Lux Evangelica
Ministry Partner: Cesare Albanesi
Genova, Italy
Cesare and Melissa were both born in Rome, Italy. Cesare’s parents got saved when he was one and from that moment on, he attended church regularly and came to be saved at a young age. Melissa was saved when she was nine, and though her family attended an evangelical church for many years, only her mom was saved.
As they grew up, both Cesare and Melissa experienced the negative influence of Catholicism in Rome as they were the only believers in their school. Living in a Catholic country with very few Christians convinced them more and more of the extreme need of the gospel in Italy. As they grew the Lord made their paths cross in 2011. At that time they both had the desire to serve the Lord fully, and Cesare was planning to finish his undergrad studies and move to the States to attend The Master’s Seminary.
After one year of dating, Cesare and Melissa got engaged in 2013, and the following year Cesare moved to the States to start his theological training at The Master’s Seminary, while Melissa was finishing her study in the university of Rome. In 2016 they got married, and Melissa moved to the States with Cesare to support him in his studies. The Lord has blessed their marriage with five children: Michela, Elisa, Gioele, Eliana, and Gabriele.
After graduating from seminary (MDiv 2018, ThM 2021), Cesare and Melissa initially moved back to Rome, Italy, and with the TMAI center there. At the end of 2024, as the TMAI school moved to Genova, God called them to a new city and ministry in a new church, Lux Evangelica. There in Genova they join Matt and Johanna Johnston who planted the church in 2016 and continue to serve with TMAI.
Ministry Focus
Cesare and Melissa’s ministry is divided among the responsibilities with TMAI and Lux Evangelica Church. Cesare serves in the TMAI school as academic dean, head of publishing, and full-time teacher under the direction and leadership of Matt Johnston. Having just moved to a new church Cesare has not yet officially taken any responsibility but is working toward his ordination as future elder of the church.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for the salvation of our five children: Michela, Elisa, Gioele, Eliana, and Gabriele.
- Pray for our ministry with TMAI that God would use us to strengthen the churches in Italy and equip men for ministry.
- Pray for this new chapter of our lives, that we might integrate well in the new church, serve the body in Genova, and be used by God for the strengthening of this church.
How to support us
- Make a one-time or recurring credit card donation to this ministry partner by filling out the form below.
- To set up a monthly direct deposit, print the form and follow its instructions (Use missionary project "Northern Italy Church Strengthening and Training”
- To give by check, send a check payable to "GMI" with "Northern Italy Church Strengthening and Training" on the memo line to 13248 Roscoe Blvd. Sun Valley, CA 91352.
Missionary Videos
https://vimeo.com/504468262/2ac4242c31