The history of Avanti Italia:

• It has been operating successfully since 1986.
• It was recreated in its present form in 1986 by Howard Bybee, a missionary with over 25 years of experience in Italy. (An earlier version of Avanti Italia, pioneered by Howard Bybee, recruited highschool graduates instead of college graduates, from 1970 to 1974).
• It is under the oversight of the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas.
• A building in Florence serves as the base for the program.
• The directors live in the same building as the workers and guide the workers in their work.

The College church of Christ elders established a committee to direct this ministry. Current members include Dr. Evan Ulrey (chairman), Ryan Butterfield, Dr. Carl Mitchell, Dr. Cliff Ganus, Dr. Fred Jewell, Dr. Don England, Bob Corbin, Scott Finley, Howard Bybee, and Dr. Don Shackelford (ex officio) and Jay Walls. The decision was made to require students to graduate from college before participating in Avanti Italia in order to allow them to gain added maturity and to avoid the possibility of permanently interrupting their college education. All applications are screened by the committee in an effort to select workers who are spiritually and emotionally suited for this challenge.