Day 4: May 11

After enjoying a morning to rest and a quiet breakfast in our respective rooms, the group’s day began with a walk past the Akropolis to the First Greek Evangelical Church of Athens. Pastor Giotis met us there and spoke with us about the various ministries that the church participates in, many of which we will be able to visit. The chief of these are various church plants throughout the city: the church in Glyfalda, an upper middle class neighborhood, supports business opportunities for refugees and the poor in order to provide stability so that the people can then have reliable food and housing. Through the FAROS house, the church reaches Afghan minors who are without families and have struck out on their own. The church in Exarchia, a young and vibrant district famous for anarchist protests, runs the Integration House. The main church is associated with three ministries to refugees explicitly. The first of these is the TEA VAN, through which various members of the church take tea to refugee camps and apartment complexes, a tremendous gift of dignity and calm to people in the midst of crisis. The second is the Damaris House, an organization that cares for trafficking victims and provides them with safety and security to escape. The third is the Center of Hope, a ministry to refugee mothers to provide them rest, dignity and peace.

The sactuary of the First Greek Evangelical Church in Athens

Hadrian's Arch and the Plaka at night, near First Evangelical

After the presentation from Giotis, we enjoyed a fantastic meal at the church and then a short tour of the church and a description of the congregation’s 150 year history. The group then returned to our living spaces for some rest before an afternoon of free time spent wandering through stores, gardens, and ruins throughout Athens. We then began to prepare for the evening, when we had been invited to attend a wedding between two Iranian Christians. We traveled to the main church where we waited for the arrival of the bride. The wedding was simple but beautiful. Following the ceremony, we took the metro to the Iranian church where the reception was held. The food and dancing was unique and incredible. It was astonishing to witness the tremendous transformation for these refugees. A few months ago, the couple was lost and seeking shelter wherever they could, but now they are happily enjoying the sacrament of marriage.

At the Iranian wedding

Throughout the evening, we were able to learn more about the Iranian church. It has been incredibly blessed by the Spirit. Because of the transience of its members, nearly every one will move to a new country or home within two to six months. But despite this fact, the church maintains attendence around 80 to 100 members. The church is incredibly vibrant and such growth is a tremendous encouragement when it is easy to lose sight of the growth of the gospel in the United States.