The Macaluso's Story
Roberto grew up in Palermo, Sicily and became a Christian when he was 14 at a Youth For Christ camp. Kristin grew up in a small town near Messina, Sicily. Her parents are originally British, but both grew up as missionary kids, making her a third generation missionary. She became a Christian when she was 6 and met Roberto when they were both 11 at a kids summer camp. They saw each other again a few years later at a youth camp and became friends, started dating at 18, spent 5 years in a long-distance relationship before finally being able to get married in May 2021. After finishing school at 18, Roberto decided to take a year out from studying and took part in a gap-year program with Youth For Christ Britain, and during that year felt God's calling to return to Sicily, where he was born and grew up, in order to serve with teenagers there. Through God's ways, this has led to him working for Youth For Christ International as the Learning Management System Coordinator, working from home to facilitate and enable training for youth work all around the world. Simultaneously they lead their local youth group, lead bible studies, help organise and lead events for teens, disciple, and serve in their local church.
Ministry Today
Roberto and Kristin serve with Youth for Christ Italy in Palermo, where they focus on discipleship, outreach in schools and evangelistic outreach. Together, they lead their local youth group, run Youth for Christ Sicily events and camps, and are involved in one-to-one mentoring. Their work includes school-based programs on English and civic engagement, and they recently pioneered the first-ever Exchange Camp in Sicily – welcoming a team from the U.S. to run sports and English programs with a clear evangelistic focus.
Roberto also serves as the Communication and Partnerships Coordinator for Europe, Middle East and North Africa, using media as a tool to focus on sharing stories of how Jesus is moving among young people across the region, creating content that helps youth see how His story connects with theirs. Not only so, through this role he is able to strengthen partnerships with key organisations with the same vision and heart for young people. He is responsible for media for Youth for Christ Italy and recently launched a podcast called “Speak Life” that now includes over 40 episodes. Kristin has led a SuperWoman-type club program for girls and has a deep passion for one-to-one discipleship and biblically rooted teaching.
They each bring a long history with Youth for Christ – Roberto through the Youth for Christ One gap year in Britain, and Kristin through volunteer ministry in the UAE. Roberto went full-time with Youth for Christ Italy in 2022 and Kristin followed soon after in 2023. Roberto holds a degree in Economics from the University of Palermo and an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry through Crosslands Training and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kristin studied Journalism, Creative Writing, and Education at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland followed by a year of biblical training at the Cornhill Training Course. Originally from Palermo, Roberto has lived in Sicily all his life. Kristin, though originally English, grew up in Sicily in a missionary family. Married in 2021, they now have a daughter, Clara Grace.
Roberto is passionate about preaching, videography, fitness, and all things Italian food. Kristin loves motherhood, psychology, deep conversations, watercolour art, and hand lettering. Together, they seek to live out the gospel through faithful, relational ministry and a deep love for young people.
Location
Roberto and Kristin live in Palermo where they serve locally but we are also serving at a regional and national level. My role with YFC EMENA means that I am also relevantly involved in the whole area as well.