Our History

1959

THE BEGINNING


Ernesto and Rose Marie Bretscher, a young Swiss couple involved in an evangelical community in the 1950s, felt the Lord’s call to leave everything behind and go preach the Gospel in Calabria, one of the poorest regions in southern Italy. They sold their newly built villa, paid off their bank loan, gave up their excellent jobs at the Migros Group, and, with no financial security, set out with their five children, relying solely on God’s goodness and faithfulness.

  • Ernesto e Rose Marie Bretscher 1959

    Ernest and Rose Marie Bretscher – Founders of the Mission in Calabria

  • Missione in Calabria

    The mission in Calabria, 1950s

  • La famiglia Bretscher

    The Bretscher family in Calabria

  • Calabria 1959

    Calabria,1959

1960

PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE


Their mission began in 1960 amid a series of major challenges, caused in part by the hostility and mistrust of the Calabrian people and the clergy. But the Bretschers, with patience and perseverance, traveled the length and breadth of Calabria to share the Gospel with as many people as possible.

Missione in Calabria 1960
The mission in Calabria, 1960
Squadra missionaria in Calabria
Geoffrey Allen, Emilio Ursomando, Massimo Loda, Giovanni Traettino, Ernest Bretscher Senior, e Ernest Daniel Bretscher Junior – Founders of the Mission in Calabria

1970-2000

THE EARLY CHURCHES


Several servants of God in Italy came together and decided to walk together. Their visions converged. Several communities joined the group, others were established, and still others were formed, giving rise to a movement—now national in scope—led by an apostolic team composed of Giovanni Traettino, Ernest Bretscher Sr., Ernest Daniel Bretscher, Geoffrey Allen, Emilio Ursomando, and Massimo Loda, took the name Evangelical Church of Reconciliation and expanded its influence from the north to the south of the country, and since 2000 also to Africa and other parts of the world.

2000

THE CONSTRUCTION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE EMMAUS CENTER IN ROCCELLA

Rose-Marie e Ernst Bretscher
Rose-Marie & Ernst Bretscher The Founders of the Mission in Calabria

The evangelical movement has created a great deal of tension with the Catholic clergy. Many men have been forced to leave their families behind due to unemployment. Despite this hardship, the women who remained found comfort in Christ through the evangelical church. Unfortunately, upon learning of this, Catholic institutions expelled all the children associated with this movement.

Thanks to a suggestion from a Swiss couple and their generous donation, they purchased 13 hectares of land and began building a children’s home, relying solely on the Lord. The Bretschers never asked for money. But word of the children’s home’s construction spread, and more and more donations came in, allowing them to complete the five-story building within a few years. 
The building started out as a children's home, but soon became a center for summer camps for children, teenagers, young adults, and even communities.

Today is:

  • A children's home for children in need
  • A retreat, summer camp, and conference center
  • A hub for community activities that benefit the region
  • A farm dedicated to raising animals and farming

FROM 2000 TO THE PRESENT

OUR MISSION

Rev. Giovanni Traettino
and his wife Franca

Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Church
of Reconciliation
Rev. Ernesto Bretscher
and his wife Christa

Vice President of the Evangelical Church of Reconciliation

To date, the mission continues with:

  • Evangelization
  • Strengthening existing churches and establishing new communities
  • Humanitarian activities carried out by local communities
  • Training for ministers and pastors (Timothy Project; Bible Training Courses; Advanced Courses)
  • Humanitarian activities in support of countries in the Global South. SOS Tiers Monde (now: SOS MONDE ETS) and Compassion Italia
  • Expanding the ministry in prisons
  • New National Operational Team (2023)
  • Ministry serving churches in the Central African Republic, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • House of Reconciliation – Bimbo (Bangui, Central African Republic)
  • National Youth Group
  • Affiliation of the network of churches in Chad (2012) and the Central African Republic (2024) with the Evangelical Church of Reconciliation
  • AFI – Apostolic Fellowship International (2000) – International Apostolic Fellowship.