"I was baptized on October 8th, 2009. By then, I was determined and sure of what I wanted, but it actually took me over a year to come to my final decision.
I started studying after the Swiss teen camp I attended in Les Diablerets in August 2008 with the French-speaking kids of the church. During the following winter though, it started getting hard for me and I started losing my faith. I was very sad and I was not doing well in school; my challenges made me doubt and discouraged me to the point I felt I didn’t need God anymore.
Despite all this, I kept doing my Bible studies with my friends in church and with my mum. There are a couple sisters here in Milan who were always so good to me and were my friends since I was old enough to play, talk and go out with them for an ice cream or a movie – they accompanied me all along and I am so grateful for that.
Later on in 2009 I studied the Cross and after that I felt like a new person – the Cross had such a strong impact on me! I now really wanted to learn and change.
We kept studying the Bible and by then it was the summer. I decided to use this vacation time to grow in my relationship with God and in my convictions.
Last August I attended the Chicago teen camp with my sister Erica (who is also studying the Bible now) and that was an amazing experience I will remember forever. The lessons and the love and the prayer by the bonfires really helped me see things differently and have a new perspective.
When we got back I did my last studies, I had some great prayer walks with my mum and a couple good talks with my dad. What really helped me make my decision was the realization that only with God we can make it, that I could not win my difficulties and fears by myself.
I finally was baptized! I felt so good, renewed, clean and fresh.
God is amazing and so good and even though life still has its (big) challenges, I know He will always be by my side.
Ciao,
The Milan Church of Christ in Italy along with the entire Fortina family, rejoiced as we witnessed one of our very own and very first Kingdom Kid baptisms. Kyria Fortina was baptized into Christ Oct. 8, 2009. Kyria is 16 years old and has 2 sisters, Erica and Lara. Erica is 14 and is currently studying the Bible. She has certainly been inspired by her sisters decision to become a Christian.
Kyria's baptism is a great blessing not only for her and her family but also for the Milan church. The church in Milan began as a small mission team planting. Joe and I, Bob and Laurie Tranchell and a group of 18 disciples from all around the kingdom arrived in Milan in November of that year. Since that time the church in Milan has been through many diverse trials and challenges. But despite these difficult times there were always those few but faithful disciples of Jesus that stood strong against Satan's schemes and carried on a "good work" in this large Metropolitan city. One of these faithful families was the Fortina family. Because of their perseverance and love for His Kingdom they have been abundantly blessed!
Despite the fact that it is difficult enough for a teen to become a Christian where there is a teen ministry, but when there is no teen ministry it is a true test of spirituality and love for God. We are very proud of Kyria and her decision to follow God at such a young age. Since Kyria's baptism two other teens have decided to study the Bible and we have several that attend church every Sunday.
The Youth Ministry is well and alive in "LA Chiesa Di Cristo Di Milano"!
Annie Silipo
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