We've just returned from a really encouraging start to the new year - around 40 students came along to the opening meeting of the year. Between us we laid out the vision for the year and some of the opportunities that there'll be to be trained, encouraged and equipped to make Christ known in word and deed on the deeply lost campuses of Athens and beyond.
The chap in the green t-shirt addressing the 40 or so students is Dimitris, the brand new director of IFES Greece. He's half-time. Just visible behind his back is Christos who's working with us for 10-15 hours a week. Not present is Manos (working 10-15 hours a week) who was supposed to be running part of the evening but had a motorbike accident on his way to it. I've just heard he escaped with one cut needing stitches. Every time we gather students together in Athens something bad or obstructive happens, but we're relieved he's OK.
It was a really good start to the year, with clarity on vision and purpose, lots of good things for people to get involved with (1-2-1 support, small group Bible studies explicitly shaped to get people living and speaking for Jesus on campus, an advance notice for Paros 2014 plus a regular series of new leaders' training and regular cold-contact outreach - and a good vibe to boot.
We're really pleased with the start, but now comes the hard part: encouraging them to really get involved and nail their colours to the gospel mast, and helping them to learn (often from scratch) how to really meaningfully engage their fellow students with the good news. This is not going to be helped by the fact that many universities are still closed because they're unable to operate in the current financial climate.
Watch this and other spaces for updates.
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