LA VERA VITE
BIBLE SCHOOL
On April 6, 2025 we launched our inaugural Bible school in Italy, consisting of 7 staff members and 14 students! We focused on John 15:1-17, where Jesus describes Himself as the vine, the Father as vine dresser, and us as the branches that bear abundant fruit. This theologically profound provides an excellent foundation for our school.
40 Days and 40 Nights
On our first morning we were challenged to think about Moses being called to be with God on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights. Our school was divided into three parts. For the first part we were in a mountain setting above Verona in the shadow of Monte Baldo a nearby snow-covered mountain (with lots of space for hiking and recreation. Here we had six weeks of classes with travel and other activities on the weekends. Here we also invited Italian young people to come for a spiritual life weekend and a "Taste and See" opportunity for them to sit in classes with us to experience Bible school (with the thought that some of them might want to attend next year). This was a time and space for drawing close to God and for him to draw close to us and speak to us of our life with him. Like Moses, we were being changed as we drew away with him. This was also essential for what followed: descending to join churches to evangelize Italy. After that we had a final week together to debrief and discuss how we changed and how God wants to use us to serve and change the world.