Giuseppe and Pennie Collesano 

  

 

Giuseppe was born and raised in Castelbuono, Sicily. He was raised as a Roman Catholic but (as most Italians) his religious faith brought him to church only during special holidays, weddings, and funerals. He had never heard of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

In 1973, through the work of missionaries in Italy, Giuseppe accepted Christ as his personal Savior. He was baptized soon after. He soon began witnessing to his friends and family and began working with a church planting team. He continued in this calling for five years; during that time, he helped to establish three churches that are still growing today.

 

In 1980 he graduated from the Italian Bible Institute's two year program. Upon gaduation, he served as an intern with a Swiss missionary for six months, once again helping with church planting.

 

Giuseppe moved to Troy, Michigan in 1980 where he married his wife Pennie whom he had met while she was serving at the Italian Bible Institute. Giuseppe studied English and joined Woodside Bible Church. Over his years there he served on the Mission Board, as Youth Pastor, taught Sunday School, and filled other ministry needs as well.

 

He began pursuing his calling as missionary by serving on several short-term mission teams.

 

Pennie was born and raised in Troy, Michigan. At the age of 11, Pennie gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized at 13. In 1968, Pennie became a member at Woodside Bible Church. She graduated from Cedarville University in 1977.

 

Missions soon became a vital part of her life. In 1978, following her graduation, she worked with Trans World Radio and then with the Greater European Mission at the Italian Bible Institute for two years. She studied Italian at the University of Florence. In 1981 she returned to Troy where she married Giuseppe. She too has served on short-term mission teams and completed a missionary internship in Farmington Hills, MI. After getting married, she served with Giuseppe on a church planting team in Italy from 1984 to 1988.

 

During that time, while she continued to minister to women in the community (as well as encouraging fellow missionaries) her primary responsibility was raising their three children, Josh, Cristina, and Benjamin. She is now active in teaching Sunday School to middle-school students, as well as leading a women's Bible study.

 

Click here for more photos and to read about the Collesano's Mission Outreach.