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Recruitment · Launching September 2026
Join the
mission.
The first ICOC church planting in Italy in 30 years. We're looking for people willing to move to Bologna to plant a new Chiesa di Cristo together.
The city
Bologna — La Grassa, La Dotta, La Rossa.
Known as La Grassa (the fat), La Dotta (the learned), and La Rossa (the red), Bologna is a city of immense historical, intellectual, and culinary significance. Located just 2 hours south-east of Milan, it is the seventh largest city in Italy. The Università di Bologna, the oldest university in continuous operation, has over 80,000 students and is a crossroads of Italy.
While the city is famous for its miles of UNESCO-protected porticoes and rich culinary traditions, there remains a significant spiritual hunger. We see Bologna not just as a beautiful destination, but as a gateway where the gospel can take root and flourish in a modern, urban population.
Our story & mission
The first ICOC church planting in Italy in 30 years.
La Chiesa di Cristo di Bologna is the first ICOC planting in Italy in 30 years. We invite you to partner with us through prayer, financial support, or by joining our team as we step into this new chapter of ministry. With God's help, we can bring the light of the Gospel to a city that has shaped history for centuries.
Our journey began with prayer and fasting in early 2025, as disciples from the Chiesa di Cristo di Milano began dreaming of the next Italian church. Led by two native-born Italians, with the support of the European Missions Society, our group has grown to include eight disciples from Milan and various US churches.
We set our hearts on Bologna because of its massive university population and its proximity to our sister church in Milan. Throughout the spring of 2026, our team is meeting to build relationships and navigate the logistics of housing and visas.
God willing, September 2026 will bring the first services for this new family of disciples.
Who we're looking for
Five types of missionaries for September 2026.
We're seeking people willing to move to Bologna this September to join our community in loving God, one another, and our neighbors.
Italians
Bring the gospel to your homeland. If you're Italian and feel called home, there's a place for you.
Students
Start a campus ministry during a year of study abroad in Bologna, a city of over 80,000 students.
Retirees
Individuals or couples ending their profession but continuing their commission. A new season of service.
Digital nomads
Use your professional freedom to serve one another humbly in love, working remotely from the heart of Bologna.
One Year Challengers
If you have the savings and are willing to spend a year serving God on this planting, we'd love to have you!
How to apply
Fill out the form on the right.
If you feel called to join us, please complete the interest form. As part of the process, we'll ask for:
- A short video introducing yourself and sharing why you want to participate in this planting.
- A letter of support from your current minister, elder, or church leadership.
Have further questions before applying? Reach out:
tristen.sleeper@gmail.comOther ways to support
If moving isn't your path, you can still walk with us.
Pray
Starting a new church is bigger than any of our talents. Please pray that we can successfully get jobs, housing, and visas to be present. Pray that we develop a loving community and that God blesses us to share it with others.
Spread the word
Tell others about this church planting. Their prayers are precious too. And maybe, for one of them, this is just the opportunity God is moving them towards.
A promise
"No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light."
— Luke 8:16