Giovanni is from Messina and Hannah is from Nottingham (UK) but they both now live in the province of Siena. They have been serving the Lord in GBU since 2006, working actively among students. They also serve in their local church in Siena. They both enjoy travelling, good cuisine, watching movies together (but not always agreeing on the same film!). They have three children: Isabella (2012), Luca (2013) and Giorgia (2015).
Chris (English) and Elisabetta (Italian, from Trieste) have been serving GBU since December 2009. Between the both of them, they have attended universities in Cambridge, London, Goteborg (Sweden) and Belfast and are now very happy to be here in Italy in the same context, doing the most important thing one could ever do in a university: share the gospel of Jesus. They got married in 2002 and have two lovely children: Shona (2008) and Pietro (2010).
Chris (English) and Elisabetta (Italian, from Trieste) have been serving GBU since December 2009. Between the both of them, they have attended universities in Cambridge, London, Goteborg (Sweden) and Belfast and are now very happy to be here in Italy in the same context, doing the most important thing one could ever do in a university: share the gospel of Jesus. They got married in 2002 and have two lovely children: Shona (2008) and Pietro (2010).
Lorens was born in Stockholm in 1980. When he was a child he moved to Italy with his parents, both former missionaries of “Christ is the Answer.” He graduated in Electronic Engineering, from the Polytechnic University of Turin and has worked in the Aerospace field as an Avionics System Engineer. Beside engineering, he is also passionate about music, art and poetry.
His interest in the Christian faith began in his teenage years, leading him to accept Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour at the age of 18. Since then, his first priority has been to grow in his knowledge of the Bible and serve God in a practical way, especially through evangelism and mission. He discovered GBU at the end of his university career but has been involved with it since then, benefitting from biblical training and the many friendships made. His desire is to now give something back by serving GBU on a local and national level.
Lorens attends an AG church in Turin and, as well as GBU, is involved with other missionary organizations such as Operation World Italia and The Gideons International.
Emanuela was born in Alessandria in 1967, where she lived until 1999, the year she married Emanuele. They now live in Alpignano, near the city of Turin, and attend “Il Faro” church in Avigliana, together with their little daughter Alessandra.
Emanuela works as a nurse in the operating room at the Istituto per la Ricerca e la Cura del Cancro del Piemonte (Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Piedmont) in Candiolo, near Turin.
It’s impossible to pinpoint an exact moment in which she gave her life to Christ and likewise regarding her involvement in the GBU. Instead, it has been a journey characterised by growth and God-guided decisions, with the help and support of many friends she has met through GBU.
Davide is from the Italian region of Puglia, where he was born in 1970, but has spent more than half his life in Rome and so he also feels Roman by adoption.
His degree program involved the study of the relationship between faith, religion and culture from anethno-anthropological perspective. During his university years, Davide began to serve the GBU in Rome, subsequently becoming a Staff Worker and working with the GBU group at La Sapienza whilst overseeing the running of the Sala di Lettura GBU (the GBU Reading Room).
He has been part of the National Board since 2010, succeeding Giorgio Borla as Chairman in 2015.
Davide works for a multinational organization that produces medical and surgical equipment and software for the treatment of patients affected by neurological and heart diseases or other critical conditions. His job has made him more sensitive to people in this condition and expose him daily to pain and suffering and the treatments available.
Luisa was born in Rome and later moved to Florence, where she feels at home. She had always known about GBU, but her personal experience with the association began in 1997, when she first joined the GBU in Florence. Luisa began working with GBU as a volunteer in 2007, helping to organise the Student Conference, and since then has been involved in the organization of national events whilst occasionally lending a helping hand with translation.
She has been Head of the National Office since October 2010.
Johan was born in Sweden in 1970. In 1982, after having lived in England for a few years, he moved to Italy, at the age of 11. Since then, he has lived, studied and now works in Florence.
Having graduated in Telecommunications Engineering in Florence he set up his own business and works part-time for GBU.
He chose to follow Jesus when he was about 7 years old… pretty young, one might say, but he is still living up to the choice he made! He attends the Brethren Church, in Florence.
He married Paola in 2003 and they have two children: Matteo (2009) and Anna Karin (2011).
Johan has been involved in the GBU ministry since 1993, the same year he began studying at university.
