The Scorsones

Nicola and Lina Scorsone – Evangelizing and ministering in Ribera.

Nicola was raised in a Christian family. His father was one of the pioneers to bring the Gospel to Sicily. He helped to establish ten churches and Bible study groups. Even though Nicola grew up knowing about God, he decided to follow the world when he became an adult.

In his own words, “Even though I would have what the world would call “a good time” carousing, once I got home and turned off the lights, I felt the pain of that empty life every time. My life was lived between church and the world. Every time I got home, the emptiness and anguish would oppress me. Why wasn’t I happy? I believed in the Bible, from the first page to the last, but I wasn’t satisfied. I finally discovered why I wasn’t happy, because Jesus, the true life, wasn’t in my heart.”

At the age of 23 a promise came to his heart. A promise from Jesus, “If you look for Me, you will find Me” (Matthew 7:7-8). Nicola decided, “If that’s what He said, then I will not stop until I find Him.”

Nicola says, “I saw my heart as being a garage full of junk, so much so that the door could not be opened. So I threw out everything and asked Jesus to come into my heart. Finally I was happy.  It is true, without Jesus life is not worth living; with Jesus you can live life (John 4:13-14).”

Of the many friends that he made out there in the world, one accepted the Lord. They opened a garage together where they manufactured steel and aluminum doors. This friend married Nicola’s sister. They went from being friends, to becoming brothers-in-Christ, then partners, and finally brothers-in-law.

For 6 years Nicola worked in that garage. In the meantime, the Lord was  working in his heart. He would  travel all over Sicily seeing many towns without a Gospel witness, and ask himself, “Who will bring the Gospel to this town?”  So one day he left the garage. He made plans to serve the Lord on the ship Doulos with Operation Mobilization, but the Lord decided otherwise. “We make plans that seem good, but the Lord has better plans for us” (Proverbs 16:1,3,9 paraphrased).

The lost souls of Sicily weighed heavily on his heart. His wife Lina heard the Gospel from a man named Salvatore. Seeing her in a moment of sorrow and desperation he asked her, “How are you”? She answered, “How do you think? At least the trees are living; I am not living at all.” Little by little Salvatore shared Christ with her, and she accepted the Lord.

Together they began their service to our King. God gave them two beautiful children; their daughter, Shanizee and son, Raf. It hasn’t been easy. They call their lives in God’s service, “Our Adventure with Jesus.” Like in Ezekiel 16:1-14, they can sing Hallelujah to Him. The Lord has been faithful.  When in need, He has provided. His promises are true. For more about the Scorsone family ministry, click here.