Resurrection life. It’s worth fighting for!

Death is final.  But there is more!  One of the most critical messages of the Gospel is that there is something after death.  Resurrection!  And it is a “more” that’s worth fighting for!  

A favorite song of mine by Sovereign Grace Music, sings, “You have been raised, the tomb has been opened.  Nothing can take away our hope in You.  You have been raised, You have been raised, the work is completed.  Hell and its powers have been defeated. You have been raised!”  (you can listen here: You Have Been Raised - Sovereign Grace Music]

Upon his death, Thomas Henry Huxley left a memorable quote on his head stone for all to see: “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” An English biologist known as “Darwin's Bulldog” for his advocacy of Darwin's theory of evolution, Huxley chose unwisely the “something” to know everything about.  In fact, we get the term “agnostic” from Huxley, which he called himself because, he said, “we can not know for sure that God exists.”  Primarily, Huxley didn't believe in the resurrection.

But on further review, another story unfolds.  Huxley saw both his children die at an early age, including the death of his beloved 4-year son, Noël (ironically, the French word for “‘Christmas”) leading to bitterness toward God.  At the funeral, Huxley was left fuming, saying, “The preacher’s idea of being raised from the dead is a blasphemy against all that is best and noblest in human nature!”  The stage for unbelief was set.

It was actually this belief itself, the idea of a resurrection from the dead, that Huxley could not find within himself to believe, leaving him not only incredibly pained at his children’s passing (no future hope) but also separated from God for all eternity.

The hope of the resurrection is, for Christians, the “more” beyond a better life now.  It is because of Christ and His victory over sin, death, and damnation that we have hope.  Interestingly, like Huxley, many Italians don’t believe. Knowing the resurrection is true, it is so sad that millions put their trust in their flesh only to be bitterly disappointed!

Paul the Apostle

Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15:14).  If Jeannette and I didn’t hold to the hope of our salvation, we’d have quit awhile ago.  Italy is frustating!  It’s hard!  It’s uncomfortable, inconvenient and depressing!  Without the hope of our resurrection, we’d be overwhelmed.  Months without a car, weeks without a clothes washer, surrounded by people who seem closed to the gospel and not having friends with the same values all has a way of getting to you sometimes.

However, the resurrection is real!  Christ did raise from the dead!!  And one day we'll be raised also.  This gospel truth is the spiritual buttress that must transform every aspect of our thinking.  Resurrection living is what allows us to overcome death and dying.  It keeps us hopeful in the midst of this life, believing there is so much more in the next!

Amanda Knox during trial.

That’s why Italians so need to turn from their flesh and place their trust in God. Their political system and economy keeps heading downhill and Italians seem unable to change course.  Their justice system is a mockery, with over half of all guilty verdicts overturned by appeal, as demonstrated by the Knox trial.  The rest of the world talks of a travesty of justice.  Italians?  Happy the focus is off Italy.  Bad for tourism.

Huxley was man enough to get angry about a preacher, giving the gospel of a resurrected Lord who saves souls!  Italians?  Who cares.  In fact, some researchers believe only 1.7 million of the 58 million Roman Catholics attend church more than once a year.  And you won't even hear the gospel there. 

Priests and bishops in Italy are convicted of crimes like rape molestation, and drug dealing, the older generation  continue to be loyal.  Yet, the younger generation wants nothing to do with the R.C. Church.  To please parents and grandparents, they'll do first communion and baptism.  But most will never set foot in church again until they marry or die.  As you can imagine, atheism, magical arts and suicide are at an all time high.

Right now, the masses in dictator-led countries are fighting for democracy to be free of tyrants who’ve murdered and pillaged for years, some secretly, only to find mass graves of millions of people.  In Egypt, Libya, Syria, and even in Iran, the people are fighting for liberty and justice.  The world is enraptured.  America is helping the fight.  Italians?  An Italian recently quipped to me, “You Americans still need to make war.  Us Italians have once ruled the world so we already know what that's like.” 

It appears that Italians have not much of a fight left in them for truth and justice.  In Ancient Rome, dignitas (pronounced 'dee-ni-tahs'), derived from things such as reputation, moral standing, and ethical worth, caused a man or country to fight to the death for what’s important.  But today in modern-day Italy, the only change Italians want, from the words of Tomasi of Lampedusa, is when “everything must change so that everything stays the same.”  They have settled for a clouded wisdom of Solomon, intoxicated with many wives late in life, who wrote, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil” (Eccl 2:24). 

So Huxley and Italians actually have a lot in common.  They don't believe in the resurrection or don't care even if it is true.  When you've stopped searching for what is true about God, you lose your north star.  God is not in control.  Pain and suffering (or fear and doubts) have led these with no gospel hope to settle for less than God’s very best.  Disillusioned with life and the world, the only thing they want is status quo...and then you die.

The worst news?  Some 57.4 million (out of 58 million) have not one soul to proclaim the grace of God and His amazing love.  They cannot comprehend what they do not know.  And they cannot know what because there are no Christians telling them.  And so they neither want nor are having their lives affected by the resurrection.

Well, we joyfully report we are doing everything we can here in Chiavari to give them that resurrection!  And though the culture and people around us care little for God, Christianity, Jesus or the gospel, we are really trying to reach those around us and God seems to be blessing.  And we are thankful.

We have developed a wonderful relationship with our Italian friends, Giousuè and his wife, Edi and family, a man Lee is kind of discipling and encouraging in his walk and for future leadership in the church.  One prayer request would be for Giousuè as he is still holding to the idea that he can lose his salvation.  He and his family are wonderful and we hope they will be an important part of our future church and ministry.  They recently showed their love and support for our family and our ministry by donating 500 Euros to us and our ministry, considered a huge gift anywhere but especially here in Italy. 

We also are developing wonderful relationships with unbelievers like Vicenzo, Laura Mario, Cristian, Alexander, Marina, Gianluca, Loredana, Alesia, Sara, Cristine, Lucia, Monica, Brenda and about 50 others!  We are sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to them and they are listening.  Please pray for this!  Even Franco and Sara who own the pizzeria where we hold our English classes seem to be touched by our joy and hope.  That's not to mention that we've been offered two other locations in the last month to hold our ESL classes!

ESL has begun, again!!  Once again we started our English classes this fall, our 2nd full semester here in Chiavari.  After passing out 4,000 leaflets in town and putting them in peoples’ mailboxes, and this time we saw over 75 signed up and after the dust settled, we now have over 60 students!  One month in, this seems to be the best group ever and they are very excited about our scheduled activities.  We had over 20 of them attend a bowling night recently.  It was a blast!  It was obvious that we have some new friends!

Last Saturday night, we had a game night for our ESL students with lost of fun games and Giousuè, one of our students, and his wife, Edi came over early and made homemade Italian pizza for everyone!  We are now planning for a big Thanksgiving meal for all our students and their guests where they will hear the teachers' testimonies and the gospel and taste their first ever Thanksgiving meal.   

We have other events coming, and soon we will be offering bible studies and one-on-one times with “Christianity Explored” for students who desire to improve their English.  God tells us to be as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves.  So if they want to spend time out of class to learn, we will be asking them to do this bible study in English!

By the way, Nate and Dawn, our current teachers are doing great!!  They both love the Lord and are having so much fun getting to know the Italians and sharing God’s love.  We’re also thankful to have two new teachers, Carisa and Jaimie Lynn, committed to coming Spring 2012 and  three other young people hoping to help for fall 2012 and spring 2013!  Praise God.  

This last summer, we began doing evangelistic ministry in the parks, at the beach and in the city, with other Italians helping us.  You might remember hearing we had a 12-year old girl, Maria, accept Christ.  We also now have invested in some puppets and use these and do balloon-making and usually tell stories to help reach the children.  We’re having one of our last events at the park for the fall season on Friday, the 21^st.  Please pray for this.  We’ve actually met many Italians in Chiavari this summer as well as others and we are doing our best to build relationships to share the gospel (what they call “relationship evangelism”).  We hope these contacts will become Christians!

Also, right now, we have a young lady, Kailey, 25 years old, visiting us for 10 days with the desire to serve our ministry full-time, helping to reach youth and do children’s ministry in Chiavari.  She has a big heart for children and with her helping us, it will allow us to do more evangelistic outreach to children like ESL classes for kids, kids bible studies, evangelistic outreach in the parks, etc.  Please pray for us and her in this.

There are also others inquiring now about joining our ministry so please pray God would bring the perfect combination of team members that He might be glorified in this, a movement of God for His glory and by His grace (called “La Verita Di Grazia Ministeri” or “The Truth of Grace Ministries”) in the future.  Pray for discernment, for God’s will to be done, that He would be greatly glorified through our ministry.  By the way, please feel free to check out our new ministry website at www.LaVeritaDiGrazia.weebly.com

We do continue to need more resources, people and money.  Given our desire to do a wide variety of ministry activities that would be served by some space, including the desire to start church services soon, we have begun the process of considering how we might rent or acquire a location in the city center.  If you have an interest in praying or  helping with this financially, please let us know.  We are trusting God for great things!!

Steve and Ann Lawson, pastors of ours in Ark., Jeannette and I and MacArthur

In closing, a special treat for Jeannette and I, was we were recently offered a full scholarship to the John MacArthur conference in Perugia.  It included  conference, hotel and food.  It was wonderful!!  We spent the week, listening to great teaching, meeting wonderful new friends and contacts, and growing in our Christianity.  It was a special time for Jeannette and I.  A neat highlight was meeting John MacArthur, getting a picture with him and having him say to us, “Lee and Jeannette, I really respect you and your decision to come serve Christ here in Italy.”  Very kind.

Well, in contrast to Italians and Huxley, our resurrection focus as Christians is on “storing up treasure for yourselves as a good foundation for the future, so that you may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Tim 6:19).  We want you to know we are doing all we can to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:20).  And reminding ourselves constantly of what Paul said: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8).

We want you to know that you are like a miracle of God to us; you make it all possible.  You too have trusted in the resurrection!  You too are storing up treasures in heaven!!  And you too believe in the hope of the resurrection!  So you know there is hope for Italians to know the gospel and be saved!  Thank you for caring enough to help us make this possible!  For caring for what is honorable!  For the gospel!!!!  For the more that is worth fighting for.  We love you.

In His marvelous and glorious love,

Lee, Jeannette and family

God’s will does not ultimately center on His people! It centers on His greatness, His goodness and His glory being made known globally among all peoples.

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who was and is and is to come!!

We so hope this greeting finds you happy and healthy and in love with Jesus more than ever…as well as enjoying the incredible confidence and sense of His love and care that comes as we trust in His sovereign providence.  As always, we send our deepest gratefulness for being so gracious and so generous to our family with all your prayers and gifts.

We know at times, it has been a sacrifice for those of you who have stood alongside us in this quest and we feel so blessed.  It is important to us that you know it is only because of you and God's grace working through you that we have been able to continue this ministry to glorify God and further the Gospel in Chiavari, Italy, by planting a church and developing an evangelism/discipleship ministry that will reach the lost.  And those who have come to know Jesus or moved closer in their understanding and acceptance of the message of grace have been blessed because of you.  It’s hard to express the many things God has done and the many relationships God has enabled us to develop but a couple of stories warrant telling:

A lady who works in a florist shop, Sonya, who we pass everyday on the street, especially as we would go to our ESL classes, grabbed Jeannette and asked her to come in her store.  Sonya’s colleague actually attended our ESL classes but Sonya was never able to make it because she covers the afternoon and evening shift.  Sonya, continuing her quest to tell something important to Jeannette, exclaims, “I want to tell you something.”  Jeannette answered, “Uh huh?” unsure of what Sonya was going to say and afraid that she would proceed to tell a terrible story of some mischief Elijah had done (the first person from our family Sonya had met).

Sonya exclaimed, “Your different!”  Jeannette continued listening, still hoping to not hear something terrible.  “Your whole family is different,” she continued, “you’re joyful, friendly and seem to be always at peace with life.”  And then she said, “I don’t have that.”  Then she proceeded to share her life story of how she had been divorced and is now living with another man who isn’t her husband and that she is miserable, that he doesn’t treat her well. 

Jeannette has now tried a few times to meet for coffee but Sonya is always busy with work.  But pray for her.  Sonya is a wonderful example of the 30+ relationships we are building into from the community and our ESL classes in Chiavari.  Another example is Vicenzo…

We met Vicenzo because he is married to one of our ESL students, Eluvia, who is actually a Christian.  Eluvia who is full of the joy of the Lord married Vicenzo at a time, early in her Christianity, when she did not realize God’s commandment to not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever.  Vicenzo is from Sicily and a really great younger man in his 30’s.  He works in the construction business, constantly in the sun and heat.  And though constantly around those who drink and party in his business, Vicenzo loves his wife and honors her Christianity.  Eluvia is convinced that he will eventually come to the Lord, especially since he is open to her sharing.

About a month before we left to go back to the states, Jeannette and I and Vicenzo and Eluvia all walked along the river to the sea.  As we were returning, Eluvia revealed that Vicenzo was really curious how I became a Christian.  I confirmed this with Vicenzo who smiled a big smile and responded, “Si!”  I think a lot of people wonder how in the world I got saved.  In fact, many of my parents friends still wonder how in the world we two hooligans became Christians.  So, there on the corner, about 2 blocks from where we live in Chiavari, I began to share my testimony of how God saved me.  Vicenzo’s smile was from ear to ear.  He responded in Italian, “Come un miracolo!” which translate means, “Like a miracle!”  And I said, “Esatto!!” which means “Exactly!!”

Please pray for both Sonya and Vicenzo.  There are SO many stories we could tell you of God’s amazing grace going forward through relationship evangelism that this update could not contain all the words of His goodness!

The end of May, our family was very excited and felt very privileged to return to the good ole' U.S. of A., to Florida, where our family lives, for 5 weeks.  It was the first time to return as a family to the states in three long years.  Many days and weeks, our kids begged us to go back to the states and through tears and God’s grace, we persisted and the Lord has blessed.  But now we were coming back to where so many of our friends and family are!  After a very busy schedule from Feb to May with our ESL classes, outreach events and speaking opportunities, we pulled our kids from Italian public school a few days early for the year in time to return to Orlando for our 2^nd oldest, Hannah’s high school graduation from her home school academy.  Hannah participated in Florida Virtual School for 2½ years while in Italy, graduating with honors and an “A” average.

It was both tearful and wonderful to see her say goodbye to a critical phase in her life...one that saw her make a commitment to Christ while living in Italy with us, serving in missions, maturing in incredible ways in her walk with God and growing in her relationship with us.  From many teary days and nights at 15 years old, Hannah went from not wanting to stay in Italy, to getting saved but still being lonely to now, where she misses Italy dearly.  At 18 years old now, she is an entirely different person, in love with Jesus and VERY missions-minded.  We also had a really fun time at Hannah’s graduation dance at a local hotel, which, for many kids, was the very first time ever to dance!  It was all mild and platonic but very hilarious to watch not to mention, "cutting the rug" a bit ourselves.  Of course the girls were a little embarrassed but all of their friends thought we were “cool.” 

It was also amazing to be with Bethany, our oldest daughter who has been in the Orlando area, working and going to school.  Not only has it been sweet to see her maturity and how she has so wonderfully navigated the challenges of life without the help of her parents, but also congratulations were in order…Bethany completed her AA degree with honors and is now heading for a 4-year college, UCF to complete her college degree

Both of our girls excelled academically while all the time working about 20-24 hours a week; Bethany at Crusade in Donations Services and Hannah as an ESL teacher working with us in Italy.  Hannah has now obtained a job working at Crusade so her and Bethany will be living/working together, though attending different schools (Hannah at Valencia, a local community college, to make for an easier adjustment).

It's was a lot of fun to be back in America to see family and friends, including many of you who also support us who came to visit or live in the area.  Frankly, you, our sweet prayer and financial supporters, have been responsible for us even being able to return to the U.S. (for plane tickets, train tickets, lodging, etc.).  God has even taken care of the smallest of details including two different vans on loan for free for our entire time here.

We had parties with friends and family including 30 church friends of Lee’s parents at their clubhouse, many opportunities to share what God is doing in our ministry, with some even wanting to receive our prayer letter and indicating they may begin supporting us.  Lee has also had the opportunity to share about our ministry and the truth of God’s Word as it relates to missions and God’s call to us as Christians to fulfill the Great Commission.  One of two churches was a very large Baptist college group of about 70 various college-age youth and the other was to our church of about 500 people in Orlando. 

Lee also met with Marco, who heads up a Christian ministry that teaches biblical discipline through a very systematic use of the martial arts.  They were originally talking of coming over to Italy to do a 2-week mission this summer (2011) but are now trying to prepare themselves to come in Summer of 2012.  They would do exhibitions in the piazza’s and on the seafront and then we’d have testimonies and opportunities for more info.  There are many things that have to happen for this to be pulled off including arranging schedules and having adequate time to plan things so please pray for Marco and his wife and ministry, that God would provide!!

Lee has also had opportunity to meet with some various men friends going through rough times.  Many we found are struggling financially as well as struggling in their marriages.  One separated, another having lost his very successful business and another, who Lee tried to reach out to, whose church is slowly waning away.  So Lee felt very blessed to have had opportunities to help but we also ask you to pray for these as well.

On another yet brighter note, by God’s grace, we have seen the Lord provide two new ESL teachers as a result of our time in Orlando.  So praise God!! 

Nate is the son of some family friends and will be our first guy teaching ESL.  A wonderful young man who loves the Lord and just wants to serve, he is 18 years old and excited about reaching Italians for Christ.  I have rarely met a young man (remember I said young man) with Nate’s faith and enthusiasm in serving others!!!

Dawn is a sweet young lady in her mid-thirties who came from an unbelieving family that was less than entirely loving and very uninterested in the Gospel.  Her testimony is quite powerful, coming to the Lord through observing the life and work ethic of a mutual Christian friend while both worked at Disney, and when invited to church, attended and got saved!  This trip represents a huge life-challenge for her and she is so embracing what God has for her.  Dawn may even consider joining us full-time, helping us to reach a younger generation!!

Maddie is from Romania and is an amazing little spitfire for Jesus.  She is at about a 85% English-speaking ability and we believe she will be an incredible encouragement for us.  She will return from some missions work she is doing this summer.  Maddie may not join us for the entire time but we look forward to having her!

All three will help us in teaching what will probably be our biggest group of students so far (Please pray!!! We are praying for 100 Italians this fall) as well as helping us to do all we can to develop relationships with our students so as to share the gospel.

As we returned to the states a few days ago, we are torn.  We miss our friends and family tons!!  And we love the freedom, the friendliness of Americans, and the good ole’ American competition that leads to excellence and the variety of products and choices to choose from...and of course, many, many other things. 

However, as we settle back in for what will at least be another 2-year stint before we return once again (probably for Jacob’s graduation), one of the most surprising things we found in the states was the naiveté about Western Europe and the state of Christianity, including in Italy.  So many Christians are entirely disconnected from what is going on in the rest of the world!!  So many have no idea or interest or care with what is going on with the Great Commission in the world or have somehow convinced themselves it’s a work others do.

It’s amazing that not more of us American Christians are doing something to address the problem.  For us, .07% Christians in Italy is dismal and an indictment of Evangelical Christianity.  That’s less than 40,600 Christians.  Less than the Satanists in Italy.  Less than Jehovah’s Witnesses.  It’s even less than the Astrologers.  There are more Atheists here than there are Evangelical Christians!!  So many Christians are saying the same thing: “I’m not called overseas.  I believe my call is to my own country, where I live.”   That’s wonderful!!

But in fact, if Christians, who actually said this, actually were focused on the U.S., we would find large number of American Christians radically sacrificing their lives and possessions to reach a dying world around them!  We’d all feel blessed and take heart that the job is being done.  That people are truly doing what God has called them to do (“Go and make disciples of men…”)!!  But I’m sorry to say, this is not the picture we have before us.

Recently, the book, “Radical,” and it’s author, David Platt, has really moved me to tears and I believe, has really captured what is happening in many churches today in the U.S.A.:

“We live in a church culture that has a dangerous tendency to disconnect the grace of God from the glory of God. Our hearts resonate with the idea of enjoying God’s grace. We bask in sermons, conferences, and books that exalt a grace centering on us. And while the wonder of grace is worthy of our attention, if that grace is disconnected from its purpose, the sad result is a self-centered Christianity that bypasses the heart of God…

In the American dream, where self reigns as king (or queen), we have a dangerous tendency to misunderstand, minimize and even manipulate the gospel to accommodate our assumptions and desires. We desperately need to explore how much of our understanding of the gospel is American and how much is biblical…

The message of biblical Christianity is not “God loves me, period,” as if we were the object of our own faith.  The message of biblical Christianity is “God loves me so that I might make Him—His ways, His salvation, His glory, and His greatness—known among all nations…

God’s will does not ultimately center on His people!  It centers on His greatness, His goodness and His glory being made known globally among all peoples. And to disconnect God’s blessing from God’s global purpose is to spiral downward into an unbiblical, self-saturated Christianity that misses the point of God’s grace” (Emphasis mine).

We love you and send our deep gratitude for all your love and support.  Please pray for our ministry on a daily basis.  We need your prayers.  And also, we'd greatly appreciate it if you would lift up our ongoing needs as a family and a ministry.  It is always challenging on a regular basis, but especially with the bad conversion rate.  And we need to raise more funds for the church-planting aspect of our ministry here (to rent a place, to pay utilities, etc).  But God is SO in control.  And though things are always tight, we have not once gone without anything we need.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

God bless you and Coram Deo!

In Him,

The Walti Family 

Abby hugs Bethany after not seeing her for 5 mos!

A pic with the Swansons who paid for our airline tickets over!

Dad and Hannah at her graduation reception.

Bethany, our oldest, with the graduate.

The graduate with Lee's dad and mom, Randal and Judi.

Jake and Dad at Hannah's graduation (yes, he's taller!)

The graduate (during the ceremony).

Elijah with one of his best buddies, Daniel, from our church in Orlando.

Lee shares at Metro Life Church about our ministry

and challenges 

the congregation to fulfill the Great Commission.

 

Jeannette with one of her best buddies, Ellen Keyes.

Jacob, having fun at Hannah's grad dance.

Dad and Hannah having a dance together!

Jacob and Elijah make a commitment to the Lord

at a "Do Hard Things" conference that Lee and the boys attended

.

Grandfather (Lee's father) and Elijah playing golf!

Kids reconnect with some old neighbor friends.

Abby poses at the Portofino Bay Hotel, a place we love to visit (but can't afford to stay!)

Our friends, the Romanacces.

Dad and Abby dance to the Italian music sung live.

The Jamisons, the family that hosted Bethany for free for 2 years!!

Our girls with two of the Knowles girls (Lidia and Rachel)

Guy friends from church, Thad (the Knowles girls' dad), Ryan Hartlief (supporters of ours) and Rick McClimans.

Amber Hartlief and Dawn Currey (one of our new ESL teachers) with Jeannette

Jacob with all his old buddies, seeing many for the first time in 3 years. (they've all grown up!)

The Romanacces with their new grandson, Will.

Sparklers on July 4th!

Relaxing our last night in U.S.A. with the Knowles girls (Rachel and Joanna), our most recent ESL teachers.

Hannah with her friend, Claire Chin, and Bethany, our eldest.

Jake and Hannah are so much closer after 3 years in Italy together.

Elijah, giving a kiss to his sister, Bethany, who he will not see again for another 5 mos.

Abby saying goodbye to her two older sisters.

Love you!!!!