Thessaloniki was fantastic. We distributed over 11,000 pieces of material in the area of the city NEHBC has adopted and had several gospel presentations. We would have distributed more literature, but we ran out. The challenges are great--including a national religion deeply ingrained in the culture--but not insurmountable. I believe NEHBC can plant house churches there if we have a bold witness. On some of our future trips we may work with other friends there, but I believe NEHBC can come and go from the city by ourselves--the transportation and accommodation logistics are fairly simple.
I am so proud of Team Greece II. We ranged in age from 20 - 67 and some were long time veterans of mission trips and some were first timers. Everyone worked hard and was bold in distributing tracts and getting in conversations with Greeks. We were all nervous and had to choose between being overcome with fear or biblical courage and every single team member chose courage. One couple in their late 60s on their first mission trip blew me away. In temperatures in the low 50s with a drizzling rain she tenaciously went around handing out tracts I neighborhoods--even opening a car door to give one to the driver! Another time while on a city bus I looked over to see him giving a tract to a young Greek man. They handed out as many tracts as anyone else. A lady in her early 40s handed two elderly men tracts only to be yelled at when they read the literature. She simply smiled, wished them a good day, and kept passing out tracts. Her boldness for the gospel is incredible. Eight team members went out on a night off and stood for three hours in cold rain, hands so numb they couldn't feel anything, to pass out 1200 tracts to Greeks rushing to get out of the cold night. The stories of courage from this team are plethora. They caused me to grow in my faith. I feel like a proud father. Missions is in NEHBC's DNA because we are born of a missionary Savior, Jesus Christ.
I'm thrilled to be back in Houston and I can't wait to worship with my church family tomorrow. I love NEHBC so much. We are living on mission for Christ. Tomorrow morning we worship together around the throne; tomorrow night we try to win Houstonians to Christ at our Fall Festival: 6-8pm.
Check out Titus 2:1-15 to prepare for corporate worship.
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