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GRC01PJ0412 We bring people together to help the oppressed Lives and communities transformed by the power of God Athens Koukaki Church Ministry Center Special Project Provide urgent relief to an Athens community devastated by the Greek economic crisis The Project Establish the Koukaki Ministry Center, an outreach of the Second Evangelical Church of Athens Duration of Project September 2012—September 2014 Project Leader Themis Sirinides—ITeams worker in Athens, Greece Budget $39,000 PROJECT DETAILS Less than a mile from Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the Athenians of their unknown God in Acts 17, thousands have been ruined by the Greek economy. As the economic crisis devastates many middle-class Greeks, the numbers of those in desperate need continues to rise. Mixalis has had his small pension cut nearly in half. After paying monthly rent and utilities, there is not enough left for food. He depends on the soup kitchens for his daily meals. Ahmed came from Egypt 15 years ago and opened a tailor shop. He could support his family until the recent economic crisis ruined him. Eventually he had to close the shop. He has not been able to provide for his family since, and depends on the help of neighbors and the Koukaki church for food. Some newcomers have already begun attending Sunday and mid-week services. The Koukaki church now feeds more than 120 Greeks, refugees, and immigrants every week. But the crisis is deepening and they can’t possibly keep up with the exploding demand. That is why they need your help to establish a center to feed the poor and reach many more people with the Gospel. ANTICIPATED RESULTS Install kitchen Provide hot meals for hundreds more Install showers and laundry facilities Give dignity to the homeless and those without access to water or electricity Open clothes closet and food pantry Meet basic needs of individuals and families Set up classroom Offer Greek and English classes to refugees as well as Bible studies for Greeks Start library and computer access Provide Christian books and other online resources The Koukaki neighborhood is filled with people on the periphery of society. Impoverished Greeks, refugees, and immigrants are often treated as second-class citizens. The mission of the Koukaki Church Ministry Center is to present Jesus to the poor and marginalized by demonstrating and proclaiming the Gospel. Those whom the church serves will have access to: • Basic necessities such as food, clothing and hygiene • Training in basic Greek and English language skills • Christian witness, including Bible studies and discipleship The successful launch of this project will mean that: • Thousands in the Koukaki neighborhood will be exposed to the Gospel. • The evangelical church in Koukaki will start a movement among sister churches in Athens to reach out to their communities with the Good News of Jesus Christ and address the oppression of the marginalized. Partnership Opportunities Give Use of Funds Building $25,000 • Rent through Sep. 2014 • Utilities including water, heat, electricity Short-Term Individuals—Six-week to one-year service opportunities for people with experience in institutional cooking, youth work, nursing or computers. Other vocational skills considered Materials $6,500 Short-Term Teams—Periods of 9-14 days to help with the feeding program, local youth ministry, community cleaning projects and special relief outreaches in Greece Project Development $7,500 • Partnership Development • Administrative Services • Promotion • Travel Costs Total $39,000 • $1,000 covers rent and utilities for a month • $6,500 covers kitchen equipment purchase, building furnishings and computer purchase Go Long-term Workers—Individuals or couples with a heart for youth; individuals or couples who have a passion to serve the oppressed through relief ministry. Minimum of two years for these opportunities Pray • pray for the Greek Evangelical Church • pray for Greek people going through severe crisis About the Project Leader Athens is full of impoverished Greeks, refugees, immigrants and homeless people, unable to meet their own basic needs. Now is the time to reflect Jesus’ heart for the disadvantaged Themis Sirinidis has a long legacy of helping the oppressed in Greece. For 15 years this Greek American co-led the team that started a significant outreach (“Helping Hands”) among refugees in Athens. The strategy was to help develop and encourage this organization to become independent, where Greeks could lead the vision and support the work. Helping Hands now has an active Board of Directors and the yearly Greek donations are sufficient to sustain the ministry. But Themis’s passion to encourage the local church in joining Gods Kingdombuilding work just continues to grow. Instead of asking the local church to join forces with an independent ministry, Themis is now asking the church how he and his team can empower the church to reach those in need. The response of the local Greek Evangelical church is very positive. Since adopting this new approach, the outreach program has increased from feeding 30 people once a week to more than 120 three times a week . In the next five years, Themis’s goal is to cast the vision to five other sister churches. The model currently being honed will become the standard for Athenian churches seeking to be beacons of light in their communities by giving access to food, freedom and forgiveness to the oppressed. For more information: Contact Project Developer, Keith Allison—336.693.8747—[email protected] www.iteams.us