought a house they originally thought would make a summer cottage but through a variety of circumstances they now live here and invite others to come and stay with them, especially weary missionaries and Christians that need a break.

The view from here

I owe ACCI leader Ann Hinrichs and her husband Luke for this introduction. Years ago Ann and Luke ventured up this way to meet the daughter and son-in-law of Brazilian – Italian’s, Gerson and Maitie Celeti who now live in Norway and serve a missionary training center there. In the process they were introduced to others in the area which included the Dilles’ and Pastor Pippo Rizzo of Trento (more about him in future blog). Since that time they have made a number of other visits ministering in the Trento church on several occasions. Ann often remarked about the friends she had there and then about a year ago Ann along with Canadian Director, Lauren Carrion took John (Our son-in-law and director of ACCI) and Amy (our daughter) lived in Italy with their boys for about three months went up to visit. The Haley’s also made the acquaintance and came back with a good report. So, even though it is out-of-the-way for me and off the beaten track I decided to make the venture and go up.

la ragazze Dilles'

Truly these are wonderful people. After I was picked up at the train station by Emile I was driven up their home in the forest. Even though I was not feeling well with a cold we lingered around the table sharing our journeys and over tea, fresh bread, cheese, ham and prosciutto. It always continues to amaze me that one can encounter complete strangers and feel as though you have known them forever. This wonder is compounded when you think these are folks are twenty years younger and from a completely different part of the world but while hearing their stories I was surprised how similar they are to the two of us (Jeanne and I). In fact, I was thought how similar Imra is to Jeanne when she was the same age and we lived on the farm near North Augusta, Ontario. There is (if you watch for it) a thread of universality in the worldwide body of Christ.

My little apartment

I spent the night and the next day while Emile hauled the two girls down the mountain to their school, Imra and I took a walk to their dream some kilometer away. I’ll share this vision in the next blog entry.

Entry 11/ Verona

This was just one of those moments when a Nun is just a lady waiting on a train.

Entry 10 / More from Verona

Around every corner.

The shops at night.

Here’s a panorama of this city and home to the Romeo and Juliette story.

Entry 9 / Ljubljana to Verona, Italy

A fashion shoot, apparently

 

My destination for today is Verona and just happens to be one of my all time favorite cities in Italy. I will arrive early enough to catch the evening light take some pictures, get a hotel (turned out to be Valverde a three star and not great), stay over and in the morning go on to Trento where I will meet the Dilles’ and on the next day Pastor Pippo Rizzo. 

My original plan was to stop over in two places. I first wanted to see Caleb and Linda Klontz ACCI missionaries in Trieste but they were in America on furlough. Then I thought, “Oh, well, I’ll go on to Venice and meet Piero Pugiotta for lunch,” but he was busy at work. We texted back and forth and made arrangements to perhaps meet in Florence on Tuesday. I hope he will bring along Natasha his wife and Cristiano their little boy. In the meantime I trained along and arrived in Verona. Here are some shots of the city center. 

 

 

Entry 8 / Ljubljana

Rev. Tony Hedrick Preaching at Binkoštna cerkev Center in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Entry 7 / Ljubljana, Sunday Worship

Click and get a taste of my Sunday experience. It may be different words but the same Spirit.

Entry 7 / Ljublana, Slovenia

September 22-27. 2010

Parting Shots

Cafe District along the River

Inside the legendary Le Petit Restaurant

Entry 5 / Ljubljana

September 22-27, 2010

Packing Up…

It is almost 8 o’clock at night and as soon as I finish these blogs I will be packing up for leaving Ljubljana in another twelve hours. The next time you hear from me, I will be writing from somewhere in Italy. 

Friday on the street…

I am a little apprehensive about street ministry and just wonder what good it does. Of course, I did street preaching and outdoor campaigning for years and wonder now if I didn’t alienate more people than I attracted. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t an effective way to do it. I just don’t think that screaming at folks did much to draw people into the kingdom.

Though frustrated with city hall Rok continued to push through and finally threatened to do it anyway – permission or not. This threat seemed to do the trick so after weeks of pursuing

Palona and Katja

the request, at the last hour they gave the “go ahead.” It turned out to be a “just right” day, sunny without a hint of wind so we were on the street in the city center by ten in the morning. Several of the ladies set up the kiosk with literature while I put up an easel and readied my paints.

 Out of my head I began a watercolor portrait of Jesus and quite a number of people stopped to inquire about what I was doing and to give their compliments. For the most part I had my back to the crowd and continued to work away. At one point a fellow came up to talk and he turned out to be an Italian from Bossano so reading the Italian Bible verse on the back of my shirt, he wanted to know why I had Italian on my back since I wasn’t Italian. In the next minutes I was able to share the gospel with him and he later bought and brought me a coffee and said that he would like to have lunch. Regrettably, he may have returned but if he did, I didn’t see him.

Tadaj

 Tadaj…It wasn’t long after this I heard one of our older ladies boldly speaking to an equally bold young man in his twenties. While this was going on, Palona, one of the young ladies came over to us. I stopped her and asked, “He’s giving her a bad time isn’t he?” To this question, she provided a quick, “Yes.” I inquired, “Do you think I should do something about it?” “Well,” Palona said, “someone should.” I couldn’t resist so I made my way around and pretended to listen until there was a break in the conversation at which time I said, “Excuse me, do you speak English?” As I engaged him I could see that he was not being objectionable as much as assertive. He struck me as someone who was looking for satisfying answers and explanations. Frankly, it wasn’t long until the exchange became friendly. I presented the concept of salvation by grace through faith alone. I presented Jesus as the all sufficient sacrifice for sin. I said, “Tadai, what were Jesus’ last words on the cross?” He didn’t do badly at this by suggesting, “Wasn’t it something about why have you turned away from me? Why have you left me alone?”  I complimented him and then proceeded to add, “It is finished.” And then explained what Jesus meant with this statement. He said, “I understand! It makes sense. Does my priest know this? Why hasn’t he told me this?”  

I explained what he would have to do with the information now that he understood it. I made sure that he understood that he would have turn from his sin and put his full trust and confidence in what Jesus has done for him on the cross. After introducing him to Rok and Pastor Chris, I went back to my painting while they carried on the conversation in Slovenian. Leaving the rest up to Him…I have learned that there is nothing I can do except clearly present the claims of Christ and the means of salvation. I wish I could make Christians out of people but I know that this is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. I could plant the seed and then rise night and day but none of this is to any avail. I sow the seed and it comes up by itself, first the sprout, then the stalk, and the full blade of corn and then comes harvest.”  All of my rising will accomplish nothing. I must allow God to do His perfect work. “I work, and my Father works hitherto.”