Hiding from the rain in Northern Italy

Padova is a beautiful city in northern Italy with a history so rich and deep that it makes Boston look like a freshly minted US State Quarter. Its old buildings and curvy narrow streets all collide into one another at odd angles, telling the story of a city that has seen many generations of all types of people.  When views of the skyline appear, two large cathedrals tower above the old city center.  Students of all backgrounds and nationalities crowd the sidewalks on bikes, scooters, and feet, in a rush to get to lectures, exams, and coffee.  The city is alive with sounds, smells, and the warmth of humanity.

This is the city that I am going to.  This is the city that I will be serving in.  I have heard God’s call for me, and I am on my way.  There are days when I ask God, “how?”, and there are days when I ask God, “why?”, but there is something that I know for certain: that God has called me and that I am going.

I will be going to Padova to work with Padova International Christian Fellowship (PICF) in starting an International Master’s Commission.  It will be a place where students can devote a year of their lives to God as they serve in Christian ministry at PIMC, study the Bible with fellow believers, and spend time in daily devotion and spiritual enrichment.  It will be an opportunity to leave home and comfort zones behind in pursuit of intimacy with God and bold evangelism in a foreign country. It will be a program for those who feel called to missions and those who feel called by God but don’t know where or what.  It will have an academics program that will work to build a firm Biblical foundation for the mind.  It will be a place of change as we let God move and simply join in what He is doing.

When I am going? Although I had hoped to be in Italy sometime this year, once again my schedule is getting pushed back. At this point in time I am not sure when I will move to Italy. As soon as I know more concrete times I will be sure to update this page.

What can You do? Pray. Pray and ask God how you can be a part of His call on my life.  Lift up the preparations and the support.  Pray for me as I seek to uncover where God has me for the current time, and God to lead me as I seek to follow Him.

I am so excited about what God is doing and how He is going to show up through this call that He has put on my heart!  Please check back for updates as God unfolds his plans.

jacob kobernik