Spreading the Biblical Eldership Message in Italy
Rod Jones is a third-generation missionary who was raised in central Africa and has been serving the Lord for 35 years in Naples, Italy, the home of Mount Vesuvius and the birthplace of the beloved pizza.
At a young age, Rod experienced the peace of Christ in a war-torn country and grew up to emulate his parents’ faith. He moved to Naples in 1986 to serve full time in church planting, Bible teaching, and training.
When Alex Strauch came to Italy as a conference speaker several years ago, Rod connected with him and began overseeing the translation of BER material into Italian.
Get to know Rod, his multicultural family, and the ministry work he’s been doing in Italy.
How did you come to Christ?
I was born in D.R. Congo, a missionary child, a few months before the country gained its independence. A few years of political upheaval and war followed. As a young child growing up in this environment, I was very much drawn to Christ through my parents living out and demonstrating their confident and peaceful trust in Christ. I put my own trust personally in Jesus Christ as a young child and have had no reason to look back since!
Tell us about your family, where you all are from, and how you met your wife.
My father is from North London, and my mother was born and brought up in Central Africa, a child of Scottish missionaries.
I lived in D.R. Congo and Zimbabwe until the age of 18, when I moved to Scotland to study engineering. I worked as an engineer in Scotland and South Africa before studying at London School of Theology, where I made my first links with Italy and met my wife, Debora.
Debora, was born to a German/Dutch father and Italian mother in Vietnam, where she lived until the family moved to Malaysia. After finishing school, she moved to England, where she came to know the Lord during her studies in law at Exeter University. We met at London School of Theology (then LBC). I finished studying there and began serving on mission in Naples, Italy. It didn’t take us long to realize we shared the same vision, and we were married the following year in 1988.
We have two sons, who are both living as committed Christians. Nathan is working as an engineer near Milan, and Micael is studying at Bath University in England.
What did your parents do to teach you about God and help you develop a relationship with Him?
My parents’ lives were exemplary for me. I was brought up with a daily family relationship with the Lord in family devotions and life. Their commitment to serve the Lord and His people was clearly evident thought their lives. This was a vivid example to me of a normative Christian life. I thank the Lord for that.
From your experience, what advice do you have for men who are balancing marriage and fatherhood with ministry work?
Being called to serve in Christian ministry, full time or not, involves being willing to sacrifice, particularly time. However, where quantity of time may lack, quality can make all the difference! As a child I was sent off for long periods to boarding school, but my parents did not fail to use well the time that we did have together to love, care, and train up their children. Debora and I, too, attest that the sacrifices made are not at all deleterious if the focus is kept on the relationship with Christ as a family.
Of all the ministry work you’ve done so far, which aspects have been the most enjoyable and fulfilling for you? Which have been the most challenging?
Without doubt, some of the most fulfilling times are when, being used in some way to bring the gospel into people’s lives, we see up close repentance, joy, forgiveness, restoration, and the hope that results from it.
The most challenging is when the contrary happens—when times of conflict, resistance, accusation, and falsehood, which cause so much anguish and pain, seem to cast a pall over what we have in Christ.
Of all the places you’ve lived, which is your favorite?
That is a hard question! I have lived in a lot of places. Africa, the land of my early years, has a special place in my heart. However, having lived for over 30 years in the Naples area, I treasure this as a special corner of God’s world!
How did you get involved with BER?
It started with inviting Alex Strauch to speak at our national elders’ conference here in Italy some years back. From there, I was in contact with Chuck Gianotti and have since been overseeing the translation of the resources on BiblicalEldership.com. I have been using and promoting them here to train leaders in local churches throughout Italy and wherever Italian is spoken.
How can our readers pray for you and your ministry?
Please pray that the BER resources that are available will be well received by church leaders, that we will be able to continue to good effect in the Italian translation and voice-overs for the video resources, and that we will have the necessary support for their implementation.