Mission Sicily

What does it look like to make disciples in a city where the people, cultures, and opportunities are constantly changing?

In this episode of the Mission Sicily Podcast, Brian sits down with Joshua Holmes, who serves in Catania, Sicily, among migrant and refugee communities alongside the local church. Joshua shares how a nonprofit bike shop has become a natural meeting place for building relationships, meeting practical needs, and opening doors for gospel conversations.

Catania is a crossroads for people from across Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. Many migrants pass through on their way to other parts of Europe, creating a ministry context where opportunities can be brief and discipleship often happens one conversation at a time. Meanwhile, building trust with Sicilian neighbours requires a different pace, patience, and a long-term commitment to the community.

Brian and Joshua explore how ministry must adapt to these different settings, why partnership with Italian believers matters, and how Joshua’s family has learned to live with open hands when the future is uncertain.

The conversation also takes an unexpected turn onto two wheels: Joshua explains how the Sicily Divide cycling route has become a way to raise funds, equip disciple-makers, and invite others into the work taking place in Sicily.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Catania's changing population is creating new opportunities for cross-cultural ministry.

• Why a bike shop can become a practical bridge to relationships and gospel conversations.

• How to approach discipleship when people may move on before a relationship has time to develop.

• Why building trust with Sicilian neighbors calls for patience and a long-term presence.

• How local churches and outside ministry teams can serve together without replacing one another.

• What it means to hold plans, timelines, and expectations with open hands.

• How a seven-day cycling journey across Sicily combines fundraising with discipleship training.

Key Takeaways:

Changing gears: Different relationships and ministry contexts require different rhythms. A brief encounter with someone passing through Catania may call for a direct spiritual conversation; relationships with Sicilian neighbours often develop over years.

Story, story, God's story: Joshua describes listening to people's stories, sharing his own, and looking for natural ways to connect those stories with God's story.

Open-hands ministry: Cross-cultural ministry requires holding plans and expectations loosely, trusting God to guide the next step even when the long-term picture remains unclear.

Everyday tools, eternal purpose: The bike shop is a practical way to serve the community and build relationships. As Joshua explains, if it weren't bikes, it could be another tool for sharing the gospel.

Prayer Points:

• Pray for unity and meaningful collaboration between local Italian believers and outside ministry workers.

• Pray for wisdom in discipling migrants whose time in Catania may be brief and whose lives can take them in different directions.

• Pray for patience, courage, and deeper relationships as Joshua and his family continue building trust with Sicilian neighbors.

• Pray that new believers will grow into disciple-makers and become connected to healthy, supportive communities of faith.

• Pray for the Sicily Divide cycling initiative, its participants, fundraising, and opportunities to equip more people to make disciples.

Podcast Theme Music: "Dream Catcher" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

For more about the work of Mission Sicily, visit missionsicily.com.

If this conversation encourages you, share it with someone interested in missions, cross-cultural discipleship, or the future of the church in Italy.

In “15 Years Later: An Italian Responds,” ministry friend and partner Stefano from Piemonte drops in and we revisit five pivotal pieces of advice I was given before ever coming to Italy as a foreign missionary.

Listen in as we explore them from an Italian perspective, someone who lives "on mission" serving Jesus in Italy. It's a conversation about culture, credibility, disciple-making, church planting, partnership, and what it means to follow Jesus across cultural boundaries.

And if you haven't heard the previous episode, then start with “15 Years Later: Were They Right About Italy?” the original episode that set up these five perspectives to begin with. In that episode, I explored "What did Italian church leaders see that I couldn’t—and what has changed since they gave me their advice?"

Mission Sicily exists to make disciples, plant churches, and build bridges of hope in Italy.

Fifteen years ago, before I arrived in Italy as a missionary, some of the most experienced evangelical leaders I knew gave me some unusual advice.

Not exactly what I expected to hear.

They told me:

1. “We don’t need any more American churches here in Italy.”
2. “Don’t expect Italians to see you as a credible voice until you’ve lived here at least ten years.”
3. “Church planting is unusually difficult in Italy.”
4. “There are very few evangelicals, and they are deeply divided.”
5. “Don’t bring a strategy. Nothing works here—and everything works here.”

Fifteen years later, I wanted to go back and ask a simple question:

What did they see that I couldn’t see yet—and what has changed since they gave me that advice?

That is the focus of this episode of the Mission Sicily Podcast.

On this episode, we're unwrapping 2025 like the gift it was!

Summary

In this episode, Brian Alex reflects on the transformative year for Mission Sicily, highlighting the impact of community engagement, educational growth, and future aspirations for expansion. He shares updates on baptisms, the importance of building relationships within the community, and the ongoing construction projects that support their mission. The conversation emphasizes the need for prayer and support as they look towards the future.

Chapters

• 00:00 Reflecting on a Year of Transformation
• 03:06 The Journey of Education and Growth
• 05:58 Community Engagement and Language Groups
• 09:12 Building Bridges: Evangelical Outreach
• 11:53 Future Aspirations: Expanding Mission Sicily
• 15:11 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

Keywords

Mission Sicily, community engagement, evangelical outreach, education, transformation, partnerships, prayer, future aspirations

__________________________________________________

Dream Catcher Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

THE KINGDOM MISSION OF GOD, PART 3

Summary

In this episode of the Mission Sicily Podcast, Brian Alex discusses the overarching theme of God's Kingdom mission, emphasizing the importance of discipleship, church planting, and community development in Sicily and beyond. He reflects on the authority given to believers through the Great Commission and the transformative power of the Kingdom of God. The conversation also touches on the historical context of mission work, the nature of God's Kingdom, and the call for the Church to embody Kingdom values in their communities. Brian concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage in the mission of God and participate in the work being done in Italy.

Takeaways

1. Mission Sicily aims to make disciples and plant churches.
2. The Kingdom mission of God is central to our work.
3. Empowerment comes from understanding God's authority.
4. The Church plays a vital role in advancing God's Kingdom.
5. The Great Commission emphasizes both going and waiting for empowerment.
6. Historical mission work provides context for current efforts.
7. God's Kingdom is about righteousness, peace, and joy.
8. Transformation happens from the inside out in communities.
9. Living out Kingdom values is essential for impact.
10. Participation in the mission is crucial for spiritual growth.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Mission Sicily
• 02:40 The Kingdom Mission of God
• 05:27 Understanding God's Mission and Authority
• 08:38 The Role of the Church in the Kingdom Mission
• 11:33 The Great Commission and Empowerment
• 14:31 Historical Context of Mission Work
• 17:32 The Nature of God's Kingdom
• 20:24 Transformation Through the Kingdom Mission
• 23:12 Living Out the Kingdom Values
• 26:05 Conclusion and Future Directions

Keywords

Mission Sicily, Kingdom mission, discipleship, church planting, empowerment, Great Commission, transformation, spiritual authority, community development, Italy

__________________________________________________

Dream Catcher Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

THE KINGDOM MISSION OF GOD, PART 2

Summary

In this episode of the Mission Sicily Podcast, Brian Alex discusses the ongoing Kingdom mission of God, emphasizing the importance of making disciples, planting churches, and building bridges within the local context of Sicily. He shares updates on the progress of their mission, the significance of theological education, and the need for emerging leaders to take on roles in ministry. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of the evangelical church in Italy and the impact of community engagement on the mission's success.

Takeaways

1. Our mission is to make disciples, plant churches, and build bridges.
2. Bridges are being built among evangelical communities in Sicily.
3. The evangelical church in Italy has historically been isolated.
4. Discipleship and church planting are essential for growth.
5. Emerging leaders are crucial for the future of the church.
6. Theological education is vital for effective ministry.
7. Community engagement is changing perceptions of the church.
8. The Kingdom mission of God is a continuous journey.
9. Understanding the Bible's message is key to fulfilling God's mission.
10. Support from partners is essential for the mission's success.

Chapters

• 00:00 Welcome and Introduction to the Kingdom Mission
• 04:07 Building Bridges in the Community
• 11:07 The Importance of Discipleship and Church Planting
• 17:31 Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders
• 22:06 The Role of Theological Education
• 27:01 Understanding the Kingdom of God
• 38:09 Conclusion and Future Directions

Keywords

Kingdom mission, discipleship, church planting, bridge building, evangelical church, Sicily, theological education, emerging leaders, Great Commission, community impact

__________________________________________________

Dream Catcher Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Networking and Collaboration

We're bringing this episode back to the table as it will now appear as a series about the Kingdom Mission of God in Sicily and Italy. As the next episodes will build on this premise, we wanted to put them closer together and make them more accessible (for those who haven't heard it yet or perhaps have forgotten).

Jesus' emphasis on the kingdom, during His earthly ministry, should be our emphasis as well. However, if your experience is anything like mine, I didn't grow up thinking about the kingdom much at all, nor could I see it in the Old Testament, nor make sense of how it ties into the overarching "mission of God" in the world.

The "mission field", we find, is inextricably linked to the outworking of God's ever-advancing kingdom, and so these episodes hope to tie these concepts together with real-life, current happenings on the field in Sicily and Italy. We hope you'll enjoy listening, but more importantly, we hope this offers some fresh perspective!

Summary

In this episode of the Mission Sicily Podcast, Brian reflects on the first half of 2025, sharing insights into the mission's activities, challenges, and future plans.

He discusses the importance of church planting, networking among missionaries, and understanding the cultural dynamics of foreign immigrants in Sicily.

The conversation emphasises collaboration in evangelism and education, the need for funding, and the overarching theme of the Kingdom mission of God.

Takeaways

• It's important to reflect on our impact, the work we're doing matters.
• The mission aims to train and deploy the next generation of Italian leaders.
• Networking helps break down isolation among missionaries and churches.
• Understanding cultural backgrounds is crucial for effective ministry models.
• Collaboration in evangelism can lead to a more holistic community impact.
• Education and training are essential for sustainable ministry, future leaders.
• Funding is necessary for ongoing mission's work, rendering it sustainable.
• The Kingdom mission of God involves all believers in various capacities.

• Prayer and support are vital for the mission's success, partnership counts!

__________________________________________________

Dream Catcher Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Summary

In this episode of the Mission Sicily Podcast, Brian reflects on the past year and the progress of Mission Sicily, which focuses on making disciples, planting churches, and building bridges in Sicily and throughout Italy. He shares exciting updates on growth in disciple-making groups, revitalized evangelism strategies, and the rebooting of church-planting efforts. The conversation also highlights the importance of community support and partnerships in expanding their mission and reaching new areas.

Takeaways

"Dream Catcher" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Behind the scenes look at what God has been doing on a personal level (past and present), which has great potential to impact mission (future). So grateful for God's goodness!

On this first episode of a brand new season, and the very first of this year, we wanted to take a look at the day-to-day rhythms that keep this ministry rolling forward. Sure, there are lots of things that happen throughout the week that we won't mention here, from prayer and strategy meetings to counseling and the like. What we will examine are the routine, but strategic, "encounter points" that we've created in order to help take ourselves and other Jesus followers deeper into the scriptures. We're helping them to wrestle with the word, and grapple with the gospel, and become more firmly fit together in the Body, grounded and effective in ministry.