Elim Italy marks its 30th anniversary this month and we asked the movement’s president Pastor Samuele Pellerito to guide us through its biggest milestones so far.
How did Elim Italy start?
Elim Italy began on 6 Sept 1993 (the founders are pictured above) . It was started by seven pastors who
were motivated by the idea of bringing pastors and churches together who wanted to cultivate fellowship with one another. They signed the act to establish the ‘Elim Churches in Italy’ association, then on 17 March 1994 the association joined Elim Pentecostal Churches.
The founders were driven by a desire and goal that still animates us today – that the movement could be an ‘Elim’ – a place of refuge, refreshment and spiritual renewal for all pastors and churches involved. This would be a place in which the Holy Spirit could move freely and in power in all communities via preaching based on the authoritative Word of God.
How has Elim Italy developed over the years?
We’ve had three presidents: Pastor Giuseppe Piccolo, who held the presidency from 1993 to 2014, Pastor Giuseppe Croce, president from 2014 to 2018, and me – I’ve been president since 2018. We’ve all worked with successive Executive Committees with love and dedication, making sure that Elim churches in Italy continue to grow and develop.
Throughout our 30 years, various national and international speakers who have visited us at conferences and seminars have brought encouragement to the pastors of our movement, guided by the Holy Spirit. That includes Elim UK pastors, including Brian Edwards, Gordon Hills, Wynne Lewis, Geoff Feasey, Phil Niblett and Chris Cartwright.
In 2014 we obtained important recognition as an ‘Ente di Culto’ (which means Ecclesiastical Institution) by the Presidency of the Council in Italy. That means our member churches – which are bound by the same communion of faith and doctrine based on the Scriptures, Articles of Faith and doctrinal guidelines – can now enjoy the benefits of being associated with a recognised body, but at the same time maintain their independence when it comes to their government and assets.
Tell us about some of the things Elim Italy has been working on recently.
We’ve started a number of new departments in recent years. These include:
• Elim Bible School – this is Italy’s first online Bible School and we launched it with the aim of training ministers and deacons in order to grow and develop the body of Christ.
• Elim Young – our youth department, which runs events and activities for young people because we believe God has a special interest in this generation.
• Sunday School – where we help churches run great children’s programmes.
• Missions – through which we identify and organise projects focused on
missionary activity in Italy and abroad, create training opportunities, plan trips and train believers who feel the call to active commitment in mission.
• Community Camps – which organises camping trips for teenagers, young people and families in three different locations in Italy.
• Family Department – through which we support local churches who want help to uphold family principles through dedicated meetings and seminars.
How big is Elim Italy today?
Elim in Italy is one of the most important evangelical Pentecostal movements in the nation. We have more than 190 members, including pastors, elders and mission leaders, and about 130 churches of which around 40, affiliated with a fraternal fellowship agreement, come from the Church of Pentecost and True Light Pentecostal Missions movements here.
We’re also part of the Pentecostal European Fellowship.
Elim Churches in Italy today is a recognised and booming movement. We’re grateful to the Lord for how he continues to guide every project and activity for the edification and fellowship of our pastors and member churches, and for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
With the Apostle Paul we want to declare, ‘Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind’ (Philippians 3:16, NKJV).
