Church

I think I’ve decided on a church. It’s hard because the only thing that holds me back is that it’s in the evening and that’s prime time to call family and friends on a Sunday. So it feels like I would be giving that up. But I’m going to trust God with this one. I was praying this morning that I really want a good church here in Rome. Not just one to attend on Sunday, but people I can connect with and can be family while I am away from home. And honestly it’s felt like that the two times I’ve visited.

It’s funny because last week it really felt like God wanted me at the church. Hannah and I were on the fence about going and we made a last minute decision. And then everything ended up working in our favor for us to be there. The metros came right when we got there. Then we got off the metro and realized we had a 20 minute walk and church started in 5 minutes. And then right at that moment the bus pulled over going our direction and we ran and jumped on and made it to church just on time. It felt ordained.

We were walking down these back streets and saw a door and people sitting together. We walked in and were seated right up front. I loved it immediately. It felt like a house church in Rome back in the beginning stages of the church would have felt. Meeting in a small home in a back street. But full of people who genuinely love the Lord. The service was all in Italian and since we came in late I had no idea what was going on. I thought he was preaching, but it turned out he was doing the welcome scripture readings. And then when he prayed I had to keep opening my eyes to see if he was finished because I wasn’t sure if “Amen” would be the same word in Italian. Turns out it is.

The preaching was amazing. We were given ear pieces and a woman in the back was translating for us. I loved getting to understand what he was saying as he preached in Italian. He is also our professor for History of the Church and he is so different when he preaches from teaching. He was more animated and energized and it made me wonder if that’s the language, since he teaches in English or his teaching style.

All the kids were welcomed to the front for a mini Children’s sermon and they sat in a little circle in the front of the room while a mom gave the lesson. We also took communion and I’m not sure if it’s because I was starving but it was the best communion bread I’ve had. I kept thinking, I would come back for the bread.

After the service finished so many people came up to say hello. We met a woman who is from England and she’s been working here. She looks like a movie star and is so kind. She gave us these flyers for an art exhibit and said she would want to get coffee sometime.

Tonight when we went for the second time we got to meet more people. And it was a great mix of English speaking and Italians. And we met the pastor and found out that he is from America.

It’s interesting to choose a church. This is my first time needing to do it. And now I have to choose one in Italy. I was talking with this American girl I met at the first church and she said, “Any Italian church is good, because it’s all in Italian.” And I see her point because I don’t understand 80% of the service, but I still think it’s important to choose wisely. I want one that I agree with Biblically and enjoy the people.

So I’ve been praying about my choice. And this one just feels different. They feel like people I could be encouraged by. And the preaching is so good every week. And I love that it’s in Italian but also translated so it stretches me a little.

So I think I’ve made my choice. Sundays evenings you’ll find me walking the back streets of Rome to the little door that opens to my new church.