The visit to Fornaci di Barga last June followed more or less the same pattern as previous ones. During my stay there, we had quite a number of informal services in Emelia’s house, both on Sabbaths and week days. During these visits to No. 6, Via delle Logge, there was opportunity to hear again about the difficulties, the comforts and the hopes of the little group which meets there.
On Friday, the 2nd of June, after we had discussed Gal. 2:20, Emelia said she had been concerned for most of the day as to whether or not she was a real Christian. People around them, seeing that they professed something different and had left the R.C. Church, looked for an example of perfection. Also they were critical of them for making such a fuss about religion, for being moved by the joy of salvation. Yet they themselves, Emelia pointed out, would go mad in their enthusiasm about football. On another occasion, when Emelia was again feeling depressed about whether or not she had the right kind of faith, I asked her what she trusted in for salvation. She replied, ‘I have faith in the sacrifice of Jesus’. She was encouraged when shown that such a heart trust was the all-important characteristic of a real Christian.
On Sabbath, 4th June, we spoke about the events and teaching in John, chapter 6. Emelia was again concerned about how deep a thing it is to believe in Christ. Renzo, now about 18 years old, understood the distinction between a material kingdom and a spiritual one, and the necessity of having a spiritual relationship with Christ. At night, when we discussed Exodus 8:1, Simonetta (about 11 years old) was able to explain the significance of the passover lamb, and the sprinkling of its blood.
Later that week, I told them about a friend of Franco Maggiotto’s who had left the R.C. Church, partly because of the corruption which he had seen within it. In reply, Renzo said that a man might be mistaken. He went on to speak of his own situation, of the tension which he felt between the views of his mother and those accepted generally. He felt caught between the two opposing viewpoints. He was afraid that, if he ‘went his mother’s way’, he would suffer by losing friends. I spoke of the greater importance of our relationship with God, that if the word of God came into his heart he would realise this, that if his relationship with God were put right, other things would find their own place. Renzo said that he knew this; that he appreciated there was a choice involved.
On Sabbath, 19th June, Emelia told about a distressing experience she had had. During the week her uncle (her mother’s brother) had called at the house. Emelia had often thought about him, wishing that he would come to the services. This day she introduced a reference to my being there, and asked if he would like to come to a meeting some evening. Even if he were critical of what he heard, she said, at least he would then be criticising what he knew about. Her uncle was unresponsive, and told Emelia about a dream he had had 13 years before. He had seen Emelia’s grandfather (his own father) who was by that time dead. His father said to him in the dream that if he had been alive at the time when Emelia’s mother changed her religion, he would have killed her. Emelia was very crushed to think that, throughout all these years, though her uncle had appeared pleasant to them, he had all the time been harbouring such bitter thoughts against them.
Although I said at the beginning that this visit followed the pattern of previous ones, there was one important difference. This time, Mr Angus Morrison joined me at Fornaci di Barga; he arrived about a week after I did. Mr Morrison held several meetings on his own after I left, but I had the pleasure of hearing him read a short, appropriate address on the last Sabbath that I was there. Having studied Latin extensively, Mr Morrison has a foundation on which to build a good knowledge of Italian, and it is a great encouragement that he has made such efforts to prepare himself for usefulness in this aspect of the Church’s work. He expects to return to Fornaci in August, God willing, and to combine with this visit attendance at a short language course run by Pisa University. I also expect to pay a short visit to Fornaci in May/June, so may well be there, needing the prayers of the Lord’s people, at the time when they are reading this article.
As usual, I would like to refer also to Franco Maggiotto. Both Mr Morrison and I saw him last year; and since then, through contact with himself and his supporters, I have been kept informed of how Franco’s work is progressing.
The most important area in which this movement for promoting reformed teaching in Italy now needs help would seem to be that of the distribution of books. Evangelical Press, in conjunction with Franco Maggiotto and Pietro Lorefice, have carried out the first stages of a publishing programme of reformed books in Italian. Titles now in print are:
Today’s Gospel by Walter Chantry; The Bible Tells Us So by R.B. Kuiper; Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer; Right with God by J. Blanchard; Salvation by E.F. Kevan; and Pour un Dialogue avec Dieu by Guy Appéré.
Franco and Pietro have extensive contacts all over Italy, but neither of these overworked missionaries has the time to go round these contacts, seeking outlets for these books. What is required is to have someone suitable, employed at least part-time, who could travel around the country to promote book sales. There is a man in Milan who would appear to be suited to this work.
I would ask praying readers to remember this real need, and if any felt inclined to contribute to this book distribution project, such help would be deeply appreciated at either of the addresses below. J.T.
Addresses: Rev. John Tallach, Free Presbyterian Manse, Kinlochbervie, Sutherland IV27 4RP; Rev. O.T. Jenkins, European Missionary Fellowship, 128 Hempstead Road, Watford, Herts, England, WD1 3LQ.