There are always people making profit out of misery. This is the case with refugees. While some suffer, others profit: while refugees decided to leave Afghanistan (or not to return after spending the last 10, 20, 30 years in Iran or Pakistan), smugglers are experiencing a boom. As a crossroads between Europe and Asia, Greece… [Read more…]
January 16, 2012
I love Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I have the luxury of being forgetful… and without a regular reminder, I would easily forget just how profound was the life of Dr. King. No, he was not perfect; but his life and message are challenging and his courage is inspiring. Below is a re-port from 2009,… [Read more…]
January 12, 2012
One of the most difficult parts of refugee ministry is that we’re constantly saying goodbye to people we’ve come to love dearly. That’s the case again this week, as another good friend moves on from Athens. “A” is a strong woman. She came to Athens from Afghanistan with five children and a drug addicted husband… [Read more…]
January 6, 2012
Happy Friday… and Happy Epiphany! Here in Greece, Epiphany (see here) remembers Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, where His identity as the Son of God was revealed. Practically, it also marks the end of the Christmas season here. So… Party! Speaking of parties, here are some pictures from New Year’s Eve – both our… [Read more…]
January 4, 2012
Here’s a great little video from Tom Wright on how to read scripture. Great insights! It’s very much worth your time. …which reminds me, I’m working towards reading through the entire Bible this year. Anyone care to join me? It’s not too late to start! Find a reading plan here (and let me know, I’d love… [Read more…]
January 2, 2012
I read 32 books in 2011 (see them all – with reviews – here). Here are my favorite five (these weren’t necessarily published in 2011… that’s just when I happened to read them): Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters, by Tim Keller (Dutton, 2009). The… [Read more…]
December 30, 2011
Happy Friday! I’ve had this week off work – what a wonderful time with friends and family. It’s been so fun to play with the girls. I’m ready to head back to our ministry center next week though, refreshed and ready to go! Here are some pictures of the girls enjoying their Christmas gifts. Enjoy…… [Read more…]
December 27, 2011
Hi all - We hope everyone had a great Christmas: full of joy, laughter, and – most of all – Jesus! Hot off the press – you can download our latest newsletter here! A text-only version is available below. Thanks so much for your love, support, and prayers! By God’s Grace - Brett, Kristin, Sofia… [Read more…]
December 23, 2011
Happy Friday… and Merry Christmas! Here are a few photos that show what our Christmas preparations look like here in Athens. We may not have the cold or the snow, but Christmas is just as festive in Greece (and loaded with unique traditions – but I’ll save that for another post). Enjoy!
December 19, 2011
I thought that I’d take five minutes and walk you through a few new features on the blog, plus review some top posts from the last few months. First, I’ve added a “sermons” page, where I can add audio from messages at churches here in Greece or back in the States. Right now there are… [Read more…]
December 17, 2011
Happy Friday… er, Saturday. Okay, I’m a day late with this week’s installment of Friday photos, but better late than never! Here are a few shots of the girls. Enjoy!
December 14, 2011
Hate crime is an ugly, ugly thing. And while it is certainly not the norm in Greece, hate crimes against foreigners (including asylum seekers) have escalated in 2011. Human Rights Watch is documenting some of the difficulties here in Greece. In a report released on Monday, Human Rights Watch found… Victims of racist violence… [Read more…]
December 12, 2011
We had a great week of Christmas outreach parties (see Christmas update part 1 and part 2 for more pictures). We shared a great meal – salad, chicken, huge piles of rice, and dessert. A huge thank you to the local church groups that sponsored meals: the Evangelical Youth Movement, Nea Zoi Church, Egaleo Evangelical,… [Read more…]
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January 20, 2012
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