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Samuel McIntyre

I can’t believe how generous Jesus has been to me! I became a follower of Jesus early at school in Australia – he transformed me and took away my big reasons to fear eternity and death.

After wrestling through big questions while studying philosophy and law, Jesus still persuades me that he is good and trustworthy – the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords – so now I want to worship him and share his huge love.

My Nonna lived across the road growing up (she is one of my closest friends). When I finished university in 2024 I wanted to come to Italy where she grew up to learn more from the GBU staff Simon and Jess Cowell and their kids about what it means to follow Him.

I Praise God daily for how he has provided for me to do this through generous Australians. I’m a bit clumsy, so have had to learn to laugh. I love chatting about philosophy and science! I’m still learning to love sundried tomatoes.

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Zach Taylor

Hi! I’m Zach and I’m from Leeds, England. I was very blessed to grow up in a Christian family and started following Jesus for myself at around twelve years old.

Before coming to Rome in September 2024, I studied History of Art at the University of Birmingham. During that time, I was very involved in the Christian Union (the equivalent of GBU in the UK) and through the support and training of
older Christians, God helped me grow in my love for Him and my confidence in sharing the gospel.

I graduated in 2023 and spent the last year as a Relay worker with UCCF, helping students in Birmingham to share their faith. Over the past year, my heart for world mission has greatly increased and when I heard about the opportunity to come and work with GBU through IFES InterAction I was really excited!

Now that I have arrived in Rome, I’m learning to depend on God in a new way with the practical challenges of living in a new country for the first time but I’m so grateful God’s provision of very kind friends and colleagues. I’m already learning much from Italian believers and so far I’ve greatly enjoyed meeting the students in GBU Roma, and I’m looking forward to helping them share the gospel through Bible studies and outreach on campus. I have a strong love for art and I’m excited
about the opportunities to help students engage with Italy’s rich art history as a starting point for talking about the gospel.

In my times of rest, I enjoy painting, cooking (and eating!) and going for walks in the countryside.

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Katie Bouckley

Katie has moved to Italy from the UK this year to work alongside international students in Turin.

She studied Creative and Professional Writing at Bangor University in Wales (2019-2022). For the past year she has been serving as a student worker with UCCF (British GBU) in Glasgow.

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Valentina Ferraris

Valentina was born in Asti and from a young age begins to devote herself to three great passions: studying literature and history, singing, and reading the Bible. At the age of 14 she decides to follow Jesus and from that moment began a journey of growth and continuous discoveries that still fills her life.

A lover of Latin and ancient Greek, she studies Classical Literature at the University of Turin and in 2018 begins attending regular meetings of the GBU group in the same city. The GBU’s mission involves her more and more, until she works as the group’s coordinator between 2020 and 2021.

She receives her master’s degree in April 2022 and, in the same year, she also starts working as a teacher at secondary schools and gets married in July. Once she finishes her studies, however, she wants to continue her contribution in the GBU-she has learned so much through the GBU that she feels she wants to serve God in this area. She therefore decides to begin the path of staff in training in Turin.

In addition to her involvement with the GBU, Valentina is also involved in service at her home church, where she is in charge of leading worship and youth group. She also still cultivates her passion for singing by singing in a Christian-based gospel choir, the By faith.

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Rebecca Iacone

Rebecca was born and raised in Naples in a Christian family, but decided to follow Jesus during her teenage years.

During her studies she worked with GBU in Naples, an experience that made her realize the importance and urgency of sharing the Gospel with other students. In 2022, she graduated in Specialist Translation and began working with GBU as Staff in training. Her desire is to encourage and help students to share Jesus
in the context in which God has placed them.

Since 2017, she has been working with the youth ministry of her local church

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Hannah Fairclough

Jason and Hannah are Australians from the most remote city in the world; Perth (what most people call “the other side of Australia”). During high school Hannah did two exchanges to Italy, not knowing that God would later make use of these experiences. Both Jason & Hannah were part of Christian student groups like GBU while studying at university and found the experience transformative for their walk with Jesus. Both of them are convinced that sharing about Jesus at university is a great privilege!

They are in Florence serving university students. They aim to train, equip, and stand alongside Christian students as together we share the gospel on Italian university campuses. They long to see more Italians working together in the one Spirit to proclaim the gospel on campus and beyond.

They have three children: Elena (2018), Samuel (2020), and Miriam (2022).

Jason loves walking in nature, passing time with friends (including students!) and visiting the park with his children.

Hannah loves cooking, having guests, singing and creating with the kids.

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Jason Fairclough

Jason and Hannah are Australians from the most remote city in the world; Perth (what most people call “the other side of Australia”). During high school Hannah did two exchanges to Italy, not knowing that God would later make use of these experiences. Both Jason & Hannah were part of Christian student groups like GBU while studying at university and found the experience transformative for their walk with Jesus. Both of them are convinced that sharing about Jesus at university is a great privilege!

They are in Florence serving university students. They aim to train, equip, and stand alongside Christian students as together we share the gospel on Italian university campuses. They long to see more Italians working together in the one Spirit to proclaim the gospel on campus and beyond.

They have three children: Elena (2018), Samuel (2020), and Miriam (2022).

Jason loves walking in nature, passing time with friends (including students!) and visiting the park with his children.

Hannah loves cooking, having guests, singing and creating with the kids.

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Marianna Rinaldi

My name is Marianna Rinaldi, I am a former student from Milan. I graduated in Planning and Management of Social Policies and Services.

Thanks to the work of some students at my university, I have seen the GBU come to life and grow with a power and richness that I rarely had the grace to experience.

This work has allowed me to discover how there is nothing more fascinating or attractive than the person of the Lord Jesus, known in his word, accessible to every person, and therefore to every student.

That is why today, as a former student, I want to continue to support this very special mission.

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Cristiano Meregaglia

Cristiano is a former student from Milan. Proud to be a Milanese doc (a very rare category), he graduated from his hometown with a degree in philosophy in 2020.

Raised with believing parents, he attended church from an early age but only encountered God’s grace in a personal way in his late teens.

Determined not to miss any more opportunities, he met and worked with the GBU at his university during his undergraduate years and discovered a passion for proclaiming the gospel to students and friends.
Having experienced the beauty and effectiveness of GBU, he is now eager to help new students carry on the mission at the university.

Alice Larke
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Alice Assis dos Reis (Larke)

Alice came to Italy from the UK two years ago to work with International students in Turin, only for one year.

But recently she decided to stay and serve in Italy for 3-5 more years.

Before this, Alice studied music at the Royal Holloway University of London (2014-2018) and served as working student with UCCF in London for one year.