LETTER TO JESUS

(Editorial)

Dear Jesus,

Here on the earth everything is ready to celebrate Your birth. As You know, men have established December 25th as the day that You were born. This is to show You that not only do we remember You at least once a year but also that we dedicate this festival to You by calling it CHRISTMAS.

We do not know if You were really born on December 25th, since it is not written in the Gospels. We write You for this reason: if You should come to spend some time on the earth today, You must pretend not to see many things. It would seem strange to You to observe on the one hand that there are millions of people who have bread almost daily while on the other hand there are those who say they are Your disciples who throw away money for futile and superfluous things. You will recognize immediately that Christmas is all much less than a Christian festival and that, in Your name, people think above all about eating, exchanging gifts, and ... "Merry Christmas!" You know, many even justify themselves affirming that, at least once a year, we must live it up, forget the expenses, and even do something a little frivolous. What we don't understand, and maybe You won't comprehend it either, is why this behavior is done on the day of Your presumed festival.

In these days, You will receive millions of requests. We would like to make one to You as well. Don't worry, however, we won't ask You the usual things: to win the lottery or to find another great friend of kindred spirit. But we would like to ask You to help us put into practice more Your words: to walk as You walked and to be even more like You. Many will ask You for peace, love, and tranquility. We want to ask You for these, but we also desire that You will help us to do immediately what we can to make these things a reality. We want to ask You to teach us, once and for all, that "neighbor" means not only those who are nice but also those who do evil to us, who talk behind our backs, who do not show us love. Help us to understand that God's creatures are not only those who are beautiful, healthy, and honest but also those who are thieves, prostitutes, ailing people, prisoners, foreigners, and those whom You have called "the last", whom You have always helped, even at the cost of Your own life. Help us not to forget that also we sin and that, at times, we are not any better than those whom we judge and condemn with great ease.

Dear Jesus, we are very tired of a life full of violence, of war, of overbearingness, and of a world where good people never win their battles, at least in appearance. Give us a pure heart and new eyes to see beyond each day's difficulties, eyes that know how to discern life's essentials, those things that can't be bought, not even for their weight in gold.

You know, at times we feel like those disciples on the road to Emmaus. Remember them? They walked by Your side, they heard Your words, they looked into Your eyes, but they did not recognize You. And we, unfortunately, do not always recognize You in our lives. You are by our side, but we look into the distance. You speak, but we do not listen, deafened by the thousands of empty words which surround us. But like those disciples, dear Jesus, we beg You to stay with us because it is evening (Luke 24:29), there is darkness all around, and you remain the only true light which can illuminate our terror filled nights. You have told us that we should be the light of the world (Matthew 5:16), but how dim, thin, and uncertain is this light, dear Jesus. Help us, then, to clothe ourselves with "the armor of light" (Romans 13:12) that can defeat this obscurity which surrounds us and strengthen us to shine, all together, to make a great, single light which will show to the world that You indeed are the Lord.

Dear Jesus, before giving You our final greetings, we have one last request for the new year. Help us to make realities all those things which are honorable, all those things which are just, and all those things which are beautiful that You desire from us. We greet you with much love, allow us to hug You, and . . . greet our Father.

(Vittorio Vitalone)

SPECIAL MEETING

There will be a meeting for preachers and other church leaders on Saturday, February 7, 1998, at the Florence Bible School. Bro. Paolo Di Luca will speak on "Roles of Responsibility in the Local Congregation" while Bro.Vittorio Vitalone will discuss "Cooperation among Congregations". For more information, call 06-87.193.697 or write to: Chiesa di Cristo (Church of Christ) - V.le Jonio, 286 - 00141 Rome - Italy.

In preparation for this meeting, we thought it timely to present some questions about several areas which, God willing, we will examine with other brethren who participate during the studies and the discussion periods:

A) "Roles of Responsibility in the Local Congregation"

1) What responsibilities do local congregations have?

2) Who are those responsible within the local congregation?

3) Who are those who "have charge over you in the Lord" (1Thessalonians 5:12-13)?

4) In what way does God govern the church?

5) A hierarchical pyramid, a democracy, or what is God's model?

B) "Cooperation among Congregations"

1) What biblical basis justifies the local congregation's autonomy?

2) What's to be done when autonomy is interpreted as isolation?

3) Is cooperation among congregations an option or an obligation (see Romans 15:27), that is, a responsibility connected to universal fellowship and to submission under Jesus' lordship?

4) With what congregations is it possible to cooperate and in what way?

5) How can sharing and fellowship be strengthen through cooperation among congregations? What projects can be done together?

THE 10/40 WINDOW

If we mark the localities on a map of the world where the Gospel still has not been preached, we obtain a rectangular window. If we start at West Africa and then go across all of Asia, we will note that this window is situated on the 10th and the 40th northern parallels. For this reason, it is called the 10/40 window. The major part of the people who have not been evangelized live here. Although this window occupies only 1/3 of the earth's surface, there resides here 2/3 if the world's population. This nucleus of people has been defined as the belt (or zone) which offers resistance to the preaching of the Gospel.

ITALY AND THE GOSPEL

Although Italy is said to be a so-called Christian country and more than 90% of the population profess to be "Christian", in reality those who truly know the Gospel are very few. The Pope himself has taken notice (See CHIESEinFORMA, vol. 1, num. 6 - Sept. '97). If the number of those who want to be just Christians is considered, then the percentage becomes even smaller. How many Italian regions, cities, and villages are there where the church is still not present? Thanks to God, there have been many efforts to preach the Gospel in previous years, but there still remains much to do, both in Italy and in the world. If each of us, in the year to come, will pray each day for a different nation or for an Italian village or city and if we would set aside 1000 (60 cents) lire each day, at the end of 1998 we would have 365 prayers and $219 (for each Italian Christian) to evangelize the various populations (Mark 16:15). "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10:14-15).

NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS

PADUA

- The congregation of Padua has organized a brotherly get-together for Jan. 6, 1988, in their own building at Breda Street, num. 2, on the theme: "Do Not Be Conformed to This World" (Romans 12:2). The subject will be dealt with by Bro. Italo Minestroni, evangelist of the Gospel at Bologna. He will call the attention of those present to the following aspects of Romans 12:2: 1) Do not be conformed to this world; 2) Be transformed by the renewing of your mind; 3) So that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect. At the end of this study, there will be some time for questions and comments on this theme. We look for a large number so that we all can enjoy the fellowship!

- A 40 page tract has been published entitled CHRISTIAN BAPTISM by Bro. Franco Malfitano. Whoever would like a copy can ask for it at: Chiesa di Cristo (Church of Christ) - Via S. Breda, 2 - 35139 Padova - Italy.

- Thanks to God, from February '98, Bro. Jeff Taylor will move to Padua to carry out a missionary endeavor in our city.

(Franco Malfitano)

CATANIA

- On December 8, there was held in Palermo the 5th annual lectureship of the Sicilian Churches of Christ. Bro. Don Shackelford guided the studies. The Lord blessed us on this occasion; we enjoyed fellowship and feed on God's World.

- On November 15, a young person named Nello asked to be baptized for the remission of his sins.

- We take this opportunity to thank those responsible for CHIESEinFORMA for the work they are carrying out by means of this newsletter. Our congregations finds very interesting not only the news which it gives but also the information which it provides on activities and publications.

(Aldo Mililli)

NEW BIRTHS IN CHRIST

"And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). Luciana Giannella (from Anzio) and Christian Console (from Aprilia) have asked to be baptized to begin the new life in Christ (see Romans 6).

YOUTH RALLY '98

From January 2-4 there will take place in Florence, at Harding's villa, a youth rally for young people ages 6 to 18. The subject to be studied, along with games and a Bible Bowl, will be: "The First 12 Chapters of Acts of the Apostles". The cost is 40,000 lire ($23.50) per person. The reservations must be made before December 31 by calling 055-76.86.22.

YOUNG CHRISTIANS AND SOCIETY

The Church of Christ at V.le Jonio (Rome) is gathering teaching materials and information on the hardships of young Christians living in our contemporary society, in light of a future lectureship entitled: "From Hardship to Dialog to Companionship". The materials gathered will be studied and presented in a syllabus which will be made available to all who would like to request it. Whoever would like to collaborate can contact us.

PRAYER REQUESTS

- Bro. Luigi Olivero asks for prayers for the congregation at Anzio (near Rome) and for the difficulties which they are confronting.

- Bro. Luigi Spadafora of Rossano Scalo (Cosenza province) asks prayers for his family and the group of Christians at Rossano.

- Bro. Giuseppe Falangone asks our prayers for the serious health condition of his sister, Anna.

CHIESEinFORMA is a periodical of information and news. Whoever would like to receive all the printed issues for 1997, can ask for them from Paolo Di Luca and can send a contribution for the expenses of 15,000 lire ($9.00).

Whoever would like to support and receive personally this periodical for 1998 is asked to communicate their name and address to Paolo Di Luca.

PUBLICATIONS

- The first issue of "La Gazzetta Spirituale" (The Spiritual Gazette, Nov.-Dec. 1997) has been published. It is edited by the congregation in Anzio. This is an 8 page color newspaper, made by computer, which contains news, information, and studies with an evangelistic thrust for unbelievers.

Whoever desires to have a copy can ask for it at: Chiesa di Cristo (Church of Christ) - Via Fabio, 5 - 00042 Anzio (Roma) - Italy.

- An interesting study has been published by Bro. Eduardo Zumpano on "Denominational Doctrines (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants)". For more information or a request, call 0984 - 43.53.59.

BOOK REVIEWS

- Marvin Oxenham, NEW AGE - C'E' VERAMENTE L'ORO ALLA FINE DELL'ARCOBALENO? (The New Age Movement - Is There Really Gold at the End of the Rainbow?), Editor IBE, pp. 250, Lire 23,000 ($13,50) -- This is an interesting volume to better understand the message and the background of the New Age movement, which has more than 50 million followers in the West alone.

- John Stott, LA BIBBIA, LIBRO PER OGGI (The Bible, Book for Today), Perugia: Editor Patmos, pp. 115, Lire 8,000 ($4.75) -- This is an examination of the place that the Bible should have and the way that it should be read in each believer's life and in the life of the church. It provides a wise apologetic for an evangelical position on the subject.

LITERATURE OF CHRISTIAN AUTHORS

Mario Piccoli, GIUBILEO: ANNO SANTO OPPURE ANNO SABBATICO? (The Jubilee: The Holy Year or The Sabbatical Year?), Editor Movimento Salvemini, pp. 284, Lire 25,000 ($14.75) -- This book, by Bro. Mario Piccoli, deals with the question of the Jubilee and the holy year which the Catholic Church will soon celebrate in 2,000. For information or to make a request, write: Chiesa di Cristo (Church of Christ) - Via Messala Corvino, 63 - 00175 Rome - Italy.

- "UN ALTRO VANGELO (Another Gospel): The Origins and the Purposes of the So-Called Blessing of Toronto" - Lire 25,000 ($14.75) - Editor Entente of Sicilian Evangelicals - Via Privata Carmine, 11 - 98040 Venetico Marina (ME) --This is an interesting historical and theological study by Alan Morrison on the movement called "The Blessing of Toronto". For information and requests, ask directly to the editors.

- Whoever is in possession of studies or other information on the movement "The Blessing of Taronto" and desires to share it with others, can do so by giving this news (and a copy) to CHIESEinFORMA.

CHIESEinFORMA WISHES ALL ITS READERS A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL 1998

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18-19).