Staff Field Training... Spring

Hi!

It’s only Monday and I’m already tired! We’re in the middle of a very full two-weeks.

Last week we enjoyed our group from the University of Texas. They said they were amazed at the ways the Lord orchestrated their conversations with students on campus. They also said they’ve grown in their desire and ability to talk with their fellow students at UT about Him. I pray that the Lord uses them to lead many to Him even this week!

We’ve gathered our campus staff from Thessaloniki and Athens this week for field training. Our topics include: helping students take the next step in their spiritual journeys, training students to lead, communicating compelling vision, following the Holy Spirit, and trusting God to move in mighty ways. We’re also planning for next school year.

Please ask the Lord to lead our hearts and minds very clearly this week and ask Him to make us receptive to His voice and responsive to His direction.

Thanks so much! I know your prayers are powerful and effective!

Texans in Athens

Hello!

A group of students and staff from the University of Texas arrived on Sunday. They’re here to see the campus, meet students, see the sights, learn about the Lord, talk about the Lord, and pray for Greece. They’ll go back to UT as our representatives, letting others know about what God’s doing here and how they can pray, support, and join us.
You can pray for us this week. . .

-that the Lord would give us safety and health. (I’ve been flu-ish for the last three days as has one of the guys I work with.)
-that the Lord would give us great conversations and relationships with Greek students. That we’d have lots of opportunities to talk about abundant life in Him.
-that students here would be drawn close to the Lord during the lent season—that they’d seek Him and find Him.

Spring in Athens!

When I was running on the trail around the poly-technical campus last week, I delighted in the trees that are beginning to bud and flower. I love the newness of spring!

I remember, in the fall, watching the workers strip the trees around the trail. They bound up branches and waste and piled them up at a couple of central spots. I was adjusting to the stress of living overseas and I felt like one of those trees that was being stripped bare of my perspectives, doubt, selfishness, and sin in my heart. At that point, I prayed that the Lord would also work in Greek students’ hearts to take away things that hinder them from enjoying close relationships with Him.

Now, as I enjoy the blossoming trees and blooming wild flowers, I’m noticing that my faith, hope and love have grown and I’m praying that the Lord will bring new spiritual life to our students here in Greece. I just wrote in my latest mailing that we’re seeing some progress in the lives of our friends. . .
Playing a game about world views in the theology school, girls debated whether their purposes in life were to serve others or to serve themselves. When we were leaving, they argued over who would get to keep the “Knowing God Personally” booklets I had in my bag (I need to carry more of them!).
My Greek tutor saw a diagram I shared with students about salvation. After I explained it, she said, “Well, we agree!” Please pray that the Lord will give us more good conversations about this and that she’ll join me for Bible study.
I often make friends with students in the theology school (it’s a typical degree here-- a little bit like social work in the States). During finals, I talked with two students about their studies of the Old Testament. They’re surprised at the violent, evil things that happened. They see the same kinds of evil in people today. They’re considering that God is good and that He wants good for us instead of the evil that people do.
One of their good friends hangs out with my roommate, Paige, regularly. She asked what it looks like to know God personally. Paige shared with her how to trust Christ’s payment on the cross to give life. She wants a relationship with God like that.
A few of our friends have said they’d like to join us for Bible study. I love this! I want them to read His Word because it’s powerful and effective and it changes lives. Paige and I are starting a weekly Bible study today. Please pray that the Lord would bring students to study His Word with us.

Clean Monday and a Fun Road Trip

To mark the beginning of lent, Greeks spend Clean Monday outside flying kites and eating fish.




Five friends piled in the car on Saturday and headed to the Peloponnese to see Epidauros and Mycenae. We had a fun day out!

A fresh start to a new semester

Καλη μερα!

After a few weeks of travel, I’m back in the swing of things in Athens. I’ve had a great week here. I’ve loved getting text messages from Greek student friends. It’s been fun to reconnect with my team. I’m looking forward to all that the Lord has in store for us this semester.

Last month I enjoyed a couple of conferences—one in Spain for people serving in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East and one in Ireland for national campus leaders across Europe. Both conferences refreshed me spiritually as we talked about Christ and His redemption in our lives. I was also encouraged by the vision of extending His love to people around the world. Leaders and coaches led planning sessions and met with us individually to help us move forward in our ministries. I returned to Athens ready to dive back into our work here.
We’re seeing students show signs of spiritual growth. Eleni, who we met during our training week, asks about how she can be more involved in the discussions we have about spiritual things. Thanos took a Bible, deciding that he wants to learn about God for himself. Ioanna talked through God’s plan to have a relationship with us through Christ and said that she wanted Him to enter her life. She’s excited to talk more about it with my roommate.

Would you pray with us…

-That students would continue to grow in their hunger to know God personally and that God would give them understanding of spiritual things. I’d love for Him to draw them into vibrant relationships with Himself.

-That God would deepen our relationships with Greek students. We're praying for our schedules to match up well (especially because they're in finals for the next month), for us to grow in enjoying and knowing one another, and for our conversations to lead us all closer to the Lord.

-That the Lord would send 12-18 short-term staff for next year. This month is the time that students historically make decisions about how they’ll spend the next school year. I’m asking Him to lead them clearly and to encourage them as they decide.
Thanks so much!!

pictures from the holidays

Laborers

Before Christmas a group of sixteen students from Texas A&M joined us for ten days. They helped us make new Greek friends on campus. We introduced them to some of our friends at a party. We took prayer walks on campus, asking God to move mightily to draw students to Himself.

Their trip blessed us in incredible ways! We were so encouraged, as a team, to have them work alongside us. Their growing compassion for Greek students strengthened us and raised our hope for what the Lord will do here.

More than anything, they provided our most tangible need for laborers on campus. Our ministry depends on relationships with students. With only six of us working on campus full-time, our ability to connect with many students is limited. We loved the opportunity to make more friends!

These students will go back to College Station as our ambassadors. They'll lead the charge in praying for our ministry here. They'll tell other students about God's work with students in Greece. They're considering returning for a summer or a year to join us in direct ministry.

This is the time of year when students are making decisions about their summers and their next school years. Would you pray that the Lord would call many to join us to labor here-- both this summer and next year?