Fire Bible Dedicated in Italy

The Fire Bible, a Pentecostal study Bible, is a tool of blessing in many languages. It has meant a lot to people who didn’t have a Pentecostal study Bible in their own language to help them rightly divide the Word of truth until it was translated and published in their language. AGWM personnel, Bob and Lynne Rose tells how the the Holy Spirit seemed to stir their hearts as to making this a possibility for the Italian church. The Roses relate, “We approached our neighbor who is an Italian pastor and head of the Media Department for the Italian Assemblies of God. As we showed him a copy of the Fire Bible with all the study helps, articles, concordance, charts and maps, he became excited as he saw the potential of this powerful tool for the Italian church. We prayed, dreamed and then the plan was put into action! A team of 8 Italian translators was selected and Bob Rose became the liaison to coordinate and oversee the project in Italy. The work was both exciting and challenging.

“During the project, one of our Italian translators told us that as he translated the articles, the deeper truths of God’s Word began to fill his heart and he couldn’t help but worship Jesus, the living Word! Another translator was diagnosed with cancer. The morning after his surgery, he asked his wife to bring his work to the hospital saying, ‘What better recovery could I have but to spend my time working on the Word of God!’ He is now cancer free! “After seven years of hard work, what a privilege it was to be in Rome, Italy on November 17, 2016 as we dedicated the Italian Fire Bible! It is called ‘Spirito e Vita’ or ‘Spirit and Life’. What a gift! As the first copy was given to one of our main editors, he clutched the Bible to his chest and with a catch in his voice said that he simply wanted to run and hide himself away with the precious Word of God!”

The Fire Bible, a Pentecostal study Bible, is a tool of blessing in many languages. It has meant a lot to people who didn’t have a Pentecostal study Bible in their own language to help them rightly divide the Word of truth until it was translated and published in their language. AGWM personnel, Bob and Lynne Rose tells how the the Holy Spirit seemed to stir their hearts as to making this a possibility for the Italian church.

The Roses relate, “We approached our neighbor who is an Italian pastor and head of the Media Department for the Italian Assemblies of God. As we showed him a copy of the Fire Bible with all the study helps, articles, concordance, charts and maps, he became excited as he saw the potential of this powerful tool for the Italian church. We prayed, dreamed and then the plan was put into action! A team of 8 Italian translators was selected and Bob Rose became the liaison to coordinate and oversee the project in Italy. The work was both exciting and challenging.

“During the project, one of our Italian translators told us that as he translated the articles, the deeper truths of God’s Word began to fill his heart and he couldn’t help but worship Jesus, the living Word! Another translator was diagnosed with cancer. The morning after his surgery, he asked his wife to bring his work to the hospital saying, ‘What better recovery could I have but to spend my time working on the Word of God!’ He is now cancer free!
“After seven years of hard work, what a privilege it was to be in Rome, Italy on November 17, 2016 as we dedicated the Italian Fire Bible! It is called ‘Spirito e Vita’ or ‘Spirit and Life’. What a gift! As the first copy was given to one of our main editors, he clutched the Bible to his chest and with a catch in his voice said that he simply wanted to run and hide himself away with the precious Word of God!”

Restored in Italy

When we planted an international church in Rome, a couple began to attend. They both had been raised in a traditional church, but as they faithfully attended church, they began to grow spiritually and a real hunger for God became evident. In the beginning they would hesitantly bow their heads in worship but slowly, they began to lift their hands and openly praise God. It is a thrill to see both of them growing in the Lord. The husband, Joseph works as a travel agent and invited a colleague, Enrico, to visit our church. Enrico had lived in Rome for nearly thirty years and during that time had come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He grew in his relationship with the Lord and attended Bible classes and served in his church. After several years and some personal tragedies in his life, he asked an elder in the church some tough questions. Instead of responding to Enrico with love and understanding, the deacon rebuked him and said, “You have been a Christian for some years now; you should be more mature than this and not ask such questions.” Enrico became very discouraged and dropped out of church for many years.

At the beginning of 2016, we felt God speak to us about placing a special emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s role in our life. Joseph had been telling Enrico about our series and how much he was learning. The day Enrico came to church, Bob was teaching on the Holy Spirit. As Enrico listened intently, the Holy Spirit began to deal with his heart about the lack of commitment to the things of God. At the conclusion, Bob felt led to pray with him. After praying, Enrico said to Bob, “I know the truth but I have not lived for the Lord faithfully in many years. During the message, my heart was broken. Now I want more than anything to know the presence and power of the Lord once again in my life!” Since that time, Enrico has been faithful to church every week and as the Scriptures states, “God… will restore you.” Recently we asked Enrico what we could pray with him about and he answered, “I want so much to be filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s all I think about and pray for…I am so hungry!” When we pray for him, he weeps and the power of God overflows his heart. He is an inspiration and encouragement to others. He shared that he wants to begin Bible courses through Global University with a focus on evangelism. When the God of all grace restores people, His Holy Spirit will help make them strong, firm and steadfast.

From Newsletter of Bob and Lynne Rose AGWM Personnel in Italy

When we planted an international church in Rome, a couple began to attend. They both had been raised in a traditional church, but as they faithfully attended church, they began to grow spiritually and a real hunger for God became evident. In the beginning they would hesitantly bow their heads in worship but slowly, they began to lift their hands and openly praise God. It is a thrill to see both of them growing in the Lord.

The husband, Joseph works as a travel agent and invited a colleague, Enrico, to visit our church. Enrico had lived in Rome for nearly thirty years and during that time had come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He grew in his relationship with the Lord and attended Bible classes and served in his church. After several years and some personal tragedies in his life, he asked an elder in the church some tough questions. Instead of responding to Enrico with love and understanding, the deacon rebuked him and said, “You have been a Christian for some years now; you should be more mature than this and not ask such questions.” Enrico became very discouraged and dropped out of church for many years.

At the beginning of 2016, we felt God speak to us about placing a special emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s role in our life. Joseph had been telling Enrico about our series and how much he was learning. The day Enrico came to church, Bob was teaching on the Holy Spirit. As Enrico listened intently, the Holy Spirit began to deal with his heart about the lack of commitment to the things of God. At the conclusion, Bob felt led to pray with him. After praying, Enrico said to Bob, “I know the truth but I have not lived for the Lord faithfully in many years. During the message, my heart was broken. Now I want more than anything to know the presence and power of the Lord once again in my life!” Since that time, Enrico has been faithful to church every week and as the Scriptures states, “God… will restore you.” Recently we asked Enrico what we could pray with him about and he answered, “I want so much to be filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s all I think about and pray for…I am so hungry!” When we pray for him, he weeps and the power of God overflows his heart. He is an inspiration and encouragement to others. He shared that he wants to begin Bible courses through Global University with a focus on evangelism. When the God of all grace restores people, His Holy Spirit will help make them strong, firm and steadfast.

From Newsletter of Bob and Lynne Rose
AGWM Personnel in Italy

Blessed to be a Blessing in Italy

The third annual Missions Conference for Italian Christian Businessmen washeld in Palermo, Italy, in December. Kurt Plagenhoef, AGWM personnel based in Albania, was one of the speakers. The theme of the conference was "Blessed to be a Blessing." As businessmen are committing themselves to pray and give to missions, God is using and rewarding them.

On the first night of the conference, an altar call was given for those in difficulty or on the verge of bankruptcy. One man who grows oranges came forward and poured his heart out to God. His crop this year was very poor, the oranges were small, and he couldn't sell them. He was in danger of losing the whole crop, a year's income, and possibly the business. While he was at the altar, a client called four times. After prayer, he returned the missed call. The client said that he wanted to buy his whole crop. His business was saved! He said, "It is a miracle! I am blessed to be a blessing to the unreached nations."

Another businessman was touched hearing about the need to build churches among unreached people in the Balkans. He is building a home in Italy but felt moved to help build God's house in the Balkans, so he committed to give the equivalent value of his new house to missions. He is presently giving 25% of his income to the Lord and is working toward the goal of 50%. Praise God for this kind of faith and generosity.

The third annual Missions Conference for Italian Christian Businessmen was held in Palermo, Italy, in December. Kurt Plagenhoef, AGWM personnel based in Albania, was one of the speakers. The theme of the conference was "Blessed to be a Blessing." As businessmen are committing themselves to pray and give to missions, God is using and rewarding them.

On the first night of the conference, an altar call was given for those in difficulty or on the verge of bankruptcy. One man who grows oranges came forward and poured his heart out to God. His crop this year was very poor, the oranges were small, and he couldn't sell them. He was in danger of losing the whole crop, a year's income, and possibly the business. While he was at the altar, a client called four times. After prayer, he returned the missed call. The client said that he wanted to buy his whole crop. His business was saved! He said, "It is a miracle! I am blessed to be a blessing to the unreached nations."

Another businessman was touched hearing about the need to build churches among unreached people in the Balkans. He is building a home in Italy but felt moved to help build God's house in the Balkans, so he committed to give the equivalent value of his new house to missions. He is presently giving 25% of his income to the Lord and is working toward the goal of 50%. Praise God for this kind of faith and generosity.

A New Birth in Italy

At a recent Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer service of the International Church of Rome, a young woman walked in out of the darkness from the street. At work, she had met one of the church members who invited her to come. She came out of curiosity. Katiusha was from Russia but lived and worked in Rome. The Bible study was from Global University’s course, Christian Worship, and discussion was on the topic “What will we be doing in Heaven?‟ AGWM Personnel, Bob and Lynne Rose who pastor this congregation relate what happened next. “We talked about having the assurance of our future being in God’s hands here on earth as well as in eternity. As Bob taught, he could see that Katiusha tried to give the appearance of knowing and understanding the Scriptures. She nodded at the right time, clapped her hands and assumed a posture of prayer, but within her there seemed to be a struggle going on. Before we began our prayer time, Bob felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to ask her to come forward and he then talked with her. He gave her the simple truth and foundation of the Gospel: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

“Katiusha understood a physical birth but a spiritual birth was only head knowledge. So Bob asked her if she wanted to pray to be born again in a spiritual sense. With a strong voice, she repeated a prayer of repentance and acceptance of her new spiritual life. Joy filled her heart and a smile broke out on her face as she basked in her new relationship with Jesus. Like Nicodemus, Katiuisha had come by night with her curiosity and left with the assurance of her salvation!

“Katiusha came to church the following Sunday. During the service, we prepared to celebrate communion and as we had several visitors there, we gave the guidelines for receiving it. As we came forward to receive the elements, Katiusha got out of her seat and walked up to Bob and asked, ‘Can I take communion now that I asked Jesus into my heart? Is it for me?’ What a thrill it was for Bob to tell her that as a newborn believer, communion was for her!”

At a recent Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer service of the International Church of Rome, a young woman walked in out of the darkness from the street. At work, she had met one of the church members who invited her to come. She came out of curiosity. Katiusha was from Russia but lived and worked in Rome. The Bible study was from Global University’s course, Christian Worship, and discussion was on the topic “What will we be doing in Heaven?‟

AGWM Personnel, Bob and Lynne Rose who pastor this congregation relate what happened next. “We talked about having the assurance of our future being in God’s hands here on earth as well as in eternity. As Bob taught, he could see that Katiusha tried to give the appearance of knowing and understanding the Scriptures. She nodded at the right time, clapped her hands and assumed a posture of prayer, but within her there seemed to be a struggle going on. Before we began our prayer time, Bob felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to ask her to come forward and he then talked with her. He gave her the simple truth and foundation of the Gospel: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

“Katiusha understood a physical birth but a spiritual birth was only head knowledge. So Bob asked her if she wanted to pray to be born again in a spiritual sense. With a strong voice, she repeated a prayer of repentance and acceptance of her new spiritual life. Joy filled her heart and a smile broke out on her face as she basked in her new relationship with Jesus. Like Nicodemus, Katiuisha had come by night with her curiosity and left with the assurance of her salvation!

“Katiusha came to church the following Sunday. During the service, we prepared to celebrate communion and as we had several visitors there, we gave the guidelines for receiving it. As we came forward to receive the elements, Katiusha got out of her seat and walked up to Bob and asked, ‘Can I take communion now that I asked Jesus into my heart? Is it for me?’ What a thrill it was for Bob to tell her that as a newborn believer, communion was for her!”