Click Here for September 2020 Newsletter PDF
Greetings to all of you faithful friends and supporters! As summer comes to an end and autumn slowly begins, it seems that 2020 has been a very different year, and one that many — if not all — would like to forget. Still, as they say, we are not out of the woods yet.
We at Act Now Ministries miss all of you, only maintaining contact by video or phone. We all have used or are still getting acquainted with the tools of progress (Zoom, WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger, FaceTime, etc.) to keep in touch. In the midst of this pandemic, we can, along with the apostle Paul, say: do not be anxious for anything, but in everything give glory to God. Like it is written in 1Samuel 7:12 Ebenezer, thus far the Lord has provided.
We do have reason to rejoice and share good news with you all.
Just few weeks ago, Giuseppe and his family received news that Mamma Antonietta, Giuseppe’s mom, was not doing well. By video, it seemed that she was not faring well in Sicily.
We did lots of searching trying to find a way to fly back in order to be there but could not come up with a way to get back to Sicily.
Even contacting the embassy did not help. The EU is closed to flying in from the States because they claim the U.S. did not do a good job in preventing COVID-19’s spread. Giuseppe’s mom is doing better at this moment. She is 92 with some health issues. We asked for prayers and the Lord has allowed her to regain some strength. Continue to pray for her and the family.
More good news: At this moment, the Castronuovo’s from Switzerland are visiting Sicily and the area near where Act Now Ministries is located for future ministry with us there. Between the EU, it is possible to travel so far. Please pray for them as they seek God’s will for the right place to minister there in Sicily. There are still more than 700 locations without a gospel witness.
More good news from Sardegna (Sardinia): Our partners and co-workers tell us that even during these trying times with the pandemic, God is at work. In mid-September, we will have more baptisms, like last year. So far, six more adults are scheduled to share their faith publicly. In addition, the youth group is growing and some of them are considering baptism too.
Tino, who leads the church group, asks that you pray alongside with them for this special occasion and also for his family, especially the family of his wife Daniela. It happens that when you become a follower of Christ, your family will shun you or avoid you.
In the midst of the pandemic, the church is growing. They ask to pray for a suitable place to meet for the growing number of people coming to the services. We at Act Now Ministries had already planned a mission trip to Sardinia for the month of September. Needless to say, it was cancelled. We had to cancel another trip in the Tuscany region to help the refugee churches there where we sent bibles a few months ago to help with outreach.
More good news: Even if Giuseppe at the moment is not there, he is coordinating work that is going to be done in the Catania area.
All of you know Isidoro from the Navy base that has always partnered with Giuseppe in many opportunities and events in outreaches there. This time, Isidoro is teaming up with Giuseppe Lachina from Belpasso who also has been working with Giuseppe all over Sicily in the last two years.
They are going to Catania to share His love to the needy and supply clothing, literature and more in mid-September. In all probability, we will need to restock again from what we have in storage at Giuseppe’s apartment once this event is over. Please pray.
Also pray for the dire situation in Sicily, as the governor wanted to close and move all the refugees from the island because of COVID-19. There have been cases of refugees fleeing the camps because of the pandemic; some of them are bringing it to Sicily from where they are coming from. The central government in Rome is fighting back because they say that he does not have the power to do so.
At the same time, once they relaxed the restrictions in the EU, visitors and tourists started bringing the virus there as well. In Sardinia, Tino told Giuseppe that the island was at zero virus. Once Rome allowed tourists in, there have now been many cases of coronavirus. As we pray for our country here and the difficult situation in which we live, the apostle Peter encourages us in 1 Peter 5: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Pray.
Again, we express our gratitude and love towards you and pray for you daily. Pray that this pandemic eases up so that Giuseppe can fly back at the right time. It is frustrating not to have a date to share with you all. This reminds us that God is in control, so we wait patiently.
God bless you richly.
And as always: Let’s go fishing (really) for one more for the One.
Serving together,
Giuseppe and Pennie Collesano.
Ciao for now.