,

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.

,

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

,

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.

,

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.

Shanizee Scorsone

Shanizee is Sicilian. She has always had the Mission at heart and that is why she has been in England for almost 3 years with the vision to equip herself for Christian service and then return to Italy as a missionary. During this time she collaborated for a period with Youth for Christ, studied theology at Moorlands College for a year and is currently the coordinator of the youth ministry in a Baptist church. In the meantime she is also committed to trying to make the British understand that putting pineapple on pizza is wrong, but it seems an impossible mission!

As a university student she has been involved in the GBU, first in Palermo as coordinator and then in Milan where, attending the master’s degree in Pedagogical Sciences, she led and coordinated the rebirth of the local group.

Being part of the GBU was one of the most formative experiences of her life that increased her passion to share Jesus with those around her.

Now her desire is to return to be part of this movement as Staff in Training in Siena, where she will also be involved with the local church in the youth ministry.

The plans are to return to Italy to work with GBU from September 1, 2021.

,

Alice Trinari

Alice was born in Perugia, where she lives for most of her life, except for a brief experience in Alicante, Spain, for her Erasmus program.

When she returnes to Italy she becomes passionate about missions and church planting, serving with the church Il Perugino.

In 2017 she marries Zach (NZ) and in 2018, after their wedding in New Zealand, they decide to return to Italy and move to Pisa, where they currently live. In this same year they are part of the church plant Chiesa La Torre, a small local community of young people and their current church.

After working alongside Zach (GBU staff worker) as a volunteer, she decides to committ officially in student ministry, trusting that the Gospel will powerfully change the lives of Italy’s next generations.

,

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.

,

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
,

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.

Jessica Cowell

Simon and Jessica are Australians; Simon is from Sydney while Jessica is from a small country town 7 hours away (yes, Australia is big!). They met at the University of Sydney while they were part of the campus Christian group there. Simon has a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Jessica in Law.

They work together with GBU Siena, serving university students and also learning Italian language. They are both passionate to see students grow in their faith, whether getting to know Jesus for the first time or deepening their love for Him. They have two gorgeous daughters: Lydia (2014) and Emma (2016).

Jessica loves nothing better than to sit and chat, preferably with a cup of tea.