Greece, the land of ancient history, the cradle of Western thought, beautiful beaches, the land of moussaka and souvlaki, has been associated mainly with the economic crisis and the refugee crisis for the last few years. The Balkans is a place where being flexible is an indispensable quality for survival, but even with this innate ability, Greece in the very south of the Balkans is struggling with constant changes in the situation regarding the refugee crisis. During 2017, UNHCR and the government of Greece relocated the majority of refugees from informal camps to more permanent accommodation, which is still temporary.
However, some camps still exist. The church “Apostolic Church Thessaloniki” in Thessaloniki works precisely in one such camp where there is still container accommodation. There they are mostly those caught in a limbo state, between paperwork, interviews and waiting, hope and despair where life is reduced to a minimum, from today to tomorrow. CBN SEE (South East Europe) met with those who carry the vision and very quickly it became clear that these people are committed as long as this situation lasts, recognizing their role in this crisis and the opportunity they have been given to influence people’s lives. As a church and individuals, they give them love, help in need of food, clothing, advice, a simple hug and of course prayer.
Everyone has their own story, their own journey, and as one believer in this Thessaloniki church said, “it is simply an honor to be a part of what God is doing in our time.” CBN SEE is grateful for the opportunity to be part of that work and part of the journey, and through our partners to lend a helping hand in a relevant way and show the love of God in a way that changes lives and gives hope for a better future.
