The congregation of the International Church of Rome, pastored by AGWM personnel, Bob and Lynne Rose, have been praying and searching for a new location in order to have a service on Sunday instead of Saturday evenings. For the past 2 ½ years, all the search efforts seemed to have been blocked. The Roses tell how “Early this year we felt God stirring our hearts that change was coming and it has…but in a rather unusual way! Our current location had a change in leadership and they quickly informed us that the rent was going to be raised for the 7 hours a week that we meet, effective immediately. A few days later, we received a notice that the rent would be raised again—a total increase of 43%! We were shocked! “Meanwhile Antonio, an Italian businessman from a traditional church background whom we had met when we had looked at his property 2 ½ years ago, called us unexpectedly. When we had first met him, he said that his family (mother and sister) jointly owned a few properties. We told him we were a church and he shared this with his elderly mother who was thrilled with our purpose and immediately said, ‘I want to help them!’ Within a few days, though, she suddenly passed away and Antonio was distraught. We prayed with him and the Holy Spirit ministered to his grieving heart. The arrangement for the building at that time did not work out, however, and we lost contact with him.

“But Antonio did not forget us or the desire in his mother’s heart. Due to the oldness of the city, properties in Rome must be updated periodically but it is extremely costly. Antonio finally was able to refurbish another property and did his best to make it look pleasing as a church. He called and asked us to come see his locale. Antonio presented us with an incredibly affordable proposal of rent, offered to store all our equipment, and place signage of our church outside the building! The location is perfect—close to a major metro with lots of buses nearby and many large apartment buildings filled with thousands of people who need Jesus! God prepared the way and Easter will be our first service!“

The congregation of the International Church of Rome, pastored by AGWM personnel, Bob and Lynne Rose, have been praying and searching for a new location in order to have a service on Sunday instead of Saturday evenings. For the past 2 ½ years, all the search efforts seemed to have been blocked. The Roses tell how “Early this year we felt God stirring our hearts that change was coming and it has…but in a rather unusual way! Our current location had a change in leadership and they quickly informed us that the rent was going to be raised for the 7 hours a week that we meet, effective immediately. A few days later, we received a notice that the rent would be raised again—a total increase of 43%! We were shocked!

“Meanwhile Antonio, an Italian businessman from a traditional church background whom we had met when we had looked at his property 2 ½ years ago, called us unexpectedly. When we had first met him, he said that his family (mother and sister) jointly owned a few properties. We told him we were a church and he shared this with his elderly mother who was thrilled with our purpose and immediately said, ‘I want to help them!’ Within a few days, though, she suddenly passed away and Antonio was distraught. We prayed with him and the Holy Spirit ministered to his grieving heart. The arrangement for the building at that time did not work out, however, and we lost contact with him.

“But Antonio did not forget us or the desire in his mother’s heart. Due to the oldness of the city, properties in Rome must be updated periodically but it is extremely costly. Antonio finally was able to refurbish another property and did his best to make it look pleasing as a church. He called and asked us to come see his locale. Antonio presented us with an incredibly affordable proposal of rent, offered to store all our equipment, and place signage of our church outside the building! The location is perfect—close to a major metro with lots of buses nearby and many large apartment buildings filled with thousands of people who need Jesus! God prepared the way and Easter will be our first service!“