salerno city church

salernoc i ty church

Nestled in the southwest coast of Italy, there is a city bustling with some of the most passionate and loving people you are bound to meet. Just a few miles up the hill, there is a univer-sity of nearly 40,000 students, most of which will graduate and be the future leaders of Italy. And for seven years now, a devoted group of men and women have been trusting God to change a city.

It all started in 2003 with a church in Battipaglia, about 45 minutes south of Salerno, inviting Campus Crusade for Christ to send a team to reach the university. For seven years, God has continually revealed through the efforts at the university that He is at work in the hearts of the young people of Italy. Despite the history of spiritual darkness, hundreds of individuals have come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. A spiritual movement was beginning, and we were there to watch it spark. God is pursuing Italy once again.

Our greatest desire was to see this new harvest of disciples continue their spiritual journey in the context of a local church. And this is where the challenge began. Less than 1% of Italy has an evangelical church presence. And what’s worse, the vast majority of those churches are heavily divided against each other, and often dangerous in their theology and practice. Fact is, there is no church for them to call home.

Salerno City Church was birthed from a rich history of fruitful labor, and an inevitable need for a healthy evangelical church to exist in the city. As we continue to see Italians trust Christ in Salerno, our desire is to form a community in the city that is committed to making, nurturing and sending disciples. We hope that Salerno City Church will become just that. Thank you for taking the time to learn about what God is doing, and how you can take part in reaching Salerno, and Italy, for Christ.

For Salerno and the Gospel,

Justin ValiquetteLead Planter and Pastor

thehistorySalerno, Italy

Nestled in the southwest coast of Italy, there is a city bustling with some of the most passionate and loving people you are bound to meet. Just a few miles up the hill, there is a univer-sity of nearly 40,000 students, most of which will graduate and be the future leaders of Italy. And for seven years now, a devoted group of men and women have been trusting God to change a city.

It all started in 2003 with a church in Battipaglia, about 45 minutes south of Salerno, inviting Campus Crusade for Christ to send a team to reach the university. For seven years, God has continually revealed through the efforts at the university that He is at work in the hearts of the young people of Italy. Despite the history of spiritual darkness, hundreds of individuals have come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. A spiritual movement was beginning, and we were there to watch it spark. God is pursuing Italy once again.

Our greatest desire was to see this new harvest of disciples continue their spiritual journey in the context of a local church. And this is where the challenge began. Less than 1% of Italy has an evangelical church presence. And what’s worse, the vast majority of those churches are heavily divided against each other, and often dangerous in their theology and practice. Fact is, there is no church for them to call home.

Salerno City Church was birthed from a rich history of fruitful labor, and an inevitable need for a healthy evangelical church to exist in the city. As we continue to see Italians trust Christ in Salerno, our desire is to form a community in the city that is committed to making, nurturing and sending disciples. We hope that Salerno City Church will become just that. Thank you for taking the time to learn about what God is doing, and how you can take part in reaching Salerno, and Italy, for Christ.

For Salerno and the Gospel,

Justin ValiquetteLead Planter and Pastor

thehistorySalerno, Italy

theCity

LOCATION::Nestled in the southwest coast of Italy, Salerno is home to some of the most wonderful foods, sites and people that Italy has to offer. It is a bustling industrial city that is the capital in the province.

SIZE::Nearly 150,000 residents occupy the central part of Salerno, but the city is easily accessible by car, train and ferry boats to over 1,000,000 people within 30 miles. That is not including the millions of tourists that visit the coastal cities throughout the spring and summer months.

SPIRITUAL DEMOGRAPHICS::76% Catholic20% Occult/Other3% Muslim1% Evangelical

CULTURE AND INFLUENCE::The vast majority of city inhabitants are Italian, born and raised in the cityThere is a small population of foreigners, but the Italian society does not make it easy for their progression both socially and in the marketplace, therefore they are mostly a dormant part of the cityThough a large portion of the Italians people are Catholic, very few are involved regularly (less than 5%)They are a spiritual people group, with a natural reverence to the God of the Bible. Though, they are often misled and uninformed on matters of faith and salvation

STAGGERING FACTS::Only 1,500 of Italy's 33,500 communities have an established evangelical witnessVery few Catholics, including those more involved, understand the simple message that we are saved by grace alone, through faith. Therefore, that vast majority of Italians have never heard the gospel There are 4x more Muslims (and growing) in Italy, than Evangelical believersWithin the Evangelical church, there are 111+ denomi-nations. This is a huge indicator of how divided the church is, which has essentially rendered the Evangeli-cal church ‘closed doored’ and ineffective in reaching its own country.

Salerno, Italy

"The Church, as a gathered community of God's people, is the only institution in the world equipped by God for the spiritual, cultural, and social renewal of all nations." Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29

theCity

LOCATION::Nestled in the southwest coast of Italy, Salerno is home to some of the most wonderful foods, sites and people that Italy has to offer. It is a bustling industrial city that is the capital in the province.

SIZE::Nearly 150,000 residents occupy the central part of Salerno, but the city is easily accessible by car, train and ferry boats to over 1,000,000 people within 30 miles. That is not including the millions of tourists that visit the coastal cities throughout the spring and summer months.

SPIRITUAL DEMOGRAPHICS::76% Catholic20% Occult/Other3% Muslim1% Evangelical

CULTURE AND INFLUENCE::The vast majority of city inhabitants are Italian, born and raised in the cityThere is a small population of foreigners, but the Italian society does not make it easy for their progression both socially and in the marketplace, therefore they are mostly a dormant part of the cityThough a large portion of the Italians people are Catholic, very few are involved regularly (less than 5%)They are a spiritual people group, with a natural reverence to the God of the Bible. Though, they are often misled and uninformed on matters of faith and salvation

STAGGERING FACTS::Only 1,500 of Italy's 33,500 communities have an established evangelical witnessVery few Catholics, including those more involved, understand the simple message that we are saved by grace alone, through faith. Therefore, that vast majority of Italians have never heard the gospel There are 4x more Muslims (and growing) in Italy, than Evangelical believersWithin the Evangelical church, there are 111+ denomi-nations. This is a huge indicator of how divided the church is, which has essentially rendered the Evangeli-cal church ‘closed doored’ and ineffective in reaching its own country.

Salerno, Italy

"The Church, as a gathered community of God's people, is the only institution in the world equipped by God for the spiritual, cultural, and social renewal of all nations." Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29

theVisionwhat we hope to accomplish

PLANT::Unfortunately, there are very few examples in Italy of churches that are impacting and redeeming their cities with the Gospel. Most churches have either become isolated from society, biblically unfaithful, or have died along the way. Our hope is to plant a church in order to redefine what it means to "be the church" in Italy. This will begin by starting a new church in the city center that is gospel-centered, Bibli-cally faithful, and missionally engaging the culture.

TRAIN::From the beginning, the aim is to equip indigenous leaders. Long term, Italians need to be reaching Italians. Our prayer is that within our congregation we will raise up, equip and send men to plant similar churches throughout Italy. Also, we hope to work with other local churches to train their leaders to better lead their congregations in sharing the gospel, and multiplying their ministry.

MULTIPLY:: With a model church planted, leaders trained and equipped, and an open country to work in, we hope to see many new churches planted throughout the province and beyond. We firmly believe that the Gospel is the power of God by which people are saved. What Italy needs is churches planted throughout that are proclaiming the Gospel and pointing their communities and cities to Jesus.

in the Citya Church for the Gospel

" The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for the numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city. " - Tim Keller

theVisionwhat we hope to accomplish

PLANT::Unfortunately, there are very few examples in Italy of churches that are impacting and redeeming their cities with the Gospel. Most churches have either become isolated from society, biblically unfaithful, or have died along the way. Our hope is to plant a church in order to redefine what it means to "be the church" in Italy. This will begin by starting a new church in the city center that is gospel-centered, Bibli-cally faithful, and missionally engaging the culture.

TRAIN::From the beginning, the aim is to equip indigenous leaders. Long term, Italians need to be reaching Italians. Our prayer is that within our congregation we will raise up, equip and send men to plant similar churches throughout Italy. Also, we hope to work with other local churches to train their leaders to better lead their congregations in sharing the gospel, and multiplying their ministry.

MULTIPLY:: With a model church planted, leaders trained and equipped, and an open country to work in, we hope to see many new churches planted throughout the province and beyond. We firmly believe that the Gospel is the power of God by which people are saved. What Italy needs is churches planted throughout that are proclaiming the Gospel and pointing their communities and cities to Jesus.

in the Citya Church for the Gospel

" The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for the numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city. " - Tim Keller

"Church planting is establishing a new, healthy, reproducing community by a group of believers who are reaching, discipling, and equipping people in their region with the Gospel and then releasing them into the community to bring their "world" into the transforming power of the Kingdom of God." Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29

theTimeline

Q1:: Gather Reconnect with existing relationships Continue to reach out to community Begin missional community group in city center Meet with individuals to cast vision for church plantQ2:: Equip Identify core group Train core group in the Gospel message Train core group in Gospel living Train core group in community group leadership Identify skills within core group (music, service, etc)Q3:: Launch Launch additional missional community groups Begin planning for public launch (location, time, roles, etc) Train core group in deeper theological/cultural issuesQ4:: Grow Launch public worship gathering Ongoing training of future leaders Continue to multiply community groups

theStrategy

To accomplish this vision, we will implement three key environments to point the communities of Salerno to Jesus:

Weekly Worship Gatherings - a place where seasoned believers, new believers, and non believers can regularly come and hear the Bible taught, the gospel mes-sage preached, and experience corporate worship.

Missional Community Groups - not merely a weekly meeting, ormerely a Bible study. But rather, a group of people living lifetogether, living out the gospel in their communities.

Opportunities for Growth - multiple opportunities will be offeredto our community for growth and greater effectiveness in reachingSalerno with the gospel. These opportunities will include: Leadership development Gospel and Evangelism Training Pastoral Apprenticeships Equipping for Church Planting

what we will implement quarterly breakdown

theTimeline

Q1:: Gather Reconnect with existing relationships Continue to reach out to community Begin missional community group in city center Meet with individuals to cast vision for church plantQ2:: Equip Identify core group Train core group in the Gospel message Train core group in Gospel living Train core group in community group leadership Identify skills within core group (music, service, etc)Q3:: Launch Launch additional missional community groups Begin planning for public launch (location, time, roles, etc) Train core group in deeper theological/cultural issuesQ4:: Grow Launch public worship gathering Ongoing training of future leaders Continue to multiply community groups

theStrategy

To accomplish this vision, we will implement three key environments to point the communities of Salerno to Jesus:

Weekly Worship Gatherings - a place where seasoned believers, new believers, and non believers can regularly come and hear the Bible taught, the gospel mes-sage preached, and experience corporate worship.

Missional Community Groups - not merely a weekly meeting, ormerely a Bible study. But rather, a group of people living lifetogether, living out the gospel in their communities.

Opportunities for Growth - multiple opportunities will be offeredto our community for growth and greater effectiveness in reachingSalerno with the gospel. These opportunities will include: Leadership development Gospel and Evangelism Training Pastoral Apprenticeships Equipping for Church Planting

what we will implement quarterly breakdown

The effort to reach Salerno through a church plant will not be easy, and it cannot be accomplished alone. Would you consider partnering with Salerno City Church in one or more of the following ways?

Individual Partner

Prayer Jesus will build this church, not us. Would you please pray that He would begin a great work in Salerno, and that many new people would trust Christ?

Financial Giving In order for this work to begin, and be completed, it will take significant funding. We would like you to consider becoming a part of a growing team of financial parters. You can make tax deductible gifts in any of the following ways:

Reoccurring gift with a debit/credit card Commitment to a monthly, quarterly, or annual gift by check Make a one-time donation to help towards special projects

Corporate Partner

If you are the owner of a business, you can make tax deductible donations towards Salerno City Church in any of the methods listed above. This is a great way for your business to give back by investing in the global expansion of God’s Kingdom.

Church Partner

If you are a pastor of a church, or serving on the missions team of a church, you can help Salerno City Church by partnering with us. From its inception, the church has always been called to take part in local and global kingdom work. Your churches partnership can take place in many ways.

Committed Financial Giving Monthly, quarterly and annual

Personal Investment by the Pastor and LeadersAnnual trips to support and care for the team in SalernoOpportunities to train emerging leaders and pastors by attending conferences and retreats

Sending TeamsBy sending people on short term mission trips, your church body can help in very unique and powerful ways. These opportunities will help the members of your church tangibly experience the commitment to partner with church planting worldwide.

Unique Giving OpportunitiesAs the church in Salerno grows, your partnership will enable us to think creatively and boldly about how to reach the city with the Gospel. This may include giving towards the purchase of sound equip-ment, down payments for property, monies to fund indigenous leaders to be trained in pastoral ministry, etc.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Philippians 1:3-5

TheChallengehow you can partner with us

Learn how to give now at:http://salernochurch.com/give

The effort to reach Salerno through a church plant will not be easy, and it cannot be accomplished alone. Would you consider partnering with Salerno City Church in one or more of the following ways?

Individual Partner

Prayer Jesus will build this church, not us. Would you please pray that He would begin a great work in Salerno, and that many new people would trust Christ?

Financial Giving In order for this work to begin, and be completed, it will take significant funding. We would like you to consider becoming a part of a growing team of financial parters. You can make tax deductible gifts in any of the following ways:

Reoccurring gift with a debit/credit card Commitment to a monthly, quarterly, or annual gift by check Make a one-time donation to help towards special projects

Corporate Partner

If you are the owner of a business, you can make tax deductible donations towards Salerno City Church in any of the methods listed above. This is a great way for your business to give back by investing in the global expansion of God’s Kingdom.

Church Partner

If you are a pastor of a church, or serving on the missions team of a church, you can help Salerno City Church by partnering with us. From its inception, the church has always been called to take part in local and global kingdom work. Your churches partnership can take place in many ways.

Committed Financial Giving Monthly, quarterly and annual

Personal Investment by the Pastor and LeadersAnnual trips to support and care for the team in SalernoOpportunities to train emerging leaders and pastors by attending conferences and retreats

Sending TeamsBy sending people on short term mission trips, your church body can help in very unique and powerful ways. These opportunities will help the members of your church tangibly experience the commitment to partner with church planting worldwide.

Unique Giving OpportunitiesAs the church in Salerno grows, your partnership will enable us to think creatively and boldly about how to reach the city with the Gospel. This may include giving towards the purchase of sound equip-ment, down payments for property, monies to fund indigenous leaders to be trained in pastoral ministry, etc.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Philippians 1:3-5

TheChallengehow you can partner with us

Learn how to give now at:http://salernochurch.com/give

ThePlant Team

Justin and Abbey ValiquetteJustin and Abbey met in middle school, started dating in high school, and got married in college. They had four children in 39 months, no twins. Needless to say, things are a little crazy at the Valiquette house! Justin served as co-director for Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Central Florida for six years, and then led a university team to Salerno, Italy for two years. Justin is very excited for his new role as lead planter with Salerno City Church.

Church Planting Network

The Mission of Acts 29 is to band together Christian, Evangeli-cal, Missional & Reformed churches, who, for the sake of Jesus and the gospel, plant new churches and replant dead and dying churches across the United States and the world. This work is done in obedience to the great commission (Matt. 28:18-20), with the goal of seeing millions of lives changed by the power of the gospel.

Acts 29 Network exists to build a unifying and an uncommon alliance of smaller networks to advance the mission of Jesus through church-planting churches. We are planting churches that are missionaries in their respective communities sent by Jesus with the gospel (John 20:21). It is our commitment to focus our efforts on planting multiplying churches and training leaders.

learn more at www.acts29network.org

"A Gospel-centered church is focused on seeing the work of Jesus Christ--His life, death, and res-urrected life--applied now through the work of the Holy Spirit, bringing transformation in their city, region, and the nations." Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29

Dylan and Chevas GraceDylan and Chevas met at the University of Central Florida at a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. They got to see God work in some big ways at the university. Dylan has been serving with Campus Crusade for Christ as the Campus Director at the Univer-sity of Miami for the three years and has worked in the National Campus Office for one year. Both have spent two summers in Salerno ministering to the college students there. Dylan and Chevas are both humbled and excited about this new phase of their ministry into church planting in Salerno.

[email protected]

ThePlant Team

Justin and Abbey ValiquetteJustin and Abbey met in middle school, started dating in high school, and got married in college. They had four children in 39 months, no twins. Needless to say, things are a little crazy at the Valiquette house! Justin served as co-director for Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Central Florida for six years, and then led a university team to Salerno, Italy for two years. Justin is very excited for his new role as lead planter with Salerno City Church.

Church Planting Network

The Mission of Acts 29 is to band together Christian, Evangeli-cal, Missional & Reformed churches, who, for the sake of Jesus and the gospel, plant new churches and replant dead and dying churches across the United States and the world. This work is done in obedience to the great commission (Matt. 28:18-20), with the goal of seeing millions of lives changed by the power of the gospel.

Acts 29 Network exists to build a unifying and an uncommon alliance of smaller networks to advance the mission of Jesus through church-planting churches. We are planting churches that are missionaries in their respective communities sent by Jesus with the gospel (John 20:21). It is our commitment to focus our efforts on planting multiplying churches and training leaders.

learn more at www.acts29network.org

"A Gospel-centered church is focused on seeing the work of Jesus Christ--His life, death, and res-urrected life--applied now through the work of the Holy Spirit, bringing transformation in their city, region, and the nations." Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29

Dylan and Chevas GraceDylan and Chevas met at the University of Central Florida at a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. They got to see God work in some big ways at the university. Dylan has been serving with Campus Crusade for Christ as the Campus Director at the Univer-sity of Miami for the three years and has worked in the National Campus Office for one year. Both have spent two summers in Salerno ministering to the college students there. Dylan and Chevas are both humbled and excited about this new phase of their ministry into church planting in Salerno.

[email protected]

www.salernochurch.com

salerno city church

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