What is Avanti Italia?
Avanti Italia. That’s Italian for “Onward Italy,” and it is also the name of a forward-moving mission team composed of college graduates or people of college-graduate age who have devoted two years of their life to spreading the Gospel in Italy regardless of their personal career choices or national origin. Avanti Italia (A.I.) had a forerunner in the 60’s and 70’s, but the new program was initiated in 1986 by Howard and Doris Bybee who continue to work with the program as States side recruiters. Gary and Jennifer Williams direct the team at our home base, the Florence Bible School in Scandicci, Italy, a suburb of Florence. The mission team is sponsored and carefully guided by the College church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, through a subcommittee appointed by the elders. The members of the committee are Howard Bybee, Bob Corbin, Don England, Clifton Ganus, II, Fred Jewell, Carl Mitchell, Don Shackelford (ex officio), and Evan Ulrey (chairman).
