"Greece is a country with a rich, important, religious history and very little vibrant, Christ-centered faith. After centuries of history with Greek Orthodoxy at its epicenter, Greece has exchanged personal, heart-changing faith, for tradition. The country is full of churches, religious songs, spiritual phrases, and religious icons, but so few Greeks know of the heart of God and His deep love for them.
Adding to this confusing spiritual reality, Greek has suffered multiple crippling crises in the past few decades, most notably the financial crisis in 2009 and now the refugee crisis, which began in 2015 and still continues. These two crises have added a great deal of hardship to the daily life of Greek people. Millions of refugees now live in Greece, scattered across islands and the mainland, with the government largely unable to cope with such a difficult and expensive reality. Refugees living in Greece come from all over the world, mostly Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Iran. Greek people at their heart are passionate, hospitable, and friendly. The refugees are strong people at heart too; brave and optimistic despite their unbearable suffering, hospitable despite their poverty, and longing for truth and light. There is much work to be done, but God is sovereign to accomplish what He wills!"