This past Sunday was such a blessing! There were around 80 people present Sunday evening at Evripidou. We looked at Psalm 23 together and talked about our fears. We were greatly encouraged as we listened to what God tells us about fear. Especially in verse 4:
‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’
We prayed for each other in our small groups, and then we spent some time in worship! We prayed again in our large group for Yannis who has suffered with terrible head pain for the past 4 years. He will be going into hospital for an operation on Monday 11th May. It was great to have Joe join our worship band for this week, and he sang a solo for us. We also enjoyed having Colin & Geraldine with us from South Africa, their testimony was a great encouragement to us all.
We are looking forward with expectancy for our next event on the 17th May!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Corinth Youth Conference Report
This past Labor Day, May 1st, Hellenic Ministries was honored to be a part of the first Young Adults Conference in Corinth called "Me and the Lord, the Lord and Me." This awesome event served to mark the beginning of a new movement of Greek young adults who are hungry to get to know the Lord and change their nation.
Hellenic Ministries was represented by a team of 6 people who shared about ministries activities as well as from the Word of God under the theme “Intimacy with God and Fruitfulness” in one of the main preaching sessions. It was a great blessing to witness the small church building of the Apostolic Church of Christ being jam-packed with almost 150 Greek young adults who responded very positively to the call of drawing closer to God in order to impact a nation. The Lord anointed the whole day as all of the participants came out refreshed by the streams of God’s Word and challenged by an altar call to surrender everything to Christ and to embrace His cause in this ancient land.
Our team also had the chance of challenging the Greek youth about Operation Joshua, HM’s nationwide outreach that is happening this summer from the 25th of June to the 2nd of July in southern Greece. Amazing feedback was felt during the presentation and call to join OJ.
HM would like to thank the leadership of the Apostolic Church of Christ in Corinth for the opportunity to share God’s Word as well as God’s heart through our ministry activities. May this be the beginning of a new movement of unity among the Christian young adults in Greece. Please pray for the upcoming generation to catch a vision for the Kingdom of God.
Hellenic Ministries was represented by a team of 6 people who shared about ministries activities as well as from the Word of God under the theme “Intimacy with God and Fruitfulness” in one of the main preaching sessions. It was a great blessing to witness the small church building of the Apostolic Church of Christ being jam-packed with almost 150 Greek young adults who responded very positively to the call of drawing closer to God in order to impact a nation. The Lord anointed the whole day as all of the participants came out refreshed by the streams of God’s Word and challenged by an altar call to surrender everything to Christ and to embrace His cause in this ancient land.
Our team also had the chance of challenging the Greek youth about Operation Joshua, HM’s nationwide outreach that is happening this summer from the 25th of June to the 2nd of July in southern Greece. Amazing feedback was felt during the presentation and call to join OJ.
HM would like to thank the leadership of the Apostolic Church of Christ in Corinth for the opportunity to share God’s Word as well as God’s heart through our ministry activities. May this be the beginning of a new movement of unity among the Christian young adults in Greece. Please pray for the upcoming generation to catch a vision for the Kingdom of God.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
“The Joy of the Lord is my Strength” HM Family Conference 2009
Mid April found almost all of the HM team gathered up at Porto Astro for a four-day annual conference. This was the first time we hosted this event out at the property and a great time was had by all.
God graced us with mild weather so that we were all able to remain warm enough in our unheated cabins and trailers. It rained a little a couple of the days, but nothing too drastic to keep us (abt 100 of us) inside all day.
A team of adults and high schoolers from Prairie Christian Academy in Canada came and blessed us by cooking, providing camp maintenance and childcare so we were able to enjoy our time together.
The days were filled with personal quiet times, study of Philippians led by guest speaker Jacques Teeuwen, ministry reports, corporate worship times, brainstorming sessions and fun game times together. We all came away refreshed and energized to begin the busy summer season of ministry.
No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. Ps 33:16-17. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Neh 8:10.
God graced us with mild weather so that we were all able to remain warm enough in our unheated cabins and trailers. It rained a little a couple of the days, but nothing too drastic to keep us (abt 100 of us) inside all day.
A team of adults and high schoolers from Prairie Christian Academy in Canada came and blessed us by cooking, providing camp maintenance and childcare so we were able to enjoy our time together.
The days were filled with personal quiet times, study of Philippians led by guest speaker Jacques Teeuwen, ministry reports, corporate worship times, brainstorming sessions and fun game times together. We all came away refreshed and energized to begin the busy summer season of ministry.
No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. Ps 33:16-17. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Neh 8:10.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sandwiches and Spritual Talk
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
On Thursday afternoon, we hosted for a time for refugees to come and have a sandwich and discussion about spiritual matters. We were delighted that 16 Muslim men, mostly from Sudan, Jordan and Iraq, showed up. Matt began our time together by introducing himself and explaining why he was here in Greece.
He went on to explain that we wanted this to be a safe place to have spiritual discussions. And that we would respect each other as we talked openly about spiritual matters.
He read John 1:1-14 to them and asked them if any of them had ever read any Scripture. He also asked if any of them was interested in having his own Bible and all responded that they would like one. Then we asked them what they believed about Jesus and began a discussion about our different views on Jesus. We also collected questions from them for future discussions. Some of the questions are...Did Jesus really die, was He really crucified on the cross? What is the Bible, is it one book or many books? How can Jesus be the Son of God and God?
We served them sandwiches and then sat and ate lunch with them. They shared how difficult their lives were here in Greece; how some had felt led to come here and now realize how there is nothing for them here in Greece. They shared some of their frustrations about not being able to find work or food or purpose here. Many had the question “why? This led to a conversation about why bad things happen to good people. Some of the missionaries were also able to share about the lives they left behind in North America to come here to serve God.
The time passed quickly and we were encouraged by the dialogs that we were able to have. Please pray with us that God will use this new “lunch time” ministry to build friendships with these men and to share the love of Christ with them.
On Thursday afternoon, we hosted for a time for refugees to come and have a sandwich and discussion about spiritual matters. We were delighted that 16 Muslim men, mostly from Sudan, Jordan and Iraq, showed up. Matt began our time together by introducing himself and explaining why he was here in Greece.
He went on to explain that we wanted this to be a safe place to have spiritual discussions. And that we would respect each other as we talked openly about spiritual matters.
He read John 1:1-14 to them and asked them if any of them had ever read any Scripture. He also asked if any of them was interested in having his own Bible and all responded that they would like one. Then we asked them what they believed about Jesus and began a discussion about our different views on Jesus. We also collected questions from them for future discussions. Some of the questions are...Did Jesus really die, was He really crucified on the cross? What is the Bible, is it one book or many books? How can Jesus be the Son of God and God?
We served them sandwiches and then sat and ate lunch with them. They shared how difficult their lives were here in Greece; how some had felt led to come here and now realize how there is nothing for them here in Greece. They shared some of their frustrations about not being able to find work or food or purpose here. Many had the question “why? This led to a conversation about why bad things happen to good people. Some of the missionaries were also able to share about the lives they left behind in North America to come here to serve God.
The time passed quickly and we were encouraged by the dialogs that we were able to have. Please pray with us that God will use this new “lunch time” ministry to build friendships with these men and to share the love of Christ with them.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Operation Joshua Scouting Trip & Divine Appointments
This week our Operation Joshua team was privileged to visit the Peloponnese to scout out the best location to base our distribution event this summer. The trip was successful in meeting this goal, but even more than that, God blessed us with encouraging divine appointments. I want to share the scriptures that spoke to our hearts through our encounters with these special individuals.
At the first campsite, the name of the lady we spoke with meant “freedom,” and we were able to pray with her and share the truth that will set her free (John 8:31-38):
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
We met and shouted “Hallelujah!” together with an African man from Ghana, which opened a connection for partnership with a local church in Messenia. He encouraged us with a beautiful scripture passage that compliments the previous one (Galatians 3:23-29):
“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Our last stop was at the campsite that had been our top option from our previous visit. The most important thing about this place was the chance we had to share the Gospel with the owner who we met their previously. It was as if he was waiting for our fellowship, as he welcomed us to sit and have a Greek coffee with him. At this beautiful “city on a hill” location, our team prayed fervently as Ilias took the time to share the life-giving truth which brings us the joy that this man could so evidently see on our faces (Matthew 5:13-15):
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Please join us in praying for these special connections that we made on our journey. I pray these scriptures have encouraged your hearts as they did ours. How special it is to be set free as sons and daughters in God’s family, no longer slaves, but heirs to the promise in Christ, and empowered to pierce the darkness of this world with the light of the truth of Christ! Meggan DeJong
At the first campsite, the name of the lady we spoke with meant “freedom,” and we were able to pray with her and share the truth that will set her free (John 8:31-38):
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
We met and shouted “Hallelujah!” together with an African man from Ghana, which opened a connection for partnership with a local church in Messenia. He encouraged us with a beautiful scripture passage that compliments the previous one (Galatians 3:23-29):
“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Our last stop was at the campsite that had been our top option from our previous visit. The most important thing about this place was the chance we had to share the Gospel with the owner who we met their previously. It was as if he was waiting for our fellowship, as he welcomed us to sit and have a Greek coffee with him. At this beautiful “city on a hill” location, our team prayed fervently as Ilias took the time to share the life-giving truth which brings us the joy that this man could so evidently see on our faces (Matthew 5:13-15):
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Please join us in praying for these special connections that we made on our journey. I pray these scriptures have encouraged your hearts as they did ours. How special it is to be set free as sons and daughters in God’s family, no longer slaves, but heirs to the promise in Christ, and empowered to pierce the darkness of this world with the light of the truth of Christ! Meggan DeJong
A Date With God
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
I want to thank GOD for the chance that He gave me to have a wonderful trip on the MORNING STAR last weekend. I believe that the Lord wanted me to make this special trip but there was another who desired to stand in my way.
The first night was very difficult for me. The wind was blowing and the boat was rocking. I panicked as I felt the boat rolling from side to side. I was so afraid and just wanted to leave and get off the boat. Everyone else around me was trying to sleep and I just started to cry.
I was so desperate that I woke the captain and told him that I couldn’t continue with the trip and that I needed to go ashore. He explained to me that this would be difficult, as it would mean waking others who were sleeping to get me from the ship to the shore and that it was the middle of the night. He asked me to consider trying to manage until the morning.
I am so thankful for my best friend, Liza who stayed up with me and prayed with me all through the night.
The next morning came and we headed off for Limni with me still on board.! I believe that my fear and panic was an attack from the devil because he didn’t want me to experience the blessing that God had in store for me.
While in port the next morning, the captain asked us to go somewhere in the village and to spend some time with God. I took my bible and headed for the beach. It had an amazing view and was so peaceful. I opened my bible to Isaiah 41:8-13. As I read, I felt so small and started to cry. I also began to pray.
I understood that the Lord was there with me and that He was talking to me through His Word. I felt that He was on a date with me and wanted me to just be there, alone with Him. He had been waiting for a long time for me to come and to talk to Him. I felt just like Adam and Eve, walking and talking with the Lord on that beautiful beach. It was amazing.
I prayed and decided to put my trust in Him and to not be afraid anymore. He holds me in His hands and wants me to have faith in every sector of my life!!
I am so grateful for this experience on the Morning Star, for the new friends that I met and for the faithfulness of my friend Liza and the others who supported me through my fears. I am especially thankful for my Lord and for the intimate fellowship that we shared together.
Esmeralda
I want to thank GOD for the chance that He gave me to have a wonderful trip on the MORNING STAR last weekend. I believe that the Lord wanted me to make this special trip but there was another who desired to stand in my way.
The first night was very difficult for me. The wind was blowing and the boat was rocking. I panicked as I felt the boat rolling from side to side. I was so afraid and just wanted to leave and get off the boat. Everyone else around me was trying to sleep and I just started to cry.
I was so desperate that I woke the captain and told him that I couldn’t continue with the trip and that I needed to go ashore. He explained to me that this would be difficult, as it would mean waking others who were sleeping to get me from the ship to the shore and that it was the middle of the night. He asked me to consider trying to manage until the morning.
I am so thankful for my best friend, Liza who stayed up with me and prayed with me all through the night.
The next morning came and we headed off for Limni with me still on board.! I believe that my fear and panic was an attack from the devil because he didn’t want me to experience the blessing that God had in store for me.
While in port the next morning, the captain asked us to go somewhere in the village and to spend some time with God. I took my bible and headed for the beach. It had an amazing view and was so peaceful. I opened my bible to Isaiah 41:8-13. As I read, I felt so small and started to cry. I also began to pray.
I understood that the Lord was there with me and that He was talking to me through His Word. I felt that He was on a date with me and wanted me to just be there, alone with Him. He had been waiting for a long time for me to come and to talk to Him. I felt just like Adam and Eve, walking and talking with the Lord on that beautiful beach. It was amazing.
I prayed and decided to put my trust in Him and to not be afraid anymore. He holds me in His hands and wants me to have faith in every sector of my life!!
I am so grateful for this experience on the Morning Star, for the new friends that I met and for the faithfulness of my friend Liza and the others who supported me through my fears. I am especially thankful for my Lord and for the intimate fellowship that we shared together.
Esmeralda
Saturday, March 14, 2009
"I Want to Serve"
Colossians 1:22-24 – “Obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
After House of Worship on Sunday night, I met David, who had found my “Pray for Greece!” facebook group and was interested in serving at love meals. I told him we would be happy to have his help, especially since we had anticipated being short-handed this week. He asked where and when and I told him to come back to the hall anytime the following afternoon. By the time he arrived the next day, we had already finished setting up, so we were all able to spend some time chatting with him and getting to know him better through fellowship and prayer.
As the night went on, he served with his “natural bouncer abilities” by standing at the door to welcome those eager to come in and he also participated in the dirty bathroom clean-up work afterwards – rubber gloves, mop, and all. We had to test his authentic willingness to serve with us, no matter what the job, right? ☺ He maintained his ready and willing attitude, and we expect he will return to serve with us again at future meals. We are always very blessed by the way God connects His family together through prayer and service.
After House of Worship on Sunday night, I met David, who had found my “Pray for Greece!” facebook group and was interested in serving at love meals. I told him we would be happy to have his help, especially since we had anticipated being short-handed this week. He asked where and when and I told him to come back to the hall anytime the following afternoon. By the time he arrived the next day, we had already finished setting up, so we were all able to spend some time chatting with him and getting to know him better through fellowship and prayer.
As the night went on, he served with his “natural bouncer abilities” by standing at the door to welcome those eager to come in and he also participated in the dirty bathroom clean-up work afterwards – rubber gloves, mop, and all. We had to test his authentic willingness to serve with us, no matter what the job, right? ☺ He maintained his ready and willing attitude, and we expect he will return to serve with us again at future meals. We are always very blessed by the way God connects His family together through prayer and service.
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