Gino Testa

Pastor and Disciple-Maker in Sicily

Gino began his ministry in 1995, sharing the Word of God on the streets of Catania, Sicily, and working primarily with immigrant communities from across Europe. After several years of street outreach, he served for many years as youth pastor in a local church. In 2016, he was installed as senior pastor of the church in Belpasso, a small town on the rolling hills beneath Mount Etna, just outside Catania. Today, the church is known as VivoVangelo, meaning “Living Gospel”—a name that reflects the desire not simply to hear God’s Word, but to live it out.

In recent years, Gino and his family have become deeply involved in discipling their Sicilian neighbours, as well as Sub-Saharan African immigrants and refugees arriving on the island. Through this ministry, they have gained firsthand experience in disciple-making and helping newcomers integrate into Italian society. Many of those arriving on Sicily’s shores face significant physical, psychological, and spiritual needs, and Gino and his family are committed to walking alongside them with practical care, community, and the hope of the Gospel.

Gino is also collaborating with ministry partners to develop a national network that supports the people they disciple as they establish new lives across Italy. Since many eventually leave Sicily in search of employment in the north, this growing network seeks to provide continuity of care, Christian community, and ongoing discipleship wherever their journeys take them.

Gino says,

In Sicily, there is much work to be done. Undoing centuries of superstition and paganism, while proclaiming the good news of love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. I believe in our Mission. Together, we are making disciples, planting churches, and building bridges of hope to the Glory of God for the good of all people in Sicily!

Il mio personale servizio a Dio nasce nel 1995, ho iniziato a portare la parola di Dio nelle strade di Catania per diversi anni, lavorando principalmente con diversi popoli immigrati dal nord europa, per moltissimi anni sono stato incaricato come pastore dei giovani della chiesa locale e nel 2016 sono stato incaricato come pastore della Chiesa VivoVangelo di Belpasso, una piccola città alle pendici dell’Etna.

In questi anni io e la mia famiglia siamo molto coinvolti nel discepolato dei nostri stessi amici siciliani ma anche il grande flusso di immigrati africani ci ha coinvolto in prima persona a discepolare e ad aiutare all’inserimento sociale una popolazione che arriva nelle coste siciliane in una condizione fisica e psicologica molto complicata.

Gia da tempo abbiamo iniziato insieme a diverse collaborazioni a creare una rete nazionale per un maggior supporto per tutte quelle persone che discepoliamo e che poi lasciano la Sicilia in cerca di lavoro nel nord dell’Italia.

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