February 2023 Newsletter
Good morning and thank you for all you do for Act Now Ministries.
We hope this letter finds you well and active in serving our Lord and Savior. We are doing fine in this cold winter; it’s beautiful because of the snow here in Michigan. Time is approaching fast for Giuseppe, our president, to return to a very busy schedule in Sicily and beyond. Sometimes time goes by too fast for us as we await His return to his church.
As I look outside the window (check out the picture), the icicles are growing longer. It is not much better in Sicily and most of Italy and Europe, where people are keeping lights and heat off due to very high prices. Still, Mt. Etna does not disappoint with its snow-covered peaks and fire. Yes, it’s still erupting, but it’s what we call “tourist lava.”
Again, we are able in these trying times to give many a smile like you see from a couple of photos with children here. A soccer ball donated by Culver’s restaurant and a children’s coloring book bible brings lots of smiles.
In the last few months, we have gone to Catania to serve homeless people and refugees. The latest have been treated like outcasts, believing they were coming to Sicily/Italy to have a better life. All of that is so far from the reality of an economic situation already made grave by the pandemic and high unemployment.
Some of them can be found at stoplights trying to make a buck washing windshields, knowing that at the end of the day, they may not have a place to sleep. We are providing clothes in this very harsh winter as well as hot meals. My wife and myself load our car and bring premade meals wherever we go. Pray for us.
What can you do? Pray, yes pray, that we can be a testimony of His grace and love to anyone as we serve through Act Now Ministries.
We do have praises and prayer requests for the ministry there. It is a great blessing to let you know that Lakepointe Church here in Michigan has started supporting the ministry. God is good.
A foundation here in Michigan will be voting on future support and involvement alongside ANM. Again, God is good. As we see the ministry grow, even the opportunities are growing, so we ask you to pray for the following:
- Housing and office for ANM Sicily.
- Two church plantings to be started once Giuseppe returns to Sicily, one outside Catania and one in Grammichele (Grandmichael), an hour away from Catania.
- Training of volunteers to serve one day a week in their local markets. ANM will provide the training and the tools to accomplish that. To date, we have ministered in this fashion in 17 localities.
God is good and is the Great Provider. Thank you for being a prayer warrior and supporter of ANM.
As always: Let’s go fishing (really) for one more for The One.
Serving together the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
Giuseppe and Pennie Collesano, President of Act Now Ministries
God bless you.