After 40 years of ministry in Italy, we asked ourselves, "How can we continue to support the Italian Church and disciple young Christians more effectively?" God gave us the vision for a large multi-purpose training and conference centre  that will help to achieve these goals.

During the summer of 2000 OM Italy leader Sergio Gastaldo Brac visited the small village of Bobbio Pellice, where he was shown the site of an abandoned army post. The ruined barracks, originally built in the mid-30's, hosted the 3rd Alpine Regiment and then the border police until 1944, when it was attacked by partisans. It was subsequently used for military camps and then discarded. The site occupies an area of 8,500 square metres in northwest Italy, close to the French /Italian border and 40 minutes drive from Torino (Turin) international airport. The site seemed the ideal location for a training and conference centre for OM Italy.

A ruin in the green Val Pellice: this was God's answer?

This apparently out-of-the-way area is rich in history. For almost 800 years, these valleys have been home to an evangelical movement that has touched the lives of people across the world.

Despite intense persecution, Waldensian christians settled in these valleys and from here traveled out into other parts of Italy sharing the Gospel message.  They studied the Scriptures continually and worked to translate the Bible into the common languages. Hundreds were martyred as they sought to explain how ordinary people could come into a relationship with God through Jesus' death on the cross.

We dreamed that these valleys would once again be a training ground for missionaries going out to the ends of the world with the gospel.

With the full backing of OM International, we worked to overcome many obstacles. We received tremendous support from the mayor of Bobbio, from the local authorities and from a number of Christian businessmen in the area. Finally, after two years of work and prayer, on May 8th, 2002, we won the right to purchase the entire site.

And on October 30th, 2002 OM Italy purchased the entire property!

Most of the money has been raised from within Italy! The rest of the story has yet to be written. if you want you could be in some chapter! Here's how:

* PRAYING FOR THE CENTRE TO BE COMPLETED
* PROMOTING THE PROJECT IN YOUR COMMUNITY
* HELPING FINANCIALLY
* HELPING PRACTICALLY