...because it's when ideas are formed that direct the decisions people make for the rest of their lives. Students are out on their own and in many cases, for the first time they are thinking about what they believe and why.

There are 57,000 college students at the University of Florence and virtually none are involved in campus ministries. In fact, virtually none of them follow Jesus or even know someone who truly follows Jesus.

We want to meet them at the intersection: The point at which their life intersects with Jesus Christ.

You might ask, “Isn’t Italy a Christian country?” It is a commonly held belief that Italy is a Christian country, but actually most Italians are only Catholic in name. We've met many students in Italy who claim to be Catholic, yet when you ask them what they really believe, they seem to be more of an atheist. They seem to be catholic by birth-right, yet atheist in their life philosophy.

As a result of pervasive post-modern thought, many Italians, particularly college students, are atheists (disbelief in the existence of God), nihilists (literally, means belief in nothing) or humanists (belief that man is the measure of all things). We believe that there is a God who is personal and knowable; we would like to introduce Italian students to the God who has changed our lives.

Florence has been a center of influence in areas ranging from art to thought, since it was settled in the first century B.C.

Tracing its roots back to 1321, the University of Florence has a long standing tradition of excellence and the free exchange of ideas. Additionally, because of its status as a destination, Florence attracts college students from all over the world.   Simply put, we want to do college ministry so we have to go where college students are and where the need is great. Therefore, Florence is the place.