SICILY

Our Story (the quick version)

In the summer of 2008 while Andrew was working as a Fire Fighter in Sioux Falls, SD, we felt God calling us to missions in Europe. After a season of prayer and confirmation, we responded to that call and began the process of preparing for ministry overseas. We moved our family to Waco, Texas to attend a discipleship training school, church planting school and go on several missions trips in and out of the country. In February of 2015, we were sent out by Antioch Ministries International (AMI) to Budapest, Hungary.  

During our 15 months in Budapest we welcomed our fourth child, Summer, worked with a local Hungarian church, and found ourselves in the middle of the Syrian refugee crisis, God asked us again to take a step of faith and return to the States. Laying down our dream at hand, we moved back to work on the family farm, trusting that God would resurrect the call of overseas missions if that was His will. 

About a year later, God put Sicily and the refugee ministry there on our hearts so strongly that it couldn't be ignored.  Again with much thought and prayer we have joined Team Sicily working with the Ballard family out of Waypoint Church in Omaha, Nebraska. Team Sicily has been working for 5 years establishing life and work in Catania, Sicily where we, the Bissons, get to join them!

What is happening there?

Church Planting

In the past several years many European nations have found themselves in the middle of a massive refugee crisis.  With the ongoing conflicts in Northern Africa and the Middle East, there has been a steadily grouping influx of refugees fleeing their home countries and looking for a better life in Europe.  In 2017 alone Italy saw 119,000 refugees come with an estimated 3,000 people who were reported dead or missing.  In response to the influx of refugees, the Waypoint team, along with our partners, serve the people taking refuge in the city.  In both practical and spiritual ways, we love these people and introduce them to a loving God and the hope found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Italian Church

After our team leaders arrived in Sicily they were quickly invited into a local Italian church and a mission community serving the poor called Jesus Generation.  These two communities quickly became family for the Waypoint team and were an amazing resource to help them adjust to the new culture and get the mission on its feet.  The Italian church continues to be a crucial part of the ministry happening there.


Missions Teams & Training

One of the original strategies of the Waypoint team was to receive short-term missions teams from abroad to join in the work happening in Sicily.  In the past 3 years they have received 19 teams and nearly 300 guests from 22 nations who have come to partner with them in mission.  In doing this, they were not only able to further the mission of church planting in Sicily but they also had the opportunity to train and invest in the guests they received.  
In 2016 they received a building from the City of Catania that was transformed into a mission center.  This building is where we will help both serve the refugees and also host a training school where we can expand the opportunities for serving the poor and equipping short-term guests.

Want to Get Involved?
    GIVE

We need help from the body of Christ! Our family lives on 100% financial support from individuals, families and church support.
We are currently needing to raise $5,000 more a month to live and work in Sicily. We also have one-time costs of $45,000 for airplane tickets, a vehicle, moving expenses, house set-up, visas and more.

We would love to ask you to consider joining our support team and help us get fully funded which will enable us to go. We cannot leave the country until we are 100% funded!

You can contact us for more information or give online at waypointomaha.givingfire.com. Choose: one-time or recurring gift. Choose SICILY: BISSON FUND from the dropdown, enter the amount and information and then Donate.
Grazie! (Thank you!)

PRAY
If you would like to support us and the work in Sicily through prayer, we would love to add you to our prayer support team. We will send you regular prayer updates through our newsletter and specific requests as they come. To sign up contact Susan at sbisson@waypoint-intl.com.  If you'd like to receive general updates click this link: http://mailchi.mp/c099857024e4/this-journey-together and hit subscribe at the top of the page.

GO
If you would like to learn more about coming to Sicily to serve as a short-term missionary for 1 week to 1 year, you can contact Andrew at abisson@waypoint-intl.com