It may not be December 25… but it’s Christmas week here in Athens! Over the week we’re hosting five Christmas outreach parties for refugees. We’ve invited 130 refugees for each party – which includes a Christmas song, a Christmas puppet show, and a Christmas message (in Farsi or Arabic depending on the party)… plus a… [Read more…]
November 28, 2011
Hi Friends, We hope that your Thanksgiving was full of joy, laughter, and gratitude! We had a fun time here in Athens, gathering with teammates and remembering God’s grace in our lives. We are incredibly thankful for each of you – our support team around the world! Your partnership in this ministry is vital. So… [Read more…]
November 21, 2011
Since Thursday is a regular workday here in Greece, this afternoon (Monday) we’ll join together with a group of our teammates to celebrate Thanksgiving – expatriate style. Yes, we’ll have turkey and cranberries (both imported from the US), stuffing and even pumpkin pie! Of course, I’m thankful for a lot: God’s grace and faithfulness, an… [Read more…]
November 3, 2011
As new migration crises emerge in the Mediterranean basin and as Frontex’s responsibilities expand, there is an urgent need for a shift in EU asylum and migration policy from an enforcement-first policy to a protection-first policy. This is not only legally required but is a worthy and achievable approach for the EU, its agencies, and… [Read more…]
October 12, 2011
After talking about the quiet desperation of refugees earlier this month, I thought that it would be appropriate to share more hopeful stories. Here is an update from my teammate Tasha: Hello from Greece! The past few weeks have been crazy here with the increasing numbers of refugee families needing help. It has been overwhelming seeing… [Read more…]
October 10, 2011
It’s a cold, raining day. The sky has been gray all day, the rain falls constantly – alternating between a drizzle and downpour. While Athens doesn’t get nearly as cold as more northerly place, the fall is wet and cool – a miserable mix for anyone without a home. Unfortunately, many of our refugee friends… [Read more…]
October 3, 2011
I really appreciated this update from our teammates Kent & Myrna. Please read: The definition for despair is: 1) To lose all hope; 2) To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat… More and more we are seeing refugees who are “living lives of quiet desperation” (Henry David Thoreau). A few days… [Read more…]
September 26, 2011
Well, it’s late September and starting to feel like Fall (I realize that it has felt like Autumn in some places for several weeks… but here in Athens, Fall is just beginning to show up). It seems like a great time to review some of the happenings of the summer months. Whether you’re new to… [Read more…]
September 16, 2011
Happy Friday! Today’s theme is an afternoon at the park. On Wednesday our team invited about 5 or 6 refugee families to join us for an afternoon of play and relationship building. Everyone had a good time. One boy even said that it was his best day in Athens ever! Here are a few photos… [Read more…]
September 12, 2011
As we all already know, yesterday was the ten year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. There have been countless articles, books, radio programs, and TV shows on how 9/11 has changed our world. It’s impact has been profound in every way. This includes the world of missions. Marking the anniversary of 9/11, Christianity… [Read more…]
September 9, 2011
Happy Friday! September is here and Fall is right behind it (or even already here, depending on where you live). Today’s edition of Friday’s Photos is a a look at the faces around our ministry center. Each face is a story, a life, a dream unrealized. Would you take a moment and pray over the… [Read more…]
September 5, 2011
We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him… [Read more…]
August 22, 2011
Almost all of the refugees that come to us are hoping simply to pass through Greece on their way to Europe. However, most find themselves stuck: no hope of asylum in Greece, no path forward (into Europe), no way back (whether to Afghanistan, Iraq, or Algeria). Many are desperate. Just a few weeks ago, several… [Read more…]
August 12, 2011
Happy Friday! While we’re at a ministry conference (getting both sharpened and refreshed), I thought that I’d share some ministry pictures from last week. Thanks for your continued prayers as we seek to share and show the love of God in Christ with our refugee friends. Enjoy!
August 8, 2011
It’s back… The International Association for Refugees (IAFR) has posted the 2011 World Map of the Refugee Highway. It’s a great visual of where refugees come from, where they’re going, and some of the stops along the way. You can see that Athens is a major path for those coming into Europe from Afghanistan, Iran,… [Read more…]
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December 6, 2011
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