Italy Mission

What's happening with Dennis & Karen Quick?

First, the headlines of 2010…

Dennis Quick Announces Early Retirement
Karen Quick Inc. Continues to Experience Healthy Growth
The Quick’s Announce Plan to Live in Italy in 2011 for Four Months
The Quick’s Partner with Delta Ministries for Mission Opportunities in Italy
Dennis Quick Writes His First Breakout Suspense Novel
Dennis Quick to Launch New Blog in 2011

Catching Up With the Quick’s…

As 2010 comes to end I think I’m beginning to see a New Year peaking over the horizon. The year 2011 has been the topic of many conversations around our house for some time. The strange thing is 2011 has always been spoken of in terms of being a long ways away. Well, I just tore the last page off my giant office calendar and realized - 2011 is here!

Many people have things they want to experience before they die. I know my wife wants to visit every state in the U.S. and she has informed me that a layover in an airport doesn’t count. I’ve already experienced the joys of being terrified in Oklahoma while waiting for a tornado to touch down, repulsed in Kentucky by insects the size of small aircraft and nearly suffocated in Florida by oppressive humidity. To be honest, an airport layover doesn’t sound too bad to me. One destination she had always been particularly excited about was the east coast - specifically Boston. Well, we checked that one off her list in 2010.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I like the east coast, but if I had my way we would skip over the east coast and keep going to a “real” destination. You see I have a bit of an obsession. John Grisham once wrote, “I love Italy and all things Italian.” Now there’s a man after my own heart. Even though we travel to Europe about once a year I never tire of Italy.

Here are a few of my life dreams. I want to learn to speak Italian fluently. I want to live in Italy for a season of my life. I want to write at least one book… preferably… in Italy. Do you see a theme? The wine, pizza and pasta don’t even need to be mentioned. So, in May 2011, it’s off we go to Italy for four months!

Depending on how this first adventure goes we may repeat this four-month Italian adventure every year after each tax season. That’s right, Karen has no plans to retire. (That sound you just heard was all of Karen’s tax clients breaking out in spontaneous revelry.)

Last year we got the chance to lead another mission trip to Naples, Italy. We ran a college-age camp that was incredible! It was an amazing experience for everyone involved. We couldn’t have had a more amazing team to work with on this mission trip.

Even though we have a pretty good idea what we will be doing in Italy, there is no way we can know all that God has in store for us while in Europe. Our immediate plans are to get an apartment in Florence and use Tuscany as our home base. From Florence we plan to support missions, churches and ministries both in Northern Italy as well support ministry opportunities we have in the south. In addition to supporting local evangelical ministries in Florence we plan on working camps as well as supporting an evangelistic city festival in a suburb of Naples. “Festival Arzano” will be in the first week of September and we plan on joining the team coming from Abundant Life Church to support this mission.

Europe is composed of many, many people who have given up on religion. In the wake of Catholicism, many modern Europeans see no relevance in God, Christianity or for that matter spirituality. Unfortunately most western Christians view Europe as nothing more than a tourist destination. But, that my friend is the topic of another blog post…

As soon as my new blog is launched I will announce it on www.coolchurchitaly.com as well as Facebook. My goal is to keep anyone interested up to date with the Quick’s, especially when we are in Europe. As we know very well, we all make our plans - but ultimately - God has the final say. So, with each turn in the road before us we hope to keep you informed along the way.

2010 ALC Mission Team Arrives in Napoli

Ciao a tutti! The ALC Italy Mission Team arrived safely in Naples, Italy. We flew from PDX to Philadelphia, Philadelphia to Rome. From Rome we took a train to Napoli. Last night we got to eat dinner downtown Naples. This morning we depart for the Old Mill Camp. Our team of nine people will run this summer camp for college age students beginning Sunday, July 25th. It will run through the 31st. We will meet with the outgoing team today from Los Altos, CA. Our group is doing well. The first day is always difficult adjusting time zones. We are nine hours ahead. My job yesterday was to keep everyone vertical. I was successful in keeping everyone up until midnight. I think that's a record for us. We usually only make it until about 9:00 P.M. then... we crash. Tony Aruta drove us down streets last night that were not designed for a bicycle, let alone a 10 person van. You have not experienced anything until you witness Tony driving in reverse with 2 inch clearance on both side mirrors... unbelievable! I will keep you posted. Pray for us. Ciao for now!

2010 Italy Short-term Mission Trip

Well, we have another short-term mission opportunity coming up the last week of July 2010. The selection process for those involved will be a little different because of the scope of this mission. Last year we were a part of an evangelistic festival. The festival happens every other year.  When the Italian and American Christians are not running the festival, we come together to run E.S.L. (English as a second language) summer camps at their Old Mill Camp, just outside of Naples, Italy.
 
There are three different camps for three different age groups. Abundant Life Church is responsible for running the third camp, which is scheduled for the last week of July (25th – 31st) for Italian students ages 17 to 23. The team running this camp will be limited to 10 people. There will be a screening process as there will be demands, which require energetic, highly flexible people who don’t mind serving in hot weather and who love working with this age group - 40% of which will be unchurched.

A tentative travel schedule for this short-term mission trip (including arrival and departure days) is approximately July 22nd through August 2nd. The cost per applicant is at this time approximately $2000. This is an estimate as the final cost will depend a lot on airfare prices at the time they are purchased. There will be fundraising events to help subsidize the cost of the trip. If it works out, there may be day trip to downtown Naples and/or Rome.

Please let me know if you are interested or have any questions. Unfortunately, not everyone that expresses an interest will automatically be on the team as there will be a screening process, but please don’t let that hinder you from letting me know of your interest.

Ciao for now!
Dennis

Golf Scramble Fundraiser for Italy Mission

Click here to download the registration form.
Download 2009 Abundant Life Church Scramble for Italy

Italy, Here We Come!

Ciao a tutti! I am very excited about the progress of our 2009 Italy Mission trip. We have almost 20 people onboard to help run the Festival Casoria in Naples, Italy and I know God will do great things through this evangelistic event. We have two fundraising events planned and have started assigning people to specific tasks for the festival. I will soon be posting more information about the fundraising events and will post a link to download a registration form for the Golf Scramble. Until then, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me at dennis@coolchurch.com. If you have questions specific to the Golf Scramble email dave@coolchurch.com. Italy, here we come!

Dave Proehl Joins the Italy Team

I’m so excited to share the news that Dave Proehl has joining the Italy Mission Team that will be serving God in Naples this Fall. 

The critical thing is that there are still positions at the festival (fun, exciting opportunities to interact with the people of Naples), and that there is a list of people with an interest to go that have yet to commit to the trip.  Now, to me that seems like a perfect match:  An opportunity to serve… and people interested in serving.

Did you know, before you got this email, we’ve been praying for YOU?  That’s right – we’ve been asking God to bring together the right group of people for this outreach.  The time has come, however – that we obviously need to move from the team “brainstorming” stage to the “team building” stage.  This involves making a commitment, and moving forward by faith.

Some of you really wanted to go on this trip and felt God’s call on your heart to go…but perhaps you’ve allowed doubt, or fear, or whatever snuff out that dream of going.  When Dave and Jen Proehl came into ministry at Abundant Life Church they felt a nudge from God to go into ministry.  A call to walk away from an executive level position with a national organization, and follow Him back to Oregon to work as a youth pastor.  However, in the midst of that very prayerful time of decision, they were trying to figure it all out:  “Where would we live?”  “How can we sell our house?”  “Can we live on half the income?”  “What would my friends think?”  All very real questions, that they were trying to figure out BEFORE saying “yes” to God.   

Dave's wife, being so wise when Dave was being so analytical, said these words, “Dave – if you think you’re going to figure all of this out and THEN say 'Yes' – then you’re moving in YOUR power, not in God’s power.”  WOW!  She was right!  They were trying to figure out how they could do it, not saying, “yes” and allowing God to move in the circumstances of their life to take care of the details. 

To make a long story a tad longer…they prayed over the choice and said “YES!” to God. Then with hearts fully committed to this new chapter in our lives, they worked hard and allowed HIM to take care of the details.  Well, He did – and now they are here at ALC – and their lives continue on an amazing path. 

So – with that being said – I want to encourage any of you that are still on the fence and maybe even re-encourage a few of you who may have said, “No.”

Would you prayerfully consider (or re-consider) your involvement with the 2009 Abundant Life Church mission to Naples, Italy?

If your answer is “No” – that’s cool.  Please give us that firm decision by May 31^st (our new deadline) so we can remove you from the rest of the correspondence for the 2009 trip.

If your answer is “Yes” – that’s cool, too.  WE MUST HAVE YOUR ANSWER BY MAY 31^st!  Please review the details below, and carefully note some of the critical things that need to be completed, such as paperwork, etc.  Also, it’s CRITICAL that as part of your commitment you make it to the required activities.

Thanks for reading this far!  If you have any questions, please contact any of us and we’ll do our best to help!

AlC is recruiting to fill the following ministries that we as a church are responsible for:

• 5-6 people for Security
• 2-3 people for face painting
• 2-3 people for English as a Second Language
• 2-3 people for Medical
• 2-3 people for Photo Booth

As you consider joining the Italy mission, here are some highlights you need to know:

• Actual Ministry dates: September 2 - 16, 2009
• Location: Near Naples, Italy
• Missionaries: Doug and Dee Venezuela

Required dates for your calendar:

• Portland Area Italy Training is July 25th at 9 am at the Happy Valley Campus
• Scheduled fund raiser is August 23rd (more info to come)

For more information, contact:
Dennis Quick: dennis@coolchurch.com
Bruce Neidert: bjneidert@msn.com
Brian Heerwagen: brianh@deltaministries.com

Doug Valenzuela and Tony Aruta Visit ALC

 

Need a Registration Form?

Just click on this link to download a registration form.

Download Reg Form 2009438FS Abundant Life Church

The Adventure of Provision Discovery

Ok, so you may or may not have heard by now that it will cost $3000 to go on the mission trip to Naples, Italy, in September and that the $375 non-refundable deposit is due to DELTA Ministries by April 18. Stop right there!

When most people hear $3000 and the words “mission trip,” their mind starts going down the path of “fund-raising.” Followed by that initial gloomy thought is usually a list of reasons why they don’t think it will be possible to raise the money necessary to go. “I’m in college.” “I don’t make a lot of money.” “I don’t have a rich uncle.” The list goes on and on. Let me help you with a little shift in perspective that will change everything concerning “raising money.”

The provision that you need for this mission trip is already available. God never calls someone to do something, which He doesn’t also provide everything needed to get the job done. If God is in it - no one can stop it. God is able to supply everything you need to accomplish His work. Period. So our part isn’t “fund-raising” it’s all about “provision discovery.”  Start the process now of discovering the provision God already has for you to go on this mission trip.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying sit and wait for God to drop financial resources in your lap. That’s not living by faith, that’s just being lazy. Pray, act, move, work, write letters of support, think outside of the box. When you do this, provision discovery becomes an adventure - almost like a financial Easter egg hunt. If we approach this mission trip with a sense of discovery, we are more likely to think outside the box and look in places we might not otherwise think of looking.

As you write your letters of support I encourage you to do so with excitement, not dread. All of us are called to advance the Kingdom of God. Someone once said, there are two kinds of Christ-followers, “goers” and “senders.” Not everyone has the ability to go - so don’t be ashamed to give them the opportunity to be a “sender.” Don’t be afraid to ask. Your faithful act of obedience is the key to unlocking God’s provision for you.

I want you to memorize these verses and meditate on them often as you go about your adventure of provision discovery.

Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

 

Italy Mission Team Forming

  I'ts so exciting to be a part of something brand new. Abundant Life Church is forming its first mission team to Italy. Our first informational meeting was held Sunday the 15th and we got the opportunity to hear from Brian Heerwagen from DELTA Ministries, who has been taking teams to Naples, Italy for several years now. Your next opportunity to hear more about this exciting mission will be Sunday, March 8 at 7:00 P.M. at Abundant Life Church in the Community Room. This will be a very special evening for Abundant Life Church as we will have guests from Italy joining us for dessert as they share about the ministry opportunities in Italy. For those who need directions to Abundant Life Church go to www.coolchurch.com. RSVP to dennis@coolchurch.com.

Festival Casoria
Location: Naples, Italy
Date: Sep 2-16, 2009