ORIGINS
Ernst (1928) and Rose Marie (1930) Bretscher, a young Swiss couple, who were members of an evangelical church in the 50's heard the call of God to preach the gospel in Calabria, one of the poorest regions in Southern Italy. They sold their newly-built house, paid the money back to the bank, handed in their notice at a good job with the Migros Group, and without any financial security left with their five children relying solely on the goodness and faithfulness of God.
If an employer can hand you your salary at the end of every month,
how much more is God able to provide all your needs?
Didn't Jesus affirm this in Matthew 6:25-34?
THE MISSION
Their mission started in 1960 with a series of big problems, caused in part by the hostility and mistrust of the Calabrian people and their clergy. But the Bretschers, with patience and perseverance, covered the length and breadth of Calabria proclaiming the gospel to as many people as possible, and distributed hundreds of thousands of tracts and gospels. They preached under tents, in the squares, in markets, religious fairs, on the beaches, in the countryside and from house to house. With the help of many young volunteers, mainly from The Netherlands and Switzerland they worked for years without any salary.
The first small groups and churches were formed. Along side their evangelistic activities they began their social work among children and impoverished families, first in a private home, then in an old hotel and then finally in a large structure that they built thanks to unexpected financial donations that enabled them to pay every single invoice. This work evolved as a response to the various social needs in Calabria, all done in the name of Jesus.
To start off with, people with dubious morals tried to stop the Bretscher couple, with curses, threats, even attempts on their lives, (there is a famous episode where a Mafioso repeatedly tried to shoot Ernst and every time his pistol jammed) sabotaging of their vehicles, pressure from the priest in order to forbid their activity send them out of Italy, and even attacks on their health. But to this day nothing has stopped them. Well into their 80’s they are still on the front line leading people to Jesus and making the disciples.
Missione Evangelica in Italia
Evangelisches Missionswerk in Italien
Mission évangélique en Italie
Evangelical Mission in Italy
NEW MINISTRIES
Various ministries were birthed through the ministry of Ernst and Rose Marie. Their eldest son Ernesto, along with his wife Christa, continued the pioneering work of his parents, first in Calabria, then in Campania (the region where Naples is located) and finally in northern Italy.
In 1978 Ernesto met pastor Giovanni Traettino, who shared with him a vision of a healthy, united and credible church in a nation afflicted with an irresponsible religion, corruption, materialism, immorality and conflicts. There began a new walk together that would see a unity of evangelical pastors hailing from various spiritual streams, giving birth to a work making sincere believers throughout the nation aware, through magazines, a Bible School, conferences and seminars.
Some churches joined the group, others were planted and yet others were formed and the Movement, lead by an apostolic team including, Giovanni Traettino, Ernst Bretscher, Ernesto Bretscher, Geoffrey Allen, Emilio Ursomando and Massimo Loda, chose the name Chiesa Evangelica della Riconciliazione, having influence from the north to the south of Italy. And since 2000 they have been impacting Africa and other parts of the world.
The evangelical mission in Calabria also merged with the Chiesa Evangelica della Riconciliazione movement.
Some of the characteristic themes of their doctrine are: the Lordship of Jesus, Intimacy with God, Worship of the Father, the New Covenant, Communion, a Church made up of people in relationship, the ministries of the Church, Discipleship, Cell Groups, The quality of Christian ethics, Unity of the Church, Mission: A Church that serves the world; A heart for the poor.
For further information: www.riconciliazione.org
APOSTOLIC FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
“With the humble awareness that we have opened a fertile path for the future of the church, we try to offer a crucial answer to the strategic need of the Church in our generation, in a moment of significant change in the history of the church. That which has been generated among us, is not necessarily unique, but certainly precious in its own way and without doubt of great value to the lives of all of us who have walked together in the last few years.
The desire in our hearts has started to become reality. We have seen space for communion born and take shape, a network of “covenant brothers” and friends; a network of networks, a spiritual workshop that, while praying and working through things together, has grown more and more, together in the understanding and sharing of the plan of God for the Church, of the nature, importance and relevancy of the Gospel of the Kingdom, the horizon of unity and reconciliation, of the heart of God for all Christians with a view to the healing and salvation of the world.
Today AFI organises meetings for pastors and apostolic consultations in different continents of the world producing theological reflections of great depth, all published on the website in English, Spanish, with some in French and Italian.
For more information: www.afint.org (English)
CHURCHES IN PARTNERSHIP
Promoting the renewal of life and the structures of the church, striving for awakening and unity of the evangelical world, promoting the discovery of the relationship as the "heart" of the kingdom of God, rediscovering the relevance of the charisms and ministries for all the world Gospel, promoting the discovery of the relationship as the "heart" of the kingdom of God, rediscovering the relevance of the charisms and ministries of all to grow to maturity, encouraging and full recovery and the expression of praise and worship, working and suffering on the border of reconciliation with all Christians.
CHURCHES ADDRESS
Visualizza Chiese della Riconciliazione in Italia in una mappa di dimensioni maggiori
Emmaus Christian Training Centre
This ministry was born in 1968 with the vision of aiding children and families in need. From that time, hundreds of children have been taken care of, protected, fed, schooled and surrounded by a lot of love. Today, the Centre is led by a Swiss couple, Geri and Annaliese Bantel, with a team of co-workers including, Rosemarie, Eveline, Emilio and Giuseppina, Elisabetta, Uve and Rosaria, Valentino and Debora, Antonio and Angelica, Hugo and Maja, Piera and other voluteers.
Activities at the Centre, beyond caring for children of under-privileged families, are aiding impoverished families, assisting refugees, camps for kids and teenagers, training groups and Sunday school leaders, seminars, conferences, receptions and kids evangelism. Also they sell home-grown products to support the centre.
The costs of supporting children at the centre are covered by the government, from contributions given by those who attend events, by groups that are hosted at the Centre, from the sale of farm products, from offerings and from donations given by supporters.
For further information: www.centroemmaus.org
Charity: SOS Terzo Mondo Italia
SOS Terzo Mondo started its work of supporting the social work of the local church, particularly in The Central African Republic (CAR), Chad and in India. It quickly became the humanitarian arm of Chiesa Evangelica della Riconciliazione. Thanks to the financial donations of many supporters they have been able to support hundreds of orphans in India, build orphanages in CAR, support many orphans, construct school buildings, support teachers and pastors, equip medical clinics, provide pastors with bicycles, motorbikes, vehicles, bison, ploughs, carts, intervene in many difficult financial and political situations, and set up and facilitate microcredit loans.
In 2000, the long distance adoption department separated from the ministry of SOS Terzo Mondo and came under the banner of Compassion Italia.
For further information: www.sosterzomondo.it
Psychological Help and Counselling
The churches are growing. And with this growth comes people who have been damaged by life. Each one of the people is placed into small groups where they receive attention, guidance, support, comfort and training. Some of them also need specific pastoral attention. But many of these people have been dragged through such heavy trauma that they need professional counselling. Praise God, today in various churches of the movement, listening points have been set up where these people are followed up by specialists that offer their services voluntarily.
FOOD AID
The European economic crisis has left many Italian families in need. The local churches have organized themselves to be able to help those families who are poorer, at risk, or without an income, by providing food parcels and clothes, which are distributed weekly. With the help of European contributions and the help of supermarkets which donate food near to the sell by date, a team of volunteers at the church, collect, organize and distribute various essentials such as food, second hand clothes, toys and shoes.
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EMERGENCY AFRICA
Charity: SOS Terzo Mondo Italia
This was started through the vision of Ernesto D Bretscher, in Turin in 1993, with a small team of volunteers. Ernesto understood that western nations have a responsibility to the poor in under-developed nations and that the blessing in western nations is also dependant on their attitude towards the world’s hungry. Proverbs 21:13 says, “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.” 10% of the world’s population possesses 90% of the wealth, while 90% of the population must live with the remaining 10%.
The Charity’s motto is: A heart for the Poor.
SOS Terzo Mondo started its work of supporting the social work of the local church, particularly in The Central African Republic (CAR), Chad and in India. It quickly became the humanitarian arm of Chiesa Evangelica della Riconciliazione. Thanks to the financial donations of many supporters they have been able to support hundreds of orphans in India, build orphanages in CAR, support many orphans, construct school buildings, support teachers and pastors, equip medical clinics, provide pastors with bicycles, motorbikes, vehicles, bison, ploughs, carts, intervene in many difficult financial and political situations, and set up and facilitate microcredit loans.
In 2000, the long distance adoption department separated from the ministry of SOS Terzo Mondo and came under the banner of Compassion Italia.
For further information: www.sosterzomondo.it
Work with passion and determination to help
the poor to realize
their value and dignity.
Compassion Italia Onlus
Not having any experience in the long distance adoption sector, SOS Terzo Mondo desired to work in collaboration with tried and tested Christian organizations; and chose Compassion International (www.compassion.com), which works in 25 nations around the world and today, through long distance adoption, supports 1.3 million children.
The Italian office, first under the leadership of Ernesto D Bretscher, Daniel Bretscher and most recently, Silvio Galvano, supports 15,000 children. Through Daniel Brestcher’s commitment and hard work, Compassion Switzerland was born first, in the Italian and French regions and then Compassion Spain.
Today, a team of 20 people works in the Compassion Italia office and in various areas around the country.
For further information:
For further information: www.compassion.it (italian) www.compassion.ch; www.compassion-de.org;
Over the years, a deep relationship has been built with pastor Pierre Truschel, a beloved and esteemed apostolic minister throughout the French-speaking world both in Europe and Africa. He was based in Grenoble in France. The church in Grenoble – Le Chandelier – was very active in Africa with an association called “Action Apostolique Africaine”. Many times we were invited to visit the mission in Africa. Unfortunately Pastor Truschel became ill and a few years ago went to be with the Lord. From then on, at his request, we have followed up his mission in the Central African Republic and in Chad.
Today we work along side “Les églises apostoliques” in The Central African Republic in a particularly dramatic moment in its history. There has been a coup d’état carried out by rebels who have taken control. They have proved that they are not up to the task of managing the administration of the nation. Today anarchy reigns, the nation is in the hands of rebels and bandits that without any hesitation, raid the little that the people, who are already extremely poor, have.
We are also working closely with the Chadian brothers of “Eglises apostoliques Tchadienne”, helping and equipping them with training materials, bursaries for students, microfinance, and help for farmers all in also collaboration with the Swiss Association ENTRAID. (www.entraid.org).
This is
what happens...
...when you give!
HOW TO CONTRIBUITE
We are very grateful to all those who support Project Reconciliation non-profit organization financially.
The majority of our projects are supported by people like you! Thanks to you, we can train, support and carry out projects that allow us to improve the living conditions of other people in Italy and in the world. You are vital to the success of this mission! In a direct way, you help us to create new opportunities to the mission entrusted to us!
DONATIONS FROM ALL WHOLE EUROPE:
> You can make a payment by bank transfer using the IBAN:
HEADING: PROGETTO RICONCILIAZIONE ONLUS
IT55 Q030 6901 1100 0000 6821 876
Banca Intesa San Paolo –
Piazza San Carlo 156 - 10121 Torino - Italy
DONATIONS FROM SWISS:
> You can make a contribution on the La Poste Suisse / Die Schweizerische Post :
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Euro account: Progetto Riconciliazione Onlus - Via Torino 34 - 10044 Pianezza - Torino - Italia IBAN: IT64H0335901600100000117082 - BIC: BCITITMX
HEADING: Evangelisches Missionswerk in Kalabrien
Mission évangélique en Calabre
Friends of Italy
past. Ernesto D. Bretscher
Via Torino 34
10044 Pianezza - TORINO
tel +39 011 0465610 - +39 011 0465613
e-mail: friendsofitaly@gmail.com
skype: edbretscher - Torino Italy
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