STEVANUS

Mark and Denise Stevanus
Bari, Italy

Mark and Denise have been serving in Italy as missionaries for just over 30 years now, having first arrived in 1988. Their ministry years have been spent mostly in the Bari area of southern Italy where they raised four children who are now grown and serving in local church ministries in the USA and abroad.  They initially came as church planters but have also spent the last 15 years ministering in two different Pentecostal congregations by way of assisting local Italian pastors. In addition to this support role, they have also been involved in discipleship ministry and setting up home groups. Considerations are also in the works regarding an organic church plant, something Mark is passion about. Their target group over the years has continually and naturally surfaced as young adults from 30 and up.
 
Over the last several years, they have also been involved in helping to organize leadership conferences for both pastors and young leaders as well as family church camps in August where they have been able to assist with the translation and printing of teaching materials as well as translate for guest speakers from North America. Moreover, Denise received her MA in professional counseling in 2016 and has received accreditation with the Associazione Consulenti Cristiani (ACC) in Italy. As a member of this organization, she can counsel individuals who are having difficulties in life, attend national seminars and has begun co-teaching Christian counseling alongside her supervisor. 
 
The Stevanus’ have been basically self-supporting as tent-makers since 2012 where their bilingual skills have enabled Denise to work as a part-time ESL teacher in the private sector teaching mostly young adults and Mark as interpreter for relocation firms assisting international professionals and their families with the bureaucratic procedures for working in the country. Together they occasionally work on translating websites or brochures into English for various Italian companies. This type of work enables them to make natural contacts with many people of different ages at various walks of life in an effort to share the Gospel message. In 2014 Denise received dual citizenship and Mark has an unlimited permit of stay.

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