GENOVA, Italy – Team Italy One has officially landed in Genova, Italy. Phil and Donna Pace and their family traveled to Italy on October 31, the final members of Team Italy One to arrive on the field.

The team has been deploying over the last few months, and the Paces join Tim and Amee Kroeker, Andrew and Natalie Debelak, Sheila Busenitz, Dustin Mahoney and Alicia Kliewer. In the weeks to come, team members will search for lodging and start language classes.

As the first Short-Cycle Church Planting® team in Italy, Team Italy One seeks to plant an Italian-led church in the city of Genova. In November, they will kick off an initiative to share the gospel with 100 Italians in 100 days. This is an exciting goal that shows the passionate nature of the team, said Scott Harris, vice president of field ministries.

"This team is filled with gifted people who are extremely passionate about reaching the lost and who have set the bar very high in terms of their goals,” said Harris. “We could see some very exciting things develop."

Genova has a population of 800,000 people, yet few evangelical churches exist in the city. Team Italy One hopes that a church plant will invigorate the gospel witness in Genova, which is a busy port city as well as a center of immigration.