Student Riots

It’s interesting to live in a place where anarchists and communists are common. In America they’re extremists, not your next-door neighbors.
I live in the university community outside of the downtown area where students protest. Thankfully, it’s quiet here. You’d never know that it should be a school day. Only old men wander the campuses out here.As I type this update I’m skyping with a Greek friend who is filling me in on the reasons behind the riots. She says that the anarchists fight against the corrupt police force that supports and protects corrupt mobsters. She says that nothing will truly change without a break in the chain of violence. Her solution is education. She asked me how I thought things could change. I told her that real change has to happen in hearts.

During these tumultuous days I’m praying that students, and Greeks in general, will realize the need for revolution in our hearts. I want, more than anything, for Greeks to find real life and peace in a relationship with Jesus that will bring life and peace to this entire country.

Field Training

Staff said they enjoyed our field training last week. Our sessions on growing as leaders, sharing our faith, and leading students gave them tangible next steps for their ministries.
Conversations with students encouraged me last week. We set out to talk with students about the things we’re currently learning from the Lord and our conversations were enjoyable and good.
-Paige and I met three girls at the Polytech. They felt like friends after spending a half an hour with them. We laughed and shared stories and talked about what we believed. One said that it was amazing that she met us—that she’d never thought about spiritual things much before recently. She’s made some friends that don’t believe in God and she wants to figure out what she believes. She was excited that I had a Bible I could give her—she even had me sign it. Both she and another of the girls came to a party we had later in the week.
-Katerina and I met another three girls at the economics faculty downtown. They’ve spent time studying abroad, so we felt like we had a connection. We talked about all kinds of things- even the problem of evil. One of the girls asked how we can trust God to protect us when we see people victimized who believe in Him all over the world. I appreciated the deep discussion and hope for more good conversations with these girls.

Staff Field Training

I've just returned to the office after a really fun evening. Our staff from Thessaloniki came to town for a training week and all of us helped another local ministry serve a meal to refugees downtown. Afterward, we went to Chinatown (not big like in the States) for authentic Chinese food. It's great for us all to be together!

We've gathered our on-campus staff in Greece for development. We're asking the Lord to teach us all individually and to sharpen us through one another. Our topics include ministering out of an overflow of a vital relationship with God, the art and science of sharing our faith, growing as a leader, and the essentials of a spiritual movement.

You can pray with us

• that the Lord will draw us closer to Himself and make us more like Him.
• that He would deepen our relationships with one another and teach us through one another.
• that He would guide our times on campus, leading us to the experiences that will give us and the students a greater knowledge of His goodness (Philemon 5).
• that He would prepare us for His next steps on all of our campuses in Greece.

I'm so grateful for you!