Kingdom Building, Siracusa

Sometimes a church whose ministry is “outside the walls” still needs walls.

Five years ago our church here in Italy (A.D.M.) started constructing a new multi-purpose building to serve the community as a place to host:

o A food bank – A.D.M. currently hosts a food bank which helps distribute food to low-income residents but they no longer have the garage space they were renting to do so. They are left with one small refrigerator and closet space to store items and look forward to being able to expand this service when the new building is done!

o Recreational activities – the new space will have an outdoor play area where the church plans to host summer camps and events for kids in the community nearby.

o Afterschool help – homework help and basic courses in computer skills, finance management, English language, etc. for underprivileged children and adults

o Music lab – music lessons for adolescents, designed to reach outcast youth and stimulate and encourage their socialization.

o Life skills - sewing and cooking lessons for low-income women, to teach basic skills and provide assistance in finding employment

o Life help – environment to help those in risky and difficult situations regarding health, work, cultural integration, difficult or abusive relationships, etc.

o Events – conferences, concerts, out-of-the-box social events to bring unity to the church here in Sicily and as outreach to the local community.


This is all great but why does A.D.M. church need our help?

o They lost their financial assistance: the building you see in the picture was funded largely by the church in Brazil and local givers. However, in the last two years both countries have experienced drastic economic downturn and unfortunately funding has been cut from these sources.

o Desire to be responsible with finances: because A.D.M. cannot take a loan, one positive aspect is that it has not undertaken any debt for the building. They have been completing one project at a time as the Lord allows until the project is finished. This means they currently do not owe money but it also means that what could be done in three months might take three years because of lack of funding. For this reason, the project has been stalled for the last three months.

How much do they need and when do they need it?

o To date they have used €700,000 and to complete the building completely the costs will be approximately €250,000. They're 3/4 of the way there! We are trying to raise at least €150,000 to help get the building to a point where the church can begin using it and then finish the details as they go. 

o They need it now! As soon as you can give they can use your contribution. The building has been in progress for five years, stalled for three months, and they are more than ready to continue work and see the project to completion!


Where will my money go?

o Every penny will be invested in the completion of this building. Currently the structure is in place and the flooring and windows are in. They need to install the electrical, the plumbing, and the heating/air conditioning, put the finishes on the walls, complete the entrance and parking area, etc. These details are what will allow A.D.M. to receive the permits to begin using the space.


What is it to you personally?

o As a couple we have been living here for over four years, and we have seen great need. We've served as part of the local church community and want to help raise money for this project because of the place this city has in our hearts. One may not think it but this is a challenging culture to impact. We have tried to articulate how deep the need goes, but we fear it is impossible to truly understand the situation without experiencing firsthand what the mission field is like in Sicily. Usually we do not put much stock into the building where a church congregation meets. In this case, the building is so much more than just a meeting place and we are anxious to see it finished so passions and dreams for this town can come to fruition. It's hard to see the building almost complete, yet still so far from being done.

Tell us about the church congregation.

o This congregation is ready, willing, and passionate. It is also financially strapped. The majority of members have trouble finding jobs due to the collapsed economy here, and they are unable to contribute enough to finish the project ourselves.

o The current congregation is about 150 people (split into two services on Sunday because of our lack of space) and the majority live in Siracusa, with a good handful who come from nearby towns.


o The church was started by Marcelo’s family 18 years ago and, though they are Brazilian, the church is comprised of mostly Italians with some Brazilian, Argentinian, African, and Spanish families. Because of the mix of cultures and world ties, we often have visitors from countries all over the world. It is enriching to be able to be in community with Christians from all over the globe in our small town.

o People of all ages come to worship on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. There is a good representation of every age group – kids who love to play, teens who love to hang out, young adults who are looking for opportunity, married couples with tiny tots, middle-aged older-and-wiser adults, and elderly members.

o If you want to find out more about the church visit www.admissionaria.com

We are passionate about the people in this city, and we are excited about the ways the church here can impact this city with the help of this building. We greatly appreciate your contributions, both financially and in prayer!

With love,

Marcelo and Elise

P.S. If you would like to contribute but are uncomfortable giving through GoFundMe, please contact us (GoFundMe should provide an avenue for this) and we can discuss other methods of donating. Thank you, we are grateful for your help!