about us
Josh's Story
I was born and raised in the country of Italy, where my parents have been missionaries since 1973. I grew up in the church, hearing about God since I was a small child. When I was eight, I realized that I did not truly know God in the personal way that my parents knew Him, so that year I was saved. Unfortunately I didn’t always live like I was a believer. In fact during my high school years the only difference between me and my unsaved friends was the fact that I went to church. Going to the Italian public school was a challenge and a blessing. Being in contact with Italians and growing up there made my love for Italy and Italians increase. Though my friends knew that I was a “protestant” I never really wanted to talk about it. I was rather embarrassed about my faith. After high school I attended a 10 week Italian Bible school called “svc” (School of Christian living).
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Sara's Story
My name is Sara Cioffo, and I was born in Bologna, Italy on the 13th of November in 1980. I grew up in a Christian home therefore since I was little, I heard about Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. When I was a child I realized my need for Jesus Christ as a savior, but I did not really understand the implications of what that meant.
During my junior high and high school years I was scorned by my classmates because I came from an Evangelical home. I was called Martin Luther and other names. They made fun of me, especially in high school, because I did not live the sinful lifestyle that my friends did. Though I lived a good life I did not do it because I wanted to please God. I was just afraid of God’s wrath and the punishment that sin merited. There wasn’t a loving relationship of creator and Savior God to a loving daughter. Though I wasn’t living in horrible sin I wasn’t truly a disciple of Christ. I did not want God’s wrath and I especially wanted to make my parents proud of me.
When I was sixteen I went to a Christian camp which revolutionized my thinking. The missionary that week spoke about how we must live every day for Christ. To be a Christian means to try to strive every day to live for God. I also learned that living for God could be a pleasure, and not a duty or chore. During that week I dedicated my life to Christ, and told Him that I would be willing work as a missionary, wherever He wanted me.
After finishing high school I decided to go to a ten week Bible school called “Scuola di Vita Cristiana”. There, not only I read the Bible, and learned about doctrine, but I also met Josh Whitman. After that school I started the Italian University, studying Elementary Education, my major being in history and my minor in languages. We dated for two years and were engaged for one. The 4th of January we got married in Bologna Italy, and I moved here to Grand Rapids with my husband.
We both have a great desire to minister to the Italian people, and cannot wait to be back there for ministry. I am looking forward to using my gift of working with children in the future.