Hello from Tampa, Florida.
I was supposed to arrive in Tampa on Monday after spending 3.5 days in Bologna, Italy for a future church plant scout. I arrived back from Bologna on Sunday - got home to London and unpacked and repacked and then headed to the airport again on Monday for my flight to Tampa. 3 countries in 3 weeks – Spain, Italy and USA.
The flight was going well and finally after 9 hours of flying the captain started descending but the closer we got to Tampa the more we circled and finally the captain announced that due to severe thunderstorms, Tampa airport had closed and our flight was being diverted to Miami – a 5 hour drive away. We landed in Miami and they herded us into buses to make the long journey to Tampa airport. I hadn’t slept in over 24 hours and halfway into our journey our bus broke down! You couldn’t make this up! After many attempts from the mechanic and hours later we made it to Tampa and I reached my final destination at 5am Tuesday morning!
After a few hours of sleep, I now have the opportunity to reflect on our time on the ground in Bologna. It was a full and eye-opening few days.
We spent our first day praying and discerning the spiritual atmosphere of the city, then meeting with John and Janelle, who are sensing a call to Bologna.
We didn’t quite know what to expect, but it was nothing like we could have imagined.
On day one, we met with a former student who gave us a tour of the city. Walking through Bologna felt strange and at times almost claustrophobic. Beneath the history and architecture there was a heaviness that became more noticeable the longer we stayed.
As we walked from church to church, there was a strong sense of darkness, oppression and grief. One place in particular left a deep impression on us: the church of Santa Maria della Vita. Inside is a powerful sculpture by Niccolò dell’Arca called The Lamentation over the Dead Christ. The life-sized terracotta figures capture the moment after Jesus is taken down from the cross, with Nicodemus still holding the tools used to remove the nails. The grief carved into the faces of those around Jesus is incredibly vivid.
As we reflected on what we were seeing across the city, something became very noticeable. In this historically Catholic city, Christ is almost always portrayed in one of two ways: either as a fat baby in the arms of a crowned Mary, or as a dying or dead man on the cross.
The only time we saw Jesus portrayed as alive was in infrequent depictions of the Last Supper.
It helped explain something of the spiritual heaviness we were sensing. The story of Jesus stops at the cross. Meanwhile Mary is crowned as the sovereign of heaven and guardian of the city.
Day two, however, felt very different.
While Ali and Dina headed to other sites of spiritual significance in the city to pray and discern, Jenna and I explored the campus area and tried to understand how students might best be reached.
After lunch we sat down in a small square beside a student café-bar and noticed three girls heading in the same direction. Jenna approached them and asked if they spoke English. We explained that we were with a church trying to understand more about life as a student in Bologna and asked if they would mind answering a few questions.
They happily agreed, so we invited them for a coffee and a chat.
Jenna and I took turns asking questions about why they had chosen their subjects, what student life looks like in the evenings, their experiences of church, and even the superstitions students hold when trying to pass exams.
After about forty minutes of conversation, I asked if they had any questions for us.
That was the beautiful moment.
After trust had started to build, they asked about our church and when we started believing what we believe. Jenna shared her testimony first, then I shared mine, weaving key aspects of the gospel into my story. From there Jenna was able to clearly explain the gospel using the Gospel Steps framework.
For the first time in their lives, these three precious girls heard that Jesus is alive.
In a city filled with images of a baby Jesus and a dying Jesus, we had the privilege of sharing the good news of the risen Jesus.
As we were finishing up, another friend arrived, which gave a natural end to our conversation. Before leaving, we were able to give each of them a Gospel Steps card summarising what we had shared, including the fourth girl.
Please pray that the seeds planted in that conversation will begin to grow.
As I sit here in reflecting on the past week, I’m reminded again of our role in all of this.
We sow and we water, but it is God who gives the increase. 🌱
Dear Family and Friends
In my last newsletter I mentioned that I was preparing to preach in our South Congregation on Disciples Proclaim. I loved being with this newly planted congregation that is just over a year old! If you would like to listen to the message you can watch here -
This past weekend I was in Madrid, Spain for our annual European ENC Conference. We had 177 students and leaders from 18 countries across Europe!
It was a weekend where students are invited to experience the big picture of ENC and they can join wherever they are on their journey with God. The Gospel was presented throughout the weekend, and we are so excited to say that this weekend was not only filled with lots of fun but also salvations, recommitments and personal ministry for many!
I had the honour of preaching our second session on Awakening to the Son’s Sacrifice and Lordship. It was also exciting to take a group of students and student volunteers to this conference. Here’s a little clip of our group from London having fun together.
After the conference we gathered our campus missionaries across Europe for a special time of ministry and encouragement. It’s such a privilege to serve with these amazing heroes. Some are full time missionaries, some are working full time and volunteering to do ministry in their spare time, and some are in the early stages of planting churches near universities in their cities!
Stay tuned for a recap video from the whole conference in my next newsletter!
This Saturday I am speaking at our Gifted Day (a day where we speak on the gifts of the Holy Spirit) and then next week I am heading to Bologna, Italy on a Scout for future missions and a church plant coming up in 2027!
Please continue to cover me in prayers for health, strength and to be totally led by the Holy Spirit in the upcoming events.
March 11 - 14 – Scout to Bologna, Italy
March 16 – April 5 – Annual Support Raising in Florida, USA
April 5 – 16 – Annual Support Raising in Georgia, USA
May 13 – 16 – Ministry in Glasgow, Scotland
June 22 – 26 – ENC Leaders Camp in Marseille, France
October 24 – 31 – Mission to Malta
We are reaching the nations! Thank you for being a part of everything that I do!
Blessings
Traci
Dear Family and Friends
I pray that you are well and have survived the crazy weather we have all had this past month! From Ice storms in America, even freezing temperatures in Florida, to cold and nonstop rainy weather here across Europe. I think we can all say – bring on Summer!
I know the weather has not been great, but God has not stopped moving. As I mentioned in my last letter, January is normally a time of prayer and fasting across our Every Nation Churches around the world and as we have poured out our hearts in prayer and consecration, we are so excited about what God is going to do in 2026.
During our week of prayer and fasting here in London I joined some of our students on their campuses to do walk around and pray for their university, their classmates and faculty. Here are a few pics of those of us who gathered to pray at the University of Arts London and Kings College London.
To end the week, we gathered as a church to worship and pray for our city, community and campuses as well as the nations of Europe. I had the privilege of praying for Spain in English and in Spanish.
This week I am preparing to preach at our South congregation on Disciples Proclaim. We are doing a series through the book of Acts, and I get to share on how the disciples healed a lame beggar which led to them being able to proclaim the Gospel to a large crowd and to all of the religious leaders. 5000 came to Christ because of them reaching out to one person! Sharing who Jesus is was not for then but also for now – can you imagine what could happen if we all asked the Holy Spirit for opportunities to share the Gospel and then actually stepped out to do it when He gives it to us?! Please pray for me as I share this message on Sunday.
Could I please ask you to also pray for me on what is coming up this year for me so far?
Feb 27 – 2 March – ENC Conference in Madrid
March 11 - 14 – Scout to Bologna, Italy
March 16 – April 5 – Annual Support Raising in Florida, USA
April 5 – 16 – Annual Support Raising in Georgia, USA
May 13 – 16 – Ministry in Glasgow, Scotland
June 22 – 26 – ENC Leaders Camp in Marseille, France
October 24 – 31 – Mission to Malta
I know that’s a lot to pray for, but I really appreciate and value you covering me in prayer!
Please let me know how I can be praying for you.
Lots of love
Traci
