I didn’t anticipate being able to see ancient Biblical cities on my trip, but once we landed, I realized how close everything was. We were able to visit Corinth, Athens, Thessaloniki and Philippi. The ancient city of Corinth is built on a terrace overlooking the turquoise waters of the gulf, and Its breathtaking ruins include a Greek temple and village. While we walked its paths, Emma read 1 Corinthians out loud and it hit me – this is the first place 1 Cor 13 was ever heard! Philippi was another small city and is the location of the first church plant in all of Europe! It was so powerful to see where Paul was imprisoned and the riverbank where Lydia was baptized. Thessaloniki was a larger modern city, and we were able to worship with a YWAM team ministering there. The highlight of my time in Athens was an extended worship time on Mars Hill!

During this trip I was reminded that the books we read in the Bible were actually written for specific groups of people. Of course we are called to read them today and apply His truth that never changes to our lives, but a long time ago, they were letters to communities. Ever wondered about that large portion in 1 Corinthians on sexual purity? After walking in Corinth’s ruins and reading what went on in the pagan temples, it was clear why Paul shared so much on that topic! God is still speaking. He is writing letters to each of our hearts to encourage and build us up! Spending time with God in His Word and listening to His voice is so important. It’s how we grow daily in His Spirit.

Another highlight of my trip was meeting so many beautiful people. The first week we were there, we met Sarah, a missionary from England. She had started a Gypsy school and pregnancy center in Athens. My team visited the school and worshiped with the children. What an amazing place where these kids could learn, build friendships and receive help. It was so powerful to play my violin and sing about God’s goodness with a community that has been rejected by so many. I will never forget those children and the hope we saw in their eyes!

The second week of my trip, we visited Lesbos, an island only 4.5 miles from Turkey. Lesbos has a Greek population of 86,000 but recently has received over half a million refugees! This has created a huge crisis. There is currently a refugee camp with over 8,000 people living there, but the camp was designed for under 2,000. Doctors, teachers, mothers, fathers, underage children travelling alone – all are waiting for the day when they can leave the shores of this little island and continue their journey across Europe.

Bringing it home…

God spoke to my heart during my travels and opened my eyes to the crisis happening in Greece, but also to a crisis happening all over our world. The dictionary definition of refugee is: A person who flees for safety in a time of political upheaval or war. Every day we are surrounded by people who have never experienced home – who are looking for safety and peace. In John 14:23, Jesus says,

“Anyone who loves me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them…”

If you had keys to endless rooms in a mansion and saw a homeless man, would you want to give him one of your keys? God is calling us to lay down our lives in His Love and reveal the home Christ has given us to share with others. Whether it looks like forgiveness, a kind act of service, praying for someone, giving an encouraging word or sharing the Gospel directly – it’s time to share the home we have in Christ. He is calling us to reach out in His love!

Prayer Points

Let’s take 5 minutes and pray for Greece – Refreshment and revelation of relationship with Jesus to the Greek Orthodox church. Salvation for the refugees. Abundant provision over all of Greece’s economy and Divine strategy for the government and the refugee crisis.