Elim Italy founders in 1993

30th Anniversary and counting

Elim Italy marks its 30th anniversary and we asked the movement’s president Pastor Samuele Pellerito to guide us through its biggest milestones so far

How did Elim Italy start?

Elim Italy began on 6 Sept 1993 (the founders are pictured above) . It was started by seven pastors who were motivated by the idea of bringing pastors and churches together who wanted to cultivate fellowship with one another. They signed the act to establish the ‘Elim Churches in Italy’ association, then on 17 March 1994 the association joined Elim Pentecostal Churches.

The founders were driven by a desire and goal that still animates us today – that the movement could be an ‘Elim’ – a place of refuge, refreshment and spiritual renewal for all pastors and churches involved. This would be a place in which the Holy Spirit could move freely and in power in all communities via preaching based on the authoritative Word of God.

How has Elim Italy developed over the years?

We’ve had three presidents: Pastor Giuseppe Piccolo, who held the presidency from 1993 to 2014, Pastor Giuseppe Croce, president from 2014 to 2018, and me – I’ve been president since 2018. We’ve all worked with successive Executive Committees with love and dedication, making sure that Elim churches in Italy continue to grow and develop.

Throughout our 30 years, various national and international speakers who have visited us at conferences and seminars have brought encouragement to the pastors of our movement, guided by the Holy Spirit. That includes Elim UK pastors, including Brian Edwards, Gordon Hills, Wynne Lewis, Geoff Feasey, Phil Niblett and Chris Cartwright.

In 2014 we obtained important recognition as an ‘Ente di Culto’ (which means Ecclesiastical Institution) by the Presidency of the Council in Italy. That means our member churches – which are bound by the same communion of faith and doctrine based on the Scriptures, Articles of Faith and doctrinal guidelines – can now enjoy the benefits of being associated with a recognised body, but at the same time maintain their independence when it comes to their government and assets.

Tell us about some of the things Elim Italy has been working on recently.

We’ve started a number of new departments in recent years. These include:

• Elim Bible School – this is Italy’s first online Bible School and we launched it with the aim of training ministers and deacons in order to grow and develop the body of Christ.
• Elim Young – our youth department, which runs events and activities for young people because we believe God has a special interest in this generation.
• Sunday School – where we help churches run great children’s programmes.
• Missions – through which we identify and organise projects focused on missionary activity in Italy and abroad, create training opportunities, plan trips and train believers who feel the call to active commitment in mission.
• Community Camps – which organises camping trips for teenagers, young people and families in three different locations in Italy.
• Family Department – through which we support local churches who want help to uphold family principles through dedicated meetings and seminars.

How big is Elim Italy today?

Elim in Italy is one of the most important evangelical Pentecostal movements in the nation. We have more than 190 members, including pastors, elders and mission leaders, and about 130 churches of which around 40, affiliated with a fraternal fellowship agreement, come from the Church of Pentecost and True Light Pentecostal Missions movements here.

We’re also part of the Pentecostal European Fellowship.

Elim Churches in Italy today is a recognised and booming movement. We’re grateful to the Lord for how he continues to guide every project and activity for the edification and fellowship of our pastors and member churches, and for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.

With the Apostle Paul we want to declare, ‘Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind’ (Philippians 3:16, NKJV).

General Superintendent joins Elim in Italy annual conference

Elim Italy celebrated it’s 30th anniversary during its National Convention this month in Montesilvano Lido. Ahead of attending as the key- note speaker, UK General Superintendent Chris Cartwright congratulated the movement on its milestone.

“I am delighted to be joining Elim in Italy for their annual conference from 31 May to 3 June as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the movement. I will be speaking at the conference and bringing the love and prayers of Elim UK to our ministers, members and churches there, encouraging them to believe for an even greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power to equip them for the season ahead.

“I had the privilege of visiting the Elim in Italy Conference in 1995, just a few years in as the new movement was ‘spreading ’. Accompanying our then GS Wynne Lewis to Sicily, we saw first-hand this new movement , full of faith for church planting, passionate in worship and courageous and creative in evangelism and outreach.

“Under the leadership of Pastor Giuseppe Piccolo, whose church in Milan became a centre for Elim’s initial growth and development, Elim in Italy grew rapidly.

“Today, Elim in Italy has well over 100 churches from the north to the south of this beautiful and historic land. It is a vibrant and fruitful part of our ongoing Elim Global family.

Under the leadership of President Dr Leonardo Samuele Pellerito and the Executive Committee, Elim in Italy is looking outward and looking forward to continue in its objective to reach the nation with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“We give thanks for what God has done over the past 30 years and pray the Lord will unite our hearts together in even greater partnership for the sake of the gospel in the years to come.

This article first appeared in the June 2023 edition of Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

Enjoy this article? Don't forget to share