Italy Missions Update April 2012

Ciao a tutti!  As always, we hope this email finds you well.

It has been a while since we posted our last update letter and there is much to report.  I’ll do my best to keep it concise.

Pastor Mark cooking Dinner

Spring in Treviso has seemingly come and gone.  Flowering trees and plants have all but passed their prime and in fact, evidence of the farmers diligent work from the fall is starting to show.  While looking around, you can’t help but think of the new life that a believer has in Christ; the risen Christ as recently celebrated. 

Resurrection Sunday was a blessing for us.  We not only enjoyed the great teaching at church (Luke 23:33-24:12, but we also enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and the breaking of bread with 14 of our dear friends and family in Christ.  Food and laughter in abundance, challenging conversations regarding theology among other subjects were a part of the day!  A blessed time indeed.

The English Club

The English Club
Three classes completed and two more to go.  April 20th will conclude the third season of the English Club at the new location.  This seasons class is smaller than those in the past, likely due to the change from Wednesday to Friday evenings.  Those attending are those who are truly interested in learning English and are getting a more focused experience than in past sessions.  We were blessed recently to have Emanuela, one of our students from last season, join us for church a few weeks back.  Pray for Dorota who also visited us at church last season and is a returning student.  She has recently voiced an interest in coming to church again.

Teaching Opportunities

In addition to teaching Sunday school, developing the English Club curriculum and teaching English at a nearby Nursery School, Lori will be teaching the women’s study at CC Treviso in April. Lori has been stretched in many ways this year and we are grateful for the Lord’s grace to help her through it all.  Please pray for guidance as she prepares and delivers the women’s study this Saturday, April 14th and for the ladies to be blessed as they join in the study.

Saul attempts to kill David (again)

Midweek Study

We’ve recently finished the book of 1 Samuel; a book filled with many practical examples for the Christian as we study the lives of Samuel, Saul, Jonathan and David.  We’ll be starting a new, interactive study this month called Nuova Creazione (New Creation) inviting those in attendance to be more deeply involved in searching the scriptures.  For some it will be a good review of the foundations of our faith, for others, it will be an opportunity to search the scriptures for the first time!  Pray for Mark, Nino and Bob as they share in leading the lessons each week.


New Friends

We continue to pray for the Lord's help in tending to those whom He has brought to CC Treviso.  We also pray for Him to bring new faces to the fellowship as we reach out to the community.  A few weeks ago, a young mom and daughter were seeking a new church and saw our sign along the road.  They decided to stop to see what we were about and have been joining us ever since. We’re happy to have Alessandra and her daughter Nicole join us each Sunday. We were also blessed in recent weeks with a visit to church by a young muslim man called Mido who works at a Kebab shop in Treviso.  Pastor Mark and Renata has been frequenting this shop since they moved to Treviso.  We are grateful for Mido's acceptance of Mark's invitation to visit the church and we pray that he will come again as God’s word works in his heart.

Trip to the States

Lori and I will be visiting the States for a longer than usual period.  One of the blessings that we’ve experienced while serving in Italy is the ability see the Lord's hand in renting our home.  It has also proved to be one of the challenges living abroad.  We’ve met some wonderful families through this process and our trust in the Lord has increased each year with the need to find new tenants.  This February presented us with a new challenge as our tenant chose to terminate the contract early.  Clearly the Lord has chosen to use this situation as a refining experience for us and we ask for prayer as we work through this situation both practically and spiritually.  As a result, we feel the Lord has led us to rent our house weekly through the summer and monthly through fall, winter and spring.  We’re asking for prayer for all the work we need to do from the time we arrive in May till the arrival of our 1st tenant at the end of June, for safe keeping on the rental guests and neighborhood and that we might be good witnesses through it all.

We hope you are encouraged with what the Lord is doing at CC Treviso.  There is more to report, but we’ll leave that for another update.  Thanks you again for your ongoing encouragement, prayers and support.  May the Lord bless you and we look forward to seeing many of you a few weeks from now.

Koinonia Fellowship

500 Main Street

East Rochester, NY 14445.

**Please attached a separate note that says: ‘For Bob and Lori Scata, Treviso Italy’

Bob and Lori Scata

Italy Missions

Prayer Requests:
Fresh Vision and Filling of the Lord's Spirit on CC Treviso
For an increased desire for the Lord, His word and service to Him 
For lives to be yielded to Jesus, the Author of Salvation
For a revival to take place in the Veneto region of Italy
God's hand upon Pastor Mark, Renata and their children, for sound health, provision and grace.
For the other Pastors and their families leading the other Calvary Chapels in Italy (Craig Quam, Brian Cambra, Brent Harrell, Jim Stewart, Robert Diamubeni, Vincenzo Cotroneo)
For Lori and Bob as they continue to seek the Lord regarding their future service in Italy.

Italy Missions Update - September 2011

We’ve been back in Italy for four weeks already! We would like to express our thanks to everyone at Koinonia for the overwhelming love, support and encouragement we experienced this Summer.  We are truly blessed.  Thank you all.

CC Treviso - Summer 2011

A Season of Fresh Fruit

Church attendance during the Summer months in Italy is usually quite light and often discouraging. This year, however, proved to be quite different and very encouraging for Pastor Mark and Renata.  Though most of the regulars were absent, God stirred the hearts of friends, acquaintances, etc and brought them in to hear the Word and message of Salvation by Grace. Many continue to return for more of the truth of God's word.  Pray for Valter, Veronica, Franco, Sabrina, Rosanna, Debora, Andrea (who recently requested a bible) and Marta for their hearts to be turned to Christ.  

The English Club - Spring 2011

The English Club - Another Season: Some of those mentioned above were students of last Spring's English Club outreach.  We will be starting the English Club for it's second series of classes October 12 through November 9.  Please join us in prayer as we develop each sessions materials, for each student enjoyment of the class, for relationships to form, the possibility of taking the English Club to other communities and anything else the Lord would like to do through this ministry!

Praying for Nino

Our 1st Ordination - Nino Converso - We are very excited to share with you the news of our first, ordained elder at CC Treviso. Nino Converso and his family serve in many areas of the church and have been attending CC Treviso for six years. Pray for the Lord's leading and protection on the Converso family and for the family’s health issues. Your prayers on their behalf are greatly appreciated

Luka and Matea wearing "The Armor of God"

CC Treviso Annual Retreat, September 9-11

Our annual church retreat at the Calvary Chapel Conference Center in Millstatt, Austria was again a great blessing. Pastor Jim Stewart from CC Padova shared the Word and his wife Margie served the children’s group teaching on the armor of God. Pastor Robin Turner from CC Spitall, Austria, also taught one of the main sessions.  It was a blessed time for all.

Wednesday prayer and worship night

Weekly Prayer Meetings - Based on Ephesians 5:15-21, we've committed 5 Wednesday evenings toward corporate prayer and worship for the new season we are in and for God's continued stirring in the hearts of the people of Treviso.  We'd love to have you join us in prayer!   We resume our mid-week studies at the conclusion of the English Club outreach mid-November.

That's whats going on in this part of the world!  Thanks again for joining us in prayer and for all the practical ways you have helped us to remain serving in Italy. We are grateful.

As missionaries we survive largely by the prayers and financial support of those who stand by our ministry. If the work in Treviso is something you wish to support financially, you may do so by sending a check to or contacting:

Koinonia Fellowship

500 Main Street

East Rochester, NY 14445.

**Please attached a separate note that says: ‘For Bob and Lori Scata, Treviso Italy’

Current Prayer Requests:

The Lord's vision for the leadership team for direction with respect to this new season.

The Lord's will regarding other labors to come into the field.

God's provision for the Nigro's, Scata's and Tracey Gust - Current Missionaries to Treviso.

The Lord's guidance concerning "repair or replace" Bob's computer.

The Lord's guidance and provision regarding needed repairs to our car.

For wisdom as the new English Teaching season begins, for new students

For Lori as she seeks new outreach opportunities, teaches Sunday School, Wisdom in administrative activities.
For our physical health, God's grace and healing

Our "Permesso Di Soggiorno" meeting scheduled for Oct 7th....required to stay in Italy.
A prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus for how he blesses and sustains us each day!

Italy Missions/Scata Update - April 2011

Blessings from Treviso!  March was very busy with the transition to the new church location, the English Club outreach men's and women's fellowship meetings and the arrival of a new baby in the fellowship.

New Building - Thanks for joining us in prayer for the past few years concerning our search for a new building.  The Lord has blessed us with a great new location.  For those who’ve visited CC Treviso in the past, you would notice many differences.  To name just a few;  a cement column no longer blocks the view of the pulpit, we now have many windows giving natural light, the children’s ministry is a breeze now that the church is on one level and there is plenty of ceiling height so our taller brothers don't hit their heads on light fixtures.  The new church building also has a fellowship area that can accommodate everyone for coffee, snacks and conversation after service. And perhaps the best aspect about being in the new building are the new faces that we are starting to see at CC Treviso.  Many prayers have been answered!

The "English Club" – In an effort to reach the community, we established a club that provides Italians with an opportunity to practice their English speaking skills. Rather than a typical class structure, we used games,  group exercises, and open conversation to encourage the students to use their English.  The Club has been very well attended with no less than 8 and as many as 30 participants per session and averaging 15-20 per class. Many friendships have been developed leading to many opportunities to share why we offer the English Club for free.  The environment promotes conversation about our faith, our church and Jesus in a very natural way.  Wednesday. April 6th was our last class this season with hopes of another class in the fall.  We have provided our contact information to each student with open invitations to contact us to continue practicing English.  During the 6 week English Club sessions, one student, Emanuela and her family invited the teachers to her home for a dinner of home-made pizza and various focaccia breads.  Beyond the obvious fact that everything was excellent (they made over 10 different pizza's/focaccie), the conversation was also very fruitful, centering on faith and their understanding of God and salvation.   Emanuela, her son Marco and a friend have visited us for Sunday's service and have expressed their desire to return.  

Men's Meeting - The men were blessed with a sound teaching by Pastor Jim from CC Padova being challenged to be men of God at all times and in all circumstances of life.  And what would a men's meeting be without food?  We enjoyed a classic American breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and bacon.  One of the brothers brought an assortment of Italian pastries!!  We concluded the fellowship with a few competitive rounds of Pingpong!

Decision Made –  We will be serving in Italy another year as long as the Lord provides the means to do so.  Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support.  Without these, we could not continue our service here.

Adding to the Flock - We are pleased and blessed to welcome Milena Louise, born 26th March weighing 5 lbs 3 oz.  Join us as we pray for the health of this little one and for the family (Emiliano, Helen and Sara) as they adjust to their new addition.  

Prayer Request:

Praise to the Lord for improving Lori’s heart arrhythmia.  The frequency and degree of severity have declined substantially!  

Please pray for our preparations to serve in Italy another year.
For Silvio (an English student) who has many questions about Christianity!
For Maria and Elena (new friend's of Lori's) who are deeply burdened by the difficulty in following the requirements of their Catholic faith.

For hearts to be moved to visit CC Treviso to hear God's word that leads to eternal life!

For the annual Calvary Chapel Italy retreat in June and each fellowship’s ability to participate.

For each of Italy's Calvary Pastors, leadership teams, missionaries, fellowships and the Bible College in Montebelluna.
For the Lords provision in all areas (health, financial, grace, etc)
For our sister Helen and her husband Emiliano who recently had their 2^nd daughter.

As missionaries we survive largely by the prayers and financial support of those who stand by our ministry.  If the work in Treviso is something you wish to support financially, you may do so by sending a check to or contacting:

Koinonia Fellowship

500 Main Street

East Rochester, NY  14445.

**Please attached a separate note that says: ‘For Bob and Lori Scata, Treviso Italy’

Italy Missions/Scata Update - February 2011

Going On Three

In six months we will have finished our initial three year commitment to serve in Italy at Calvary Chapel of Treviso. As with many milestones in life, we look back in amazement at how quickly the time has passed. James was right when he wrote that life is like a vapor, here for a moment and then it disappears.

We’ve been asked by several friends what the future holds for us; if the Lord has given us a vision for future direction. This is a question that we’ve asked ourselves many times as well. The answer remains consistent...”We don’t know” exactly. The bible tells us to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and he will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6). Lori and I purpose to do just that. Family and friends at home are often on our hearts. Technology has helped us to keep in touch, but the emotional challenge of living away from home can be difficult. We are sometimes torn between remaining in the mission field and returning home; all the while desiring to be faithful to the Lord and to the calling he has placed on our lives. We continually ask the Lord what He would have us to do. “Pray and wait” seems to be the answer we are both hearing from the Lord. And so we continue to pray and wait until we get confirmation on our next steps. To that end, please join us as we pray - that we would truly wait on the Lord and not make decisions based on our own reasoning or lack of patience.

Spring and Summer Plans

Several activities are on the horizon for CC Treviso and for us personally this Spring and Summer. CC Treviso will be participating in an Italy wide conference at the beginning of June; an opportunity for all the CC’s in Italy to gather for a unified message and fellowship. This is an annual event and we are looking forward to great teachings and to seeing many of our fellow missionaries and Italian friends from Rome, Montebelluna, Feltre and Padova.

We are also praying for our home church, Koinonia Fellowship, where a team is meeting, praying and planning a mission trip in May. Everyone at CC Treviso is looking forward to their fellowship, encouragement and their service in a variety of outreach and in-reach activities.

Shortly after these events, Lori and I will be packing our bags for a trip home to visit family, friends and our supporting churches. We will also be working on our home, either moving things out because we sold it or getting it prepared for yet another year of rental. We look forward to seeing everyone and the Lord’s hand on all these events.

Witnessing Opportunities

Our prayers for the Lord to present opportunities to share the gospel have been answered recently on numerous occasions. You know when the Lord is involved when "the door" to share His word opens with little to no effort. It has been extremely encouraging for us to know that we are able to share the truth of the bible to those who don't know it and more importantly to those who show a sincere interest in knowing. Romans 10:17 states “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. We continue to pray for opportunities to open with friends, strangers and those to whom we teach English. Please pray for each seed that has been planted, that it take root, grows and produces eternal fruit.

New Outreach - Coming Soon!

Within CC Treviso there are several of us who supplement their financial support by teaching English as a second language. We have prayerfully decided to give back to the community by offering free English lessons - one lesson per week for six weeks. Many of our current students don't have the opportunity to apply the grammar or helpful phrases once they leave the classroom. This”English Club” will provide them that opportunity. But we also hope to reach the members of the community near our church. It is our hope that through this non-threatening environment of learning English, our neighbors can meet us and get to know us personally. Then perhaps, they will ask a few probing questions about our church and what we believe. The last time an English Outreach was conducted, it led to a young man being saved and we continue to enjoy Daniel's friendship and service to the Lord at CC Treviso.

Men's Fellowship

2011 has produced a new vision for the men at CC Treviso. We are encouraging our guys to meet every month for a time in God's word, fellowship and of course, breakfast...this month was breakfast American style with Pancakes and even a quiche (contrary to popular belief, real men do each quiche). We continued our series on the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Our dear brother Nino led us through the biblical meaning of agape love which is challenging when reflecting on God's expectations for this sacrificial and"others centered" love. Additionally we were encouraged by Pastor Mark to be more involved with one another, holding one another accountable as we face the challenges of the world. We came away refreshed, edified, encouraged and challenged. We're looking forward to our next meeting in February!

Humbled and Stretched.

This section of our update letter seems to appeal to many of you. I heard time and again how the three 7 year old "angels" I had as English students and their taunting protests and uncontrolled crying episodes made you laugh...and how similar humbling situations I found myself in seemed to draw smiles upon your faces. I am glad to have helped brighten your day. With that said, I'll share yet another recent and uncomfortable situation to warm your hearts.

Since moving into our new flat, we've looked forward to the day when we would meet our neighbors. I mentioned above we pray for the opportunity to develop relationships with our neighbors. Apparently I had this preconceived idea that the Lord would allow us to encounter our neighbors with the opportunity to help in some way, perhaps with the burden of grocery bags or some other needful situation. But of course we all know that the Lord's ways are not ways...when will I learn? No, it was not through a helping hand at all that the opportunity to meet our neighbor came about. It was through "il vostro gatto"- their cat. We had noticed the cat on our terrace from time to time and he appeared friendly enough. It was no big deal and in fact we enjoyed the activity. However, we came to realize that "il gatto" was doing more than just "visiting" and in fact he had a purpose. Seems "il gatto" had found himself a new "il bagno" on our terrace...that is...a new bathroom. Yep, he particularly liked the recycling containers! And that's not all. We unfortunately found other treasures of "il gatto" upon the terrace.

"Thank you Lord....for this opportunity to meet our neighbors"....was NOT the first thing that ran through my mind. But I did pray that the Lord would give me words to speak to these seemingly very nice neighbors about their misbehaving cat. Having thought through the best Italian phrases to express the situation, I rang their door bell....and after what seemed a very long time, Antonio opened the door. I quickly realized that I had woken Antonio from a nap....this was not a good start. Nonetheless, I proceeded to tell him that we had the opportunity to meet "il suo gatto" and that we thought it was nice that he came to visit...and then I delivered the bad news. In the end, all went well, but I don't think Antonio and Gabriella will be inviting us for dinner any time soon. On to the next neighbor...

Thanks again for joining us in prayer and for all the practical ways you have helped us to remain serving in Italy. We are grateful.

As missionaries we survive largely by the prayers and financial support of those who stand by our ministry. If the work in Treviso is something you wish to support financially, you may do so by sending a check to or contacting:

Koinonia Fellowship

500 Main Street

East Rochester, NY 14445.

**Please attached a separate note that says: ‘For Bob and Lori Scata, Treviso Italy’

Current Prayer Requests:

1) The Lord's will to be done in our lives.

2) All the ministries and opportunities listed above to be done according to God's plan.

3) For the team from Koinonia who are praying about a mission trip in May.

4) For our visit to the States this summer and all the necessary provisions while we are home

5) For the ongoing steps needed for Italian citizenship.

6) For Pastor Mark and his family, their protection spiritually, their health and God's provision as they serve in Italy.

Dio vi benedica,

Bob and Lori

Missionaries, Treviso Italy