EMPOWER
The Italian church leaders with whom Eleviva works are both grieved and inspired by the spiritual plight of their land, especially the youngest generations who are living in a godless society. These pastors share a common goal - the transformation of their country by planting life-giving communities of faith across their land. This aspiration is expressed best in our shared vision: “A new church for a new generation for a new nation.” Together, we know fresh expressions of the church must emerge to address the needs of Italy’s youth, and ultimately, to shape the future wellbeing of the nation.
Of Italy’s 62 million people, only one percent attend an evangelical church. Of the rest, 85 percent claim to be Catholic, but only 10 percent of those participate in any form of parish life. More than 7,000 villages and communities have no evangelical witness.
Young Italians would claim to be Christian. They have been born into a society that has Catholicism woven into its fabric. But, they are not engaged with the church. They live practically godless lives, feeling there is little hope for their future. Youth unemployment is high, corruption is rampant and the prospect of an independent life seems beyond their reach. Despite being educated and able to work, many live at home with their parents well into adulthood.
Eleviva’s work in Italy is to serve our partner churches to fulfill this shared vision. We do so by developing young people, ages 18-35 years old, to be leaders in the church. The EMPOWER programme is a three year curriculum that teaches practical leadership skills in live seminars and online courses. The first EMPOWER class launched in 2018 with 110 students. They come from 12 churches 4 regions in the south of Italy - students from high school and university, working young adults and young married couples with careers. They have been sent by their pastors because of the leadership potential on their lives. We are working with the best!
Our strategy is to equip the existing churches for greater impact, but also, to prepare them to plant new churches where they are needed most.
So, out of this student body, our lead team identifies those who will plant new works under apostolic covering of their local church. Those who are chosen - the called, the capable, the courageous - will receive another year of intensive church planting training and basic theological education. When their church is ready to commission them, Canadian congregations are recruited to partner with them for spiritual, moral, practical and financial support in the infancy of their new missional venture.
Our programme is called EMPOWER for good reason. Italian culture is inherently disempowering to young people. Older generations, generally men, are the bosses and directors. They give orders and assign tasks to others who are expected to obey. And, they remain in authority for a long time - sometimes until they die. Typically, a leader in their 40’s is considered young and inexperienced. Our partners understand that this culture must be changed if a new generation of Italians is to be reached. Men and women in their 20’s and 30’s must be given authority to decide and act if the Church is to grow and have an impact.
The young leaders with whom we work are extraordinary. They are eager to learn, and they want to be used by God to change their nation. They understand Italian culture, their peers’ mindsets, what they are experiencing, and how young Italians feel about life. They are convinced the Good News of Jesus is the hope that will transform the nation, now and in the future. A new class of 60 people in northern Italy will begin studying the EMPOWER programme in the autumn of 2020.