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Veteran AGWM missionaries in Italy, Terry and Marsha Peretti, share their philosophy of missions work with examples from their own experience.
"The most effective kind of missions work is 'boots on the ground'
for the long duration. It takes a lifetime to learn the culture, to speak the language fluently, to 'grow up together' with the national church. This has been our experience in Italy. When we arrived in Italy in 1976, we were in our 20s and became friends with the young Italian believers. Today, many of those young people are now national leaders and pastors of the great churches in Italy. With lifetime friendships, we can speak directly into their lives. We are no longer "outsiders".
 In the years 1979 to 1991, we planted a church in the northern Italian city of Acqui Terme. It was the most difficult task of our lifetime. We also helped to start the Teen Challenge ministry with two rehab centers. We had many times of discouragement. There was open persecution. On more than one occasion, we were stopped by the police, our car was searched, and we were interrogated, once at gunpoint. It wasn't the fault of the police; they were just carrying out orders sent out by someone who didn't want us in the city.
Very recently, we visited this church that we planted. Today it is vibrant, full of new believers, and has built a new facility on the main highway into town. It is visible and not hidden! It is the only Pentecostal church in town. There is only one other evangelical church in Acqui Terme. The lead elder is Dr. Gianni Gilardi who is a convert of ours. We led him and his wife Raffaella to the Lord many years ago. It took 4 years of witnessing, being a faithful, loving friend to bring him to a saving experience with Christ. Today he leads his church with great fervor. Not only that, but his two sons have become preachers of the Gospel. These two young men preach the gospel throughout northern Italy in various churches.
This experience bears truth to Galatians 6:9: "In due time, you shall reap, if you do not lose heart". Is long-term commitment worth it? The answer is a resounding "yes"!
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