Biblical Ministry in Mission
Ministry Partner: Cesare Albanesi
Rome, Italy
As they grew up, both Cesare and Melissa experienced the negative influence of Catholicism in Rome as they were the only believers in their school. This experience opened their eyes for the first time to the extreme need of the gospel in Italy. Cesare and Melissa attended two different churches in Rome, but the Lord made their path cross in 2011. At that time they both had the desire to serve the Lord fully, and Cesare was planning to finish his undergrad studies and move to the States to attend The Master’s Seminary.
After 1 year of dating, Cesare and Melissa got engaged in 2013, and the following year Cesare moved to the States to start his theological training, while Melissa was finishing her study in the university of Rome. In 2016 they got married, and Melissa moved to the States with Cesare to support him in his studies. The Lord has blessed their marriage with five children: Michela, Elisa, Gioele, Eliana, and Gabriele.
Cesare received his MDiv from The Master’s Seminary in 2018 and his ThM in Old Testament in 2021.
Cesare and Melissa moved back to Rome, Italy, in the August of 2021 and have been serving with the Italian Theological Academy (TMAI center) and since then. Since September 2022 they have been part of a church plant, Imago Christi Church, in the south of Rome.
Ministry and Prayer Requests
Cesare and Melissa’s ministry is divided among the responsabilities with ITA and the Imago Christi Church.
Cesare serves as full-time faculty member at ITA under the direction and leadership of Matt Johnston. Besides regularly teaching, Cesare will is involved in developing the ITA curriculum, providing oversight over the ITA student body, and developing some new projects.
Alongside his involvement with ITA, Cesare is one of the pastors of the recently planted Imago Christi Church. Cesare and Melissa serve alongside the Gravinos and another Italian couple. Cesare is responsible for the adult Sunday school, he oversees the children’s ministry, and provide discipleship and counseling to church members.
If you want to pray for us here are few requests:
- Pray for the salvation of our 5 children: Michela, Elisa, Gioele, Eliana, and Gabriele.
- Pray for our ministry with ITA that God would use us to strengthen the churches in Italy and equip men for ministry.
- Pray for the church plant, that God would bless our efforts in building up the body entrusted to us and more people would come to a saving knowledge of Christ.
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Missionary Videos
https://vimeo.com/504468262/2ac4242c31