July 2016 News from Bill Standridge

Above: A photo in Switzerland, with my daughter on the right and my grand daughter on the left

Every day will I bless thee;
and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
and his greatness is unsearchable.
– Psalm 145:2,3

David was “greatly impressed” by God’s greatness, and so was I as I meditated on Psalm 145:3, in my daily meditations, verse by verse, through this incredibly joyful Psalm.  “Great”, of course, is not a comparison with someone else (not “God is greater than …..”).  God is GREAT in a way, and in a measure, that no one else is or can be.

And what GREAT things God has done for me.  In my February letter, I wrote about my birthday:  God continues to give me health, strength to preach, witness, teach and write just as I have for so many, many years, in the Italian language.

And God wanted to prove to me again His greatness!  I returned to Rome from a two-week visit to Milano, where I had been blessed to speak twice in a large church, in which my wife and I have ministered many times. I had also met for several hours with the leaders of another church to study the Bible for God’s revelation about divorce, and about divorce and remarriage.  I had also spent a weekend with another church in their retreat on Christian marriage. I woke up in Rome, completely exhausted, on Sunday morning.  On Monday, my doctor told me I was seriously dehydrated and had probably been so for a long time.  Of course, I began drinking a lot of water, on his orders, and during several weeks of weakness, began to ask myself if this was a warning about my future.

I also had many medical tests and visits  to see what was going on.  All of the tests were very positive. One doctor, after an exam, told me “You have the heart and arteries of a man 20 years younger.”  So, here I am, rejoicing in God’s greatness, and returning to the joy of serving the Lord in all He gives me to do.

In the past few weeks, I have read a lot and found 2 books interesting and helpful.  The first is “Finding Truth” by Nancy Pearcey, 5 Principles for unmasking Atheism, Secularism and Other God Substitutes.  The author is a college professor who says in her introduction, “I lost my faith in an evangelical college.”  The book requires careful reading and is definitely at a college level. It shows up the illogical and empty theories of atheism, evolution and other modern thought systems and could help students or adults who are “searching for answers” about the truly Christian world-view.  The second book is by noted author R. Albert Mohler, “We Cannot be Silent”, Speaking Truth to a Culture Redefining Sex, Marriage, and the Very Meaning of Right and Wrong.  We are all aware of the great changes of morality and the hatred of Bible-believing Christianity growing in America and Europe.  Mohler’s book reviews how this has come about, the dangers present and future, and the position of those who, like us, believe and preach the Bible as God’s eternal, inerrant Word.  I recommend books because I believe that pastors and Christian leaders know they cannot accept every word of every author, but because very important issues are facing each of us, and the voices of others, who believe and honor the Bible, can be of help.

I know that you, too, have experienced the greatness of God, and that you pray and help me because you want His greatness to be proclaimed and lived out in Italy. You are a great encouragement to me.

In HIS service,

William (Bill) Standridge

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God Is at Work!

And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
–Galatians 6:9

God is working; we must be patient. This month, we rejoiced that four people wanted to give public testimony of their faith in Christ Jesus and be baptized! It had been at least three years since the last baptisms in our church. We are encouraged by the way God has blessed us! Michele and Giuseppina are a couple who have been coming to church for quite some time. After a message on a Sunday morning nearly two years ago, Michele told me that he had understood the Gospel, but was not ready to follow Christ yet. After months of preaching, teaching, sharing and prayers for them, God has touched their lives, and they wanted to let everyone know they had decided to follow Christ. It has been wonderful to see their faithfulness in attendance and their growth over the past few months. We must pray for their family. Their children were there at the baptisms, with their companions, and we trust that they will also come to know Christ, Whom their parents now profess.

nadiaWatching Nadia give her testimony brought tears to all of our eyes, for she has had such a hard life. When she met with Alfredo and me over a year ago, she wanted to be baptized, because she had been taught that she needed to do it in order to complete her salvation. Loredana started meeting with her faithfully, and God opened her eyes to the clear, simple Gospel message, based totally on grace without works of any kind. She told David that she used to cry all the time, as she reflected on the situation of her family. But today she sings all the time, and trusts her sovereign God to touch her family. Sandro, her husband, came for the first time to see her baptized and listened to the Gospel that David preached.

Andrea is a teenager who has Down syndrome. And he is  such a blessing to us because his simple faith and trust in God is an example for our church. God has certainly touched his life. Alfredo, the elder and David’s coworker, is his father, and it was so wonderful to see him baptize his physical and spiritual son! Andrea’s school teacher and his aunt came to hear and see his testimony. We meet in a very small store front, and it was a great blessing to see about 75 people present. We must continue to pray for those baptized, and for their unsaved friends and relatives who came.

We are excited to see God’s work in new friends. Immanuel Bible Church of Springfield, VA, under the leadership of Jordan, our son, sent a team of nine to serve here in Rome for a week. They helped us distribute the Gospel, both to the pilgrims in Rome for the Holy Year and to the neighborhood where our church is situated. Thousands of pamphlets were passed out to people, in whom we trust God’s Word will produce a desire to know Him. These young people were desirous to grow in the Lord, themselves, before they reached out to others,
and so appreciated starting each day hearing a devotional by David. Every day, we conducted a mini-VBS in the park close to our church for two hours. What a blessing it was, to see the children come back each day and wait for our arrival at 5pm! Parents listened, as we taught Bible stories, sang and did crafts with their children that related to the day’s story. We had opportunity to share with the adults there and invite them to come on Sundays to our church. Please pray for the contacts we made. We want to express our gratitude to the leadership of Immanuel Bible Church for planning this trip, which we hope will become an annual event.

And His work through old friends… We also had the privilege to have Jerry and Louise Wragg visit us for a few days, from Grace Immanuel Bible Church in Jupiter, Florida. God always uses these visits of fellow servants to encourage us to stay focused on the Lord and to continue to faithfully serve Him.

God worked through Loredana, up in Milan. Over 20 women came for the three sessions she taught from the Word of God about gratitude. It was a blessing for David to hear about the impact of Loredana’s teaching, and the women’s desire for her to come again next year. God is using Loredana in a wonderful way to have a ministry in the lives of women of all ages. Thank you so much for your prayers that opportunities will increase.

God is giving us still further opportunities. At the end of July, we will be traveling to Sicily, where we will be able to minister to the churches in Acireale and Siracusa. The church in Acireale is moving to a new location, so they have asked David to preach for their dedication service. They hope to have other churches and neighbors present for this special day, as well.

We know that God is working. He who has prepared the good works for us to do,  also prepares the hearts of those who hear the preaching, and He continues to work in us to mold us as He desires, to make us into the kind of servants who will bring glory to Himself.
We also know that, as you pray for us and support us financially, God will  work in your hearts, too, and encourage you in your walk,  faithfulness and  generosity.

Grateful to represent you in Rome, Italy,

David and Loredana

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Light in a Dark Country

my word … that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
–Isaiah 55:11

HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THE LORD’S PROVISIONS AND ENABLEMENTS!

We serve Him in a lost place, populated by men and women who are driven by their passions, by their father the devil, and are influenced by the darkness of the world. How can we ever hope to reach the spiritually dead, unable to understand spiritual truths? Their only interest in serving God is to use forms of religion to gratify themselves or salve their consciences.
This is why we are eternally grateful for the vital place you have in our ministry. Your prayers, your financial gifts are what the Lord is using to strengthen us in this ministry.

We had two evangelistic meetings in our church plant recently, and are very grateful that some unsaved came and listened carefully to the Gospel, explained by David. Loredana continues to meet with Nadia, who we believe has made a genuine confession of faith and now desires to be baptized. Loredana will continue to disciple her, as she grows in faith. The other ladies of the church continue in their desire to grow in Christ, and are looking forward to the fall, when Loredana will again be teaching their group.

We were able to go to Vasto, for meetings in Gianluca and Sonia’s former church. They are two precious friends who are now in the US, studying at the Masters’ Seminary. What a privilege to see God work! David spoke both Saturday and Sunday, and we were truly blessed to see a great desire to grow in the knowledge of the Word of God there.

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We continue to help Marco and Simona, dear and long-time friends, who are ministering faithfully in churches in Acireale and Siracusa, Sicily. Because the Pentecostal and Charismatic influence is strong in all of Italy, but especially in Sicily, David was asked to conduct a one-day conference on the Charismatic movement.  After the morning message,  the first two-and-a-half hour session of teaching, we took a break for lunch and a couple of people came up to David to say that they were willing to even skip lunch and continue studying, because they needed this teaching so much! God has been very kind to prepare us for this kind of ministry.

A couple of weeks ago, we were able to attend a conference that was held in Rome. It was a great opportunity to see friends and meet up with unexpected people whom we had not seen in years. As David walked by a group of men, Samuel saw him and lunged to hug him. He turned around to his friends and said, “This is the man who taught me how to preach”! David, with tears in his eyes, was very encouraged to hear the grateful words of this African man, who now pastors a church composed mostly of African immigrants, near Milano. Playing piano for the conference was Giuliano. He asked to meet with David, so he could tell him how grateful he was for having been taught the sovereignty of God and Bible doctrine by David, years ago. These had both been David’s students in the Italian Theological Academy. God is so loving, as He encourages us in our ministry by showing us some of the fruit of our labor!

Serving God is the privilege of the believer. Representing you here in Rome is a loving gift God has given us.  A letter like this might make it seem that ministry is easy and fun. But, dear friends, at times we also struggle, as many whom we reach out to are totally indifferent to the Word of God. Italy continues to be a very dark place, enveloped by the lies of false religion.

We ask you to please continue to pray. Thank God for every sign of growth and every message that goes out. And pray that God would lead us to those He has prepared for the saving and powerful message of the Gospel.

Pray for our upcoming events:

o    Loredana will be speaking at a ladies’ conference in Milan at the end of May
o    We will be hosting a team from our son’s church in Virginia, who will help us do our very first
o    VBS in our church
o    We will have various opportunities to share the Gospel during special events in our church
o    David continues to preach the letter to the Philippians on Sundays, and Luke in Bible study
o    Our ongoing work together with Lucio and Cristina Stanisci, our dear friends
o    In July, we plan to go back to Sicily for continued ministry

Your grateful co-slaves for Christ,

David and Loredana

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April 2016 News from Bill Standridge

It’s time to pray

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?
or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD,
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
– Psalm 24:3-5

David cries out: “Where is the human being who can come into the Lord’s presence, and commune with Him?”
There is no one!  For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Who has clean hands and a pure heart?  No one!  There is none righteous, no, not one!
But wait!  There is someone!  There are many! For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. – Romans 10:10.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. – Romans 8:1.
Oh, my dear praying and supporting friends: What a glorious message we bring to the lost! What a glorious life of fellowship with Him we enjoy in Christ!

THIS MONTH IS FULL OF THE JOY OF OUTREACH… Every Sunday afternoon, our church is reaching out to children with a time of games, songs and Bible stories, in a park in the target area for our church plant.  There are children from Catholic homes, Muslim homes and atheistic homes.  We are making contact with their parents and hope soon to have some interested adult contacts for a home Bible study.  We are invading Satan’s stronghold, and we need your prayers!

copertina_Giubileo_2016_DEFTWO LOVING LADIES VISITING FROM A CHURCH IN FLORIDA joined us and Italian Christians, to help distribute our witnessing tool for the Holy year, a booklet in five languages, with the title, “We want to see Jesus!”.  They were dismayed by the number of persons who refused to accept it!  And yet, some did!  And these will read the story of Zacchaeus, who wanted to see Jesus, and was cured of his greed, was saved and became a witness to many.

If you desire to contribute to the cost of these booklets and the distribution, please send your gift to Cornelius Ministries, marked “See Jesus booklet”.  Only God knows who may be reached, among the millions from every country, who are arriving.  THANK YOU!

In God’s grace,

William (Bill) Standridge

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Why Are We Not Crying?

I remember, when watching a movie with my boys, that sometimes the kids would ask me if I was crying, when they noticed a tear running down my cheek. My lovely wife does the same thing, for she knows when to look, and her words ring like a challenge: “Are you crying again?” She knows what kind of movies and scenes make me tear up.

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19

Paul is writing to his beloved church in Philippi, and as he thinks of the believers he cannot help but cry, because of the danger of false influences upon their thinking. This is not a new warning, as he had told them before, in person and in the preceding words, to beware of such men.
Can you imagine the scene? Paul is dictating the letter and whoever is carefully writing his words for him looks up to see this seasoned evangelist and pastor, crying. Paul tells him to write down that he is crying, with no shame for his tears –  for they are simply the tender expression of his love, his concern and his warning.
Never before had Paul written that he was crying, as he was writing his letters. But crying was not new to Paul’s ministry. Speaking to the Ephesian elders, he reminded them of the way he had ministered among them.

Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. Acts 20:31

For Paul, it was normal to admonish the believers, night and day, with tears. His tears were not driven by his suffering or fear, but by his genuine concern for those to whom he was ministering. He knew their names, he knew their trials, their sinfulness, and was very aware of the external dangers to their spiritual lives. He wanted them to progress in their sanctification; he wanted them to resemble Christ more every day.
What were the evil characteristics of those who wanted to influence the Philippian believers?
There were at least five!

  • They are enemies of the Gospel message
  • They are headed for destruction
  • They are driven by their pleasure
  • They boast in their sin
  • They live for what is earthly

How many people today are enemies of the Gospel? Anyone who adulterates the Gospel by adding or watering down the message is an enemy of the pure Gospel. The evangelical church has become soft in their warning against false religions. The Roman Catholic church continues today to add meritorious works to the Gospel. Evangelical leaders are softening the Gospel, as they have relinquished any kind need for purity and the Lordship of Christ. We cannot deny that these voices are filtering into the church.

Those who live according to these truths are headed for destruction, which is sad in itself, but they are also leading people down a path of destruction. Can the faithful believers look the other way and not be overwhelmed by sadness, as they watch professing believers on that path away from truth, heading for the time when Christ’s words, “I never knew you”, will resonate in their ears?
It is natural for man to be driven by his own desires, but has the church embraced a narcissistic view of Christianity? Churches where self-gratification and self-indulgence have become acceptable, where any kind of warning is dismissed with the accusation of legalism, are surrounding us, and their sinfulness is set aside by the boasting of numbers and the popularity of their preachers. Are we concerned about the voices that influence believers through television and internet, where superficial teachings are proliferating?

Licentious living is the norm in our society. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote that ungodly men not only commit sin, but approve those who do it. When the church allows this kind of subtle mindset to enter in, true believers cannot remain indifferent, not be moved to tears, as they watch people wrecking their lives.
The living for what is earthly mindset has infiltrated the church so much that it is surprising that any believers are still able to make a distinction between a heavenly mindset and an earthly one. Where are the Thessalonians, whose reputation was that they had turned from their idols to worship and serve the living God and lived expecting the imminent return of the Lord?

Today, evangelicals endorse religious leaders whose teachings should drive them to their knees, asking God for protection of their churches. Political leaders seemingly embrace Christianity as a way to promote their own success, and the church watches without concern and tears, as these ungodly men gain influence within the flock.
We cannot be surprised that this is the state of our fallen world, but we must be alarmed that we have stopped weeping about it. The Apostle Paul bid farewell to the Ephesians elders, warning them to watch carefully, as he entrusted them and their church into the care of God and the influence of His Word.

Please pray for us in Italy, as we minister in season and out of season, that we would not only be faithful to precise expository preaching and teaching of the whole counsel of God, but that we would be driven to our knees in prayer and continually faithful to warn and admonish those under our influence with loving, concerned tears.

May the Lord lead you, as you live for the Lord and influence others. Our children and grandchildren and all our loves ones are living in an ever-increasing ungodly world.

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Precious Moments

Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth.
–Colossians 3:2

NON VOGLIO SPRECARE QUESTO MOMENTO!
‘I don’t want to waste the moment!’
Emanuele hugged me, as we had just watched his mother, Patrizia, breathe her last breath. Like most of the family of Patrizia and Claudio, her husband, he is not a believer. But he had been observing the way our church family spent the last three months alongside his sweet mother, encouraging her and watching the grace and peace of God embrace Patrizia and Claudio. Her lung cancer had only been discovered on October 5th and now, in such a short time, she was with the Lord.

More than100 unbelievers attended the funeral.
We were so encouraged that, as the Gospel was preached with clarity, there was quiet attentiveness in the church as David spoke. Many of those who listened spoke afterwards with both David and Loredana and shared how they were touched by such a different kind of ceremony than the funerals they were accustomed to. They were also impressed by the love they had seen displayed at the hospital by the brothers and sisters of the church. Some exchanged phone numbers with us, and even promised to come and visit our church.

On Sunday, we waited with great expectation.
David had prepared a special sermon from 1 Thessalonians on what happens to those who die in Christ. We were so thankful that three of Patrizia’s brothers came, two with their wives, and Emanuele came, too! We had a total of eight unbelievers in our church that day!

The testimony continues.
Last Sunday, Emanuele brought his daughter with him, and one of the brothers returned with his wife. After the service, Emanuele told David that he knows he is not a believer, but that he is listening carefully to the teaching. We are entrusting these interested souls to God, and are praying that He will allow us to keep in contact with more of those who were present at Patrizia’s funeral.

The publishing ministry has been absorbing our attention, as well.
The evangelistic pamphlet in five languages, written for the pilgrims who are coming for the Holy Year is almost ready to be printed. The Catholic Church is expecting over 20,000,000 people from all over the world to come to Rome during this special event they have planned for 2016. We are praying that God would provide the funds to print many copies, and that many believers will come to help us distribute it during the months to come. We know that at least three churches in the US are considering the possibility of sending teams to help us. If you are interested, please contact us.

We are looking forward to our ministry time in Sicily this weekend.
On Saturday, David will speak at a conference on dating and courtship in Catania, where multiple churches have been invited. Then on Sunday morning, he will be speaking in Acireale and in the evening, in Siracusa. Loredana will be speaking to the Acireale women in Sunday School. We need you to pray for us, as we bring God’s Word before His people.

NON SPRECARE QUESTO MOMENTO! ‘DON’T WASTE THIS MOMENT!’
All of us need to be careful not to waste our moments. God has given us days filled with “moments”! Every moment is a unique opportunity to bring glory to God. David ended his sermon at the funeral with these words. Every moment gone by will never return, so we must be careful not to waste it with sinful attitudes or actions, or miss opportunities to bring glory to God with our actions and our words.

Will you take time to pray for us now? Would you like us to pray for you? Let us know!

Your co-slaves in Christ,

David and Loredana

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Our Life is but a Vapor

 

Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
–1 Corinthians 15:54,55

“PRONTO? CIAO DAVIDE, SONO RAFFAELE, VOLEVO DIRTI CHE MAMMA È MORTA”
“Hello David, it’s Raffaele, I wanted to tell you that mother has died”.
It had been some time since I had talked to him. Raffaele had come to know Christ in my office many years ago. I had the privilege to marry him to his dear wife. Raffaele was the only believer in a very Roman Catholic family. It was not until years later that his mother made a profession of faith. Raffaele wanted me to go to the funeral and rejoice with him that his mother was in heaven. After the service he wrote me a very kind note, thanking me for being his pastor and introducing Christ to his family. Today, Raffaele is a local church leader in a different part of Rome.

“DAVIDE, HAI SENTITO CHE GIORGIA È ANDATA CON IL SIGNORE?”
“David, did you hear that Giorgia went to be with the Lord?”
She had been suffering for many years with cancer. I remember sitting with her after church, watching her eyes fill with joy as she praised God for His care and love for her, and for her certainty of eternal life. But then her eyes would fill with tears, as she reminded me to continue to pray for her husband and daughter, who were totally disinterested in the Gospel. Years have passed from those days; her husband has died and her family continues to be antagonistic. They knew of her faith, they watched her read her Bible consistently, go to church faithfully, and talk about the God she loved. Her family refused to allow an evangelical funeral in spite of her wishes, and did not allow any of her believing friends any opportunity to speak during the Roman Catholic funeral. We rejoice that God knows His own and that Giorgia rejoices today in heaven, in the presence of her Savior.

“DAVIDE, GRAZIE PER IL TUO MESSAGGIO OGGI, NON SONO QUASI VENUTA IN CHIESA PERCHÉ NON MI SENTO BENE, MA DIO SAPEVA CHE AVEVO BISOGNO DI QUESTO MESSAGGIO”.
“David, thank you for your sermon today, I almost didn’t come today because I don’t feel well, but God knew I needed this message”.
The next morning we received a call from Patrizia’s husband Claudio, telling us that she was in the emergency room. Only days later, the doctors discovered that she has cancer in her lungs which has also spread to her brain. It has been a blessing to spend countless hours at the hospital with this dear couple, observing the peace that only God can give to His own. Patrizia and Claudio are aware of the severity of their situation, but also know the One who holds their future. We have been able to witness to their families who have never come to church, but listened carefully as David read the Scriptures, explained them and prayed every time we went. Only God knows Patrizia’s future, but we know He calls us to seize present opportunities to present the glory of the Gospel.

Loredana has the privilege to meet individually with Nadia and Cheila.

These two women have different histories: one is from Moldavia, and the other from Brazil. But they are both married to Italian men, and have had very difficult pasts. Loredana will be going through the basics of the Word of God and the Gospel with them, in the weeks to come. Because they are very open and have a great desire to understand, it is wonderfully evident that God is working in their hearts. Loredana is also teaching a series on “The Lord’s Prayer” to the women’s Bible study group in our little church.

David just got back from a weekend in Sicily. 

The churches in Acireale and Siracusa are eager to learn from the Word. David was able to meet with the men of Acireale and challenge them in their roles as husbands and fathers. The members of the church in Siracusa had distributed invitations to friends and neighbors, but no one responded. But these dear believers realize that we must continue to be faithful. One of the men said: “We are not giving up, the next time you come we will print more invitations and we will pass them out again”.

In Italy, every 52 seconds a person dies, and every two hours someone commits suicide.

We have a ministry that is truly a matter of life and death. We are surrounded by people who are destined to a Christ-less eternity. Your prayers are vital for our ministry. Only God can revive dead hearts and open the eyes of those who continue to walk in rebellion.

“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes”. James 4:14

We are here for just a short while; we all must be faithful in our duty to shine as lights in a lost world. We are so thankful for all of you who pray for us regularly and give, so we can continue to proclaim the message of our risen Savior, who has defeated death and gives hope to those who believe in Him.

Grateful to God, your co-slaves for Christ,

David and Loredana

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October 2015 News from Bill Standridge

“THANKSGIVING?” There are a lot of people who feel that they have very little to give thanks for in this season!Of course, in a world like ours, in these frightening days, who can thank God excepting those who know Him, worship Him and recognize His continued blessings?  Still, when David wrote the above words, his world was pretty scary, too!  Only someone like David, who had trusted God, seen His blessing, been saved both physically and spiritually, could pen those words with sincerity.

BUT WE CAN DO IT,  TOO! In a time in which some churches in Italy are going through internal turmoil, divisions and weakness, and others are being influenced by pressures of ecumenism, charismatics, and other troubling doctrines, God is working.  A short time ago, I was privileged to participate in the launch of a program in a large church, in which the acting pastor is a man who is a stable leader doctrinally and spiritually, and who came to the Lord as a teen-ager in our church in Rome and grew to be one of our able leaders.  The program of monthly Saturday morning training and Bible study for five men who may become the new leaders of this church, and a Saturday afternoon training and Bible study for 25 younger men, who are going through studies on the subject of becoming “men of God” in their marriages, homes and in the church, is being planned and led by my dear friend and brother, and spiritual son. Thank the Lord with me, and pray for the churches in Italy and for me, in a time of challenge, of compromise and the need of powerful revival.

FOUR NO-LONGER YOUNG MEN, who are serving the Lord as missionaries, three in Italy and one in a nearby ex-communist country, who all went into the Lord’s service from our church in Rome, met with me in a loaned-home for three days to study the Word, pray and share their lives.  All four are facing several problems, of health, of support, of misunderstanding or opposition, and all desire that, no-matter-what, they may continue serving the Lord faithfully and fearlessly.  For two days I spoke to them of the lessons of Isaiah’s call to service, and the need for purification, confession and humility, and on the last day, of Peter’s advice that I mentioned to you in my last letter, of joyous anticipation of the priceless “inheritance” God has prepared for us, in spite of the “manifold temptations” (or “variegated trials of our faith”) through which He leads us now.

YES, YES, YES! I am rejoicing in this time of “Thanksgiving”, that the Lord has led you to continue praying for me and supporting me, in my old age, so that I can be in the midst of the battle of which Paul writes in Ephesians, of the “principalities, …powers, …the rulers of the darkness of this world,” against whom we weak human servants are battling, but in His power and dressed in His armor, in these end times.  By the way, during the days of my get-together with our missionaries mentioned above, I enjoyed the visit of an Italian evangelist, 98 years-old (I felt like a young man), as we rejoiced together for17 adults(unheard-of, at that time or today) saved  in our joint ministry in a campaign in a small town some 60 years ago.

SO, MY DEAR FRIENDS, PLEASE ENJOY A GREAT “THANKSGIVING”
And thank the Lord for keeping me alive and active on the battle field, through your prayers!
Joyfully serving HIM,

William (Bill) Standridge

[colored_box title=”If you would like to support my ministry to Italy ” variation=”orange”]Please send your tax deductible gifts to:

CORNELIUS MINISTRIES
55 South Main Street #164
Oberlin, OH 44074

Mark on the memo line or on a separate note: For the ministry of William Standridge[/colored_box]

BLESSED BY A SOVEREIGN GOD!

 

[dropcap4 variation=”blue”]W[/dropcap4]e live in a world where there is much chaos, sin, and uncertainty. As believers, we realize that we can rest assured that God is in complete and loving control of all our circumstances. This reality should produce in us grateful dependence and prayerful progress.

WHEN WE ARRIVED IN ITALY, WE DID NOT KNOW HOW GOD WOULD USE US. It was only a few days after we arrived, that the leadership of the Chiesa Cristiana Evangelica di Via Nathan asked us if we would consider worshiping with them and helping them. The Canadian pastor and his wife retired last October and returned to Canada, after many years of faithful service in Italy. Since then, David has been blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with the only elder of this small congregation. David and Alfredo meet weekly for planning and prayer and David preaches regularly on Sunday morning and in the weekly Bible Study. Loredana has taught the women’s Bible study alongside Doretta, Alfredo’s wife.

GOD HAS CLARIFIED OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CHURCH. Our elders encouraged us to consider the possibility of staying and helping this group. After prayer and counsel, we have decided for the time being to stay and minister to this wonderful group of believers. Their desire to grow and learn is of great encouragement to us. We also have begun a regular tract distribution in our area. This material is written and published through Associazione Verità Evangelica, the ministry that David’s parents founded, that David now directs. Loredana spoke at a women’s dinner where almost half of those present were unbelieving friends of the ladies of our church.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE CAREFUL GUIDANCE OF GOD. We are glad to have been able to help Matt and Johanna Johnston during their first year here in Italy and are glad to see them progress, as they work towards their future ministry in Northern Italy. We are also grateful for the privilege we have in encouraging and helping Bill Standridge (David’s father) to continue his fruitful ministry here in Italy.

GOD IS OPENING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE AND HELP OTHER MISSIONARIES. We are so grateful for the close relationship we have with Lucio and Cristina Stanisci, as they are beginning a new church plant in the north side of Rome. We meet together regularly for encouragement and for planning. Another couple who have asked us to have a role of encouragement and advice are Marco and Simona Albanesi. Marco is pastoring and leading two churches in Sicily. David was involved in the planting of one of them, and we are encouraged in the progress there. In July, David will have the privilege of speaking in both churches.

ilPaneInaspettatoCSTHE PAMPHLET WE PREPARED FOR EXPO 2015 IS READY. As we mentioned in our last prayer letter, this pamphlet has been prepared for the 20,000,000 visitors Milano will have during this year. It is written in Italian – English – French – German – Spanish. Click HERE to read. The churches in Milan are beginning to distribute them. Our prayer is that many will be exposed to the Gospel through this means. In our publishing ministry, we have also prepared an evangelistic edition of our monthly publication. By God’s grace, we have been able to distribute 82,000 copiesso far.

WE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP IN NORTHERN ITALY. David was invited to speak in a church where the pastor is a former student of the Italian Theological Academy, that David had the privilege of starting in 2004. We were so encouraged by the responses to the three days of meetings and the hours of conversation we had with those in leadership and their wives. Loredana will possibly return later to speak to the women.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS SO MUCH GOD IS DOING. All we are doing is the result of God opening doors, and any lasting results will be because of His efficacious work in the lives of those who listen to His Word. There is much more we could tell you, but we invite you to come and visit us, and find out first hand!

WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A VERY SPECIAL EVENT IN OUR FAMILY. Our youngest son, Ben is now engaged to a wonderful girl from our sending church in Jupiter, Florida. We are so glad for Jordynn Fors and for her family, who love and serve the Lord. We are looking forward to December, when they plan to get married, as both a joyous occasion to continue to observe God’s work in the lives of His people, and for the opportunity to return to the USA, and see many of you who pray for us regularly.

We covet your prayers in all these matters, as we all look to our sovereign God to guide and provide for His work among Italians, according to His perfect will!

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Please, donate now OR send your tax deductible gifts to:

CORNELIUS MINISTRIES
55 South Main Street #164
Oberlin, OH 44074

Mark on the memo line or on a separate note: For the ministry of David and Loredana Standridge[/colored_box]

Tetelestai – it is finished!

 

John 19:30 records that when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. It was not the cry of surrender, but a cry of victory! These words rang throughout heaven and earth! Later on, the Apostle Paul would write in 1 Corinthians 15 “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

We serve a risen Savior! God the Father approved the sacrifice of Christ, as “He raised Him up and has given Him a name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This is our hope,  joy and mission. We live surrounded by people who do not recognize the immense and complete sacrifice Christ has accomplished.

Returning to Italy after a recent trip, I had the opportunity to speak to an American couple. They were planning to visit five cities in Italy – five places that seemed very random to me. They were not famous, nor close to each other. I asked them how they had chosen these places and they responded that they wanted to visit five churches where Eucharistic miracles had taken place. They went on to explain that when the priest blesses the wafer, the sacrifice of Christ is repeated, because the wafer becomes spiritually the actual body of Christ. In these five churches the “host”, because of the unbelief of someone present, had literally transformed into human flesh and blood, as documented by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church! When I told them that I taught the Bible and served as a missionary, their interest in continuing our conversation quickly disappeared and they went to sleep. What a blasphemy, to believe that Christ must die again each time the mass is repeated!

We serve in a country where most do not believe that the work of Christ was sufficient. For the last two months, we have gone out with the believers of our little church and passed out tracts that we have written. We are encouraged to see that people do take them, and we trust that God will use the Gospel message to attract His own to Himself. On the tract is the address of our church and the times we meet, so please pray with us that God will draw them to come and hear more about Him.

Anna came as a result of our first distribution. What an encouragement to see Anna come to the ladies’ Bible study. Loredana was teaching that day on the “Love of God on the Calvary.” Anna listened carefully and seemed interested, but had a concern: she did not believe in hell or that anyone goes there. Loredana promised to take time in the next Bible study to teach from the Bible about hell. Anna returned the next week and listened, but seemed unconcerned about what the Bible says. She cannot believe that a loving God would ever condemn anyone. She did not return this week, but our prayer is that God would use the words she heard to stir her heart. Pray with us for Anna.

David has finished a four-week course on evangelism during our weekly Tuesday night Bible study. All those who can (which are most of the church!) come to listen, for they eagerly want to learn how to present the Gospel more clearly to their families and friends. They are all writing out their personal testimonies, so they can make sure to be prepared when they have the opportunity. Next week we will take the whole Bible study time to pray for unsaved friends and family members whom we desire to reach during the rest of the year. Our goal is to pray regularly that God will open their hearts. Will you pray with us for these people?

Millions will come to Italy in the next months. Over 20,000,000 people from all over the world are expected to come to Milan for EXPO 2015. Many will come from countries where the Gospel cannot be preached. So we are preparing two evangelistic booklets that will contain the Gospel in five languages! We would like to have 100,000 copies of the first tract for distribution. We are now working on its content and on finding those who will do the follow up in the other languages. The second pamphlet will be similar, but for a different group of people. The Roman Catholic Church has announced that there will be an extraordinary Jubilee in 2016. During this time, over 22,000,000 pilgrims are expected in Rome, promised that if they go to the five basilicas and pray the right prayers, they will receive plenary indulgence. In other words, all their sins will be forgiven committed up to that time. We will keep you informed as our plans continue. Will you pray with us that God will give us wisdom as we plan for these events?

We are so grateful that Christ has given us the privilege to serve Him here in Italy. A newsletter is not sufficient to share with you all the Lord is doing in us and in our ministry. We know that we are here because of His grace, and that He is encouraging us through your prayers and financial support. We serve a risen Savior, we are certain of our eternal destiny, and we must share the Gospel with a world who needs it desperately!

Your co-slaves of Christ,
David and Loredana

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[button link=”https://corneliusministries.org/donate/” size=”medium” variation=”silver” bgColor=”#ff7b00″ textColor=”#000000″ align=”left” target=”blank”]Online Donation[/button]

 

 

Please, donate now OR send your tax deductible gifts to:

CORNELIUS MINISTRIES
55 South Main Street #164
Oberlin, OH 44074

Mark on the memo line or on a separate note: For the ministry of David and Loredana Standridge[/colored_box]