Marco had everything he thought he wanted. 

By his late twenties, he was one of the most successful nightclub event organizers in Bologna, Italy, pulling in thousands of euros each night. He had built a life that revolved around indulgence and success. But beneath the glamour, Marco felt empty and depressed. 

Despite his success and the people around him, Marco felt no real joy. He was drowning in the very life he had worked so hard to create.

A cry for help leads to spiritual transformation

One night, Marco fell to his knees and cried out, “God, if you are real, save me!”

At that moment, he felt something shift. For the first time, he felt truly free. But his old life still had a grip on him. He was torn between the pleasures of his past and the new hope stirring in his heart. He felt the weight of sin on him.

The verse Matthew 6:24 convicted him to choose between his old life and the life Christ offered: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

His sister had been praying for him for years and now pointed him toward a church—an Acts 29 church. 

When he finally stepped into that church, everything changed. He expected judgment. Instead, he encountered love. The people welcomed him because he was made in the image of God, not because of what he could offer.

This was the beginning of something new. 

Marco committed to discipleship, starting with a program called “Basics of Faith,” where he learned the core teachings of Christianity. He joined a small group that met to study Scripture, pray, and share meals. 

He was moved by seeing believers face illness, financial hardship, and loss with unwavering faith. When Marco struggled, they stood by him.

A call to church planting

As Marco’s faith deepened, so did his passion for sharing the gospel. He eagerly told others about Christ, but he soon realized that individual evangelism alone wasn’t enough. To truly reach his city, he needed to establish a lasting gospel presence. That’s when he understood that planting a healthy church would be the most effective way to bring transformation to Bologna.

He sought training from his local church. He was mentored by his pastors and eventually completed a rigorous assessment process with Acts 29, confirming his call to plant a church.

In 2021, Marco and a small team planted Nuova Vita Downtown—a church in the heart of Bologna, Italy. 

Their mission was simple: to make Jesus famous in the city center, offering the same love and transformation that had changed Marco’s life. In a city known for its pursuit of pleasure, Marco wanted to show people that true joy is found in Christ.

Marco realized he was putting his background as an event organizer to work in a new way. He created welcoming environments where people could encounter the gospel. His connections helped him find a place for the church to meet, a task often difficult for planters in this region. And his understanding of the city’s culture helped him build relationships and connect with people searching for meaning.

Three years in, the church has grown from a handful of people to nearly forty. And Marco has seen God work in incredible ways:

• A woman who had lost everything—including custody of her child—found community and a new life in Christ. 
• A man from a broken home sought meaning in spirituality and joined the Mormon church. After hearing the true gospel at one of Marco’s events, he left his old beliefs behind and was baptized.

The impact of generosity

Nuova Vita Downtown actively serves the Bologna community. The church builds relationships over meals and cappuccinos and provides practical support to those in need.

Marco is just one example of how God is using Acts 29 churches—and the support of generous donors like you—to transform lives. Once lost in a world of fleeting pleasures, Marco is now leading others into the lasting joy of Christ. 

Bologna is a difficult place for church planting, but Marco isn’t discouraged. He sees the spiritual hunger in his city. He knows that challenges like secularism and political opposition often make gospel conversations difficult. But he also knows the power of the gospel to break through. 

His vision is clear: to see healthy churches planted across the city, each one a beacon of hope.

Marco’s journey started with a single church that welcomed him in and showed him the love of Christ. And now Marco is doing the same for others. 

When we give, when we plant, and when we disciple, we multiply. And stories like Marco’s are just the beginning.