By Jonathan Gilmore

Just picture it: basking on a golden-sandy beach drenched in gloriously hot sun; before you the clear shimmering blue-green waters of the Mediterranean. An idyllic vacation with little else to do but soak up the sun.

Italy - land of sea, land of sun.

Easy to forget, then, that, say to say, Italy actually has little of the Son.

Easy to think of Italy as land of history, a place to visit, good food and sport...and much else beside, yet a land engulfed in deep darkness.

Post-Christianized, post-modern, relativistic, consumerist values (or lack of them) have a stranglehold on most Italians.

Don't forget that even the most optimistic figures suggest no more than 1% born-again Christians. Lots of sun, but no Son.

• - Gianni is in his early twenties. Much exposure to the Son has been met with indifference and apathy. Now he worships fun and sun, but no Son.
• - Marco is also in his early twenties. Growing dissatisfaction with Christianity resulted in interest with occultism. Now he is one of a growing number of Satanists. Transgressive practices, a search for a ‚Äòhigh' - no Son.
• - Francesca is a practicing church-goer. Several times a week she attends mass. She is also happy to attend an Evangelical church where she enjoys the warm atmosphere and the singing. She's a ‚Äòsympathizer'. "Catholicism's ok." she says. Jesus, Mary, the saints, the Pope, sacramental salvation - religion, but no Son.

The challenge of Italy today is bringing the Son to this wonderful, yet dark land.

The Son who brings a radical change of mindset and life-style. Who brings light and does not co-habit with darkness.

Praise God for a growing missional vision - Christians who take the Son into the work-place, school, and family environment.

• - Salvo preferred to lose a good job rather than give in to dishonest practices.
• - Rosa courageously publicly shared her faith in the Son at her final state-exams.
• - Maria found the Son and her personal testimony was so radiant that more than a dozen family members were touched and themselves believed.

But the opportunities and needs remain great and almost overwhelming.

• - 2.6 million Foreigners live in Italy; many come from ‚Äòclosed' lands. Who will bring them to the Son?
• - Spirituality is increasingly popular as itching ears eagerly seek prophets and gurus. How will they hear?
• - The universities remain woefully dark - no Son. Who will go there?

Pray that the Italian church might be strong and encouraged.

• - the enemy's strategy of division, scandals ‚Äòlittle picture' is effective
• - mission is still generally thought of as being something to be done later, when the time is more appropriate (four months....)

Still today, Italy is a land for a vacation. Many have taken it off the ‘mission-map'. Put it back! Now more than ever we have the opportunity, responsibility and challenge of bringing the Son to Italy. Come on a Gospel-holiday. Build up a local church with your encouraging presence and care. Make a weekend trip to visit a struggling missionary. ‘Retire' here! So many possibilities.

May the Son shine in the land of the sun!