About us:
My name is Andrea (on the right). I was born in south Italy, in a Christian family. I received Christ personally at the age 15. I grew up in an environment formerly Catholic where none of my friends was a born again Christian and no one had ever read a Bible or declared to have a personal relationship with God. All the schools I attended, I never met a Christian. Since then God has called me to share about the Gospel with my friends.
After working for a few years as a graphic designer God gave me the opportunity to study in an Evangelical Seminary in Rome. A very uncommon decision for Italians, even for Christians. When I was introduced to the statistics that in my country 1% is Evangelical and less then 2% of the University students declared to be followers of Jesus, it was shocking. I wanted my country to know Jesus personally and be transformed by His grace. This is why I joined CRU/Agape Italia staff, in 2016, to reach the students for Jesus. I'm passionate about helping students deepen in their walk with God and to help them develop a heart for the world!
My wife Blerta is Albanian. Blerta had never heard about Jesus before she met a couple of missionaries from New Zealand who planted the first Christian church in her small town right after 40 years of dictatorship. She received Christ personally at the age of 15. Blerta studied as a company secretary and studied Italian for two years in a Professional School.
She moved to Rome to attend La Sapienza University (one of the campuses we work with the students now). The boldness of the people who shared their faith in Jesus and have poured on her and built up her faith made her aware of what a great impact can have in other people's lives sharing our faith to those who do not know Jesus yet.
As a family we love to make Jesus known and make Jesus’ disciples that thrive in His Word and bring fruit.
Our Values:
We seek to win students to Christ, help them build a deeper and stronger relationship with Jesus, and then send them out into the world as ambassadors for Christ and His glory.
Our passion is that every person would have the opportunity to hear the gospel. One of the most strategic ways to help spread the gospel around the world is by reaching university students, who will be the leaders of tomorrow and are the influencers of today.
About the spiritual climate:
It is natural to think that everyone in Italy knows the gospel. There are over 1.8 million university students in Italy but very few of them have a relationship with God. There are more than 300,000 University Students in Rome and less than 2% declares to be a follower of Jesus and the reality shows that it’s just a cultural identity. When Paul arrived in Rome, his presence ignited a movement. He boldly shared the Gospel among the diverse foreign communities who had never heard the name of Jesus. His mission in Rome was not by chance — it was strategic. From this city, the message of Christ could echo to the ends of the earth. Today, Rome remains a crossroads of the nations — home to more than 180 nationalities. Many of them still live without knowing the hope and truth of the Gospel. Reaching Rome today means embracing a great opportunity: to reach the nations of the world from the very heart of the Eternal City.
We long to see a generation enter into a life-changing personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As Italians who live and see the need of Jesus, we joined Agape Italia (CRU-formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ) and were both challenged by the words of Jesus to “Go and make disciples” and to help fullfill the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20). Taking a step of faith, we are committed to go and bring the hope of the Gospel to Rome.
While serving with Agape Italia/CRU we:
- Go in the three main campuses and Initiate conversations about becoming followers of Christ
- Disciple student leaders who will train and teach other students to walk with Jesus and share their faith
- Have weekly bible studies
- Partner with local leaders and churches
- Organize events that connect with students (sports, music and art)
We want to see Christ-centered laborers raised and sent out from Italian universities to be multiplying disciples for a lifetime.
Ways you can help:
Pray for us!
Connect us to others who are passionate to reach a generation for Jesus in Rome, Italy! You can reach out through our email below and you can share our web page: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/tr8yU9hMBNIAg
Get in Touch!
andrea.clemente@agapeitalia.org
blerta.ziu@agapeitalia.org