North Cobb Christian School

Everybody was excited to arrive in Greece and hear a bit of the culture on the bus to Athens. Once we checked in at the hotel we went out for dinner. The team leaders found a fantastic place nearby and we enjoyed our first Greek meal. At the Omonia Square we decided to take this beautiful picture.

After dinner we went back to the hotel and talked about the planning of the week and our focus to make it a good week. Time to get some rest. Tomorrow we have a long new day waiting for us with many nice opportunities. And it was a long flight…

We joined our partners from Glyfada Christian Center for their New Years celebration. It was a 45 minute ride by metro and walk. We were very welcomed and had a lovely brunch prepared for us.

About eight of our team went ahead to help prepare and they also served the food. Without being asked they also helped clean. A great testimony.

We mingled with the locals and had great contact encouraging them. We also enjoyed the worship in Greek and English. And the message was inspiring. And it was all together agreed that the atmosphere was great and we were able to make connections easily. On the picture Anton, our host.

After the Glyfada Christian Center we visited the old Olympic Stadium, which was kept as a surprise to the team. An amazing place of 100% marble, built on the exact place it stood about 2500 years ago. It was rebuilt when Greece came being a country again after they had victory over the Ottoman Empire. They decided to reinstall the games and started in this Stadium in 1896. And the museum and tunnel were highlights.

The apostle Paul calls us to run the race to win. And not to be disqualified.

The crowd went wild seeing this guy finishing ahead of everyone ????

We had a beautiful sunset from another hill in town. The sun went down over the Akropolis of Athens.

After another great place for food we did the debriefing in the spot. We had the whole area for ourselves. Great service and great food. It was about where we saw God's hand today. Many things were mentioned.

On the way back to the hotel we went through this area. A whole area full of lights. And we ended with ice cream. It was a great day. Tomorrow we will start with a prayer walk through Athens with a challenge: to connect at least with one person in town to make a conversation and learn something about this person. For now we call it a day.

Today Anton Beukes, who is connected with Glyfada Christian Center, took us on a tour through Athens. First the new Athens and in the afternoon old Athens. We learned a lot of history on how Pericles defended the city with some extraordinary buildings. From old city walls to cultural struggles.

We are posing in front of the first university of the whole Balkan area. Founded by King Otto in 1830.

This might be the picture of the year

Next to the library, is the research center. Statues of Plato and Socrates. On the pillars the “gods” Athina and Apollo. A great representation of the rich Greek culture that Anton shared with us.

We watched the guards change, remembering the many battles in Greek history.

At the foot of Mars Hill is the plate with the Bible verses in Acts about the apostle Paul in old Greek. We are ready to walk up. In the footsteps of Paul.

We made it to the top of Mars Hill. In the background is the Acropolis, which was built 500 years before Christ, and we also walked around for an hour and on the left is Wolf Mountain, where we climbed yesterday to the top. Fantastic views.

Anton explained to us what the meaning was of the words spoken by Paul and the context of that time. In the meantime we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

After this we started to sing worship songs. It was an emotional moment and we received compliments of people around us. We learned a lot.

The whole trip is safe in the hands of PPM leader George Kalopisis. Supported by his wife Beth.

During dinner in another great restaurant, we also celebrated another birthday. The third one of the group this week. Congratulations!

Back in the hotel we shared moments where we saw God at work. We had great conversations during the day and were able to connect a bit with strangers. And everyone had his or her roses and thorns. But definitely it was another great day. Glory to God.

Today is epiphany, an important Greek religious holiday. It is the 12th day of Christmas, and much more important. This is when Jesus was presented and revealed to the world. We went again to Glyfada Christian Center. This time to take down Christmas decorations and clean the whole place. We also made a prayer walk in the area. What was considered an even more important thing than cleaning.

After lunch we continued a while and before we left to play basketball with the locals, we blessed the church.

We had beautiful conversations with some locals and a great time playing basketball and also soccer in another field.

It was a great time connecting. Especially for the young people of the Glyfada Faith Center it was great encouraging to hang around with so many believers.

It was a great mix between the locals and North Cobb. Worship from the heart. After the worship arrived the pizza and soda.

Highschool leader

On our way to Corinth we passed this Canal. It is 4 mile long and is a long wish that came true. Corinth is situated at this Isthmos and in the early days they brought cargo from one side to the other. The location made Corinth the most important town in this part of the country.

After the canal we first went up on the akrocorinth. A massive fortress in top of the nearby Mountain. A place of ancient worship and refuge for the Corinthians.

It was a good walk up, but the view was worth it. We enjoyed it as one of the highlights.

One of the many towers of Akrocorinth.

Carissa and Beth

We went down the mountain, into old Corinth. We had lunch right next to the excavation and Akrocorinth in the background.

They found a part of a road with the name Erastus in it. It is a name so rarely used that most likely it is the same Erastus that Paul mentioned in his letters. This Erastus donated this part of a road to have his name written in there. It is maybe the only proof so far that is linked to Paul. Amazing.

In front of the 2500 year old part of a temple to Apollo in the old Corinth.

Paul stood in front of this Bema seat, when the Jews brought him to be judged. But the proconsul did nothing and the crowd turned against the Jews. God already told Paul to not be afraid because nobody would harm him. Paul also wrote about it. We should not be distracted by the judgement of others, but be more concerned about the judgement of God.

After this all we visited the old Port of Kenchrees where Paul set sail to Ephesos after his visit to Korinthos. Some of us went swimming, another highlight according to many of them.

After the bus ride back to Athens we still had time for another great restaurant and debriefing. Another great day was added to the trip.

Today we split up to go to several different ministries. This ministry called New Start is under the prostitutes. Dimitris is touching many hearts with the stories. It is all about Jesus and all about the heart. They provide practical help and a save place, but most important: they bring Jesus.

We went on a prayer walk in the area where the brothels are. Prayer is such an important weapon. It is a spiritual battle against spiritual powers. Many of these ladies are forced and even abducted from their countries. A horrible situation. And so difficult to get out of these situations.

Caroline showed us around in this ministry. They provide language classes, children's ministry, washing machines, clothes and doctors. On top of that they bring the gospel to Arabic as well as Farsi speaking people. All for free. They were also very happy with the gifts we had for them.

The same for the other ministries we went to.

Embeatrize told that God provided so far and that the whole ministry is built from one table and one doctor to 4 different floors including doctor and dentist trusting God provides.

In this Ministry Stefanos explained it is a follow up of New Start. The ladies learn skills of sowing to be able to do a job and provide for themselves and have dignity. Also it is a place of safety where they can be themselves without pressure and prepare for living a life without prostitution. The also sell clothes they made.

We could not meet one of the ladies. They prefere to be not to much to be seen. We could see the things they made and of course pray as we did with every ministry.

We also visited Rain Lab in the basement of Hellenic Ministries. One group was here in the morning together with Kings Ridge Highschool. Athiná, Eleni and Dímitra showed us around. This is an independent professional clothing brand. Created to help people that came as refugees to make a living. Making professional clothes. Later came a second group of our school.

On the 7th floor Hellenic Ministries provides food for Greek homeless. Many older people ended up without a house. And the Greek system is not known for being easy. People come to enjoy food and a celebration for Jesus. Other days they also serve Farsi, and Arabic and Ukrainian people. 5 days a week. We helped preparing food and served the food.

After the meal was worship time. Leonid with guitar oversees the work and is from Ukraine. Nikos with cap is responsible for the Greek program.

Nikos introduced the team to the homeless

Two of our team were allowed to give testimony to the homeless and Nikos translated to Greek.

The response was that it was really helpful for the people

It's great to be a blessing to so many different people. This was the last part of serving in Athens. This night the team will fly back home. Only thing left is dinner and packing for the flight. Nikos invited the whole team for dinner to the Hellenic Ministries building.

North Cobb brought also a gift for Hellenic Ministries. Leonid accepted it with gratefulness.

Assistent team leader

Trusting God provides a save trip home. I think it was one of the best teams ever. And I think God's Spirit worked in many hearts.

God bless you all.