Faith Facts

• The Glyfada Church of Christ in Athens holds nine services weekly in five languages to reach refugees from around the world
• Greece serves as Europe’s gateway for hundreds of thousands of refugees annually from Africa, the Middle East, and war-torn nations
• Ministers focus on rapid discipleship, knowing many refugees will relocate within months, preparing them to join churches across Europe

ATHENS, GREECE — Jesus commanded His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). But in this ancient European capital with deep biblical roots, the nations are coming to them — often as refugees fleeing persecution and war.

Known as a bridge to Europe, Greece has become the most accessible entry point for refugees from Africa and the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of people of different nationalities pass through the country each year, presenting Churches of Christ with an unprecedented opportunity to share the Gospel with people from closed nations.

The Glyfada Church of Christ adapted to this influx by offering nine services during the week in five languages: Greek, Russian, English, Farsi and Albanian. While some refugees stay in Athens for years, others remain only for months, forcing ministers and missionaries to completely rethink their approach to evangelism and discipleship.

“You’re going to think about, ‘I have this short time so I need to be prepared,'” said Ebrahim Fatahi, a member who helps lead the Farsi and Greek services.

“How to approach them, how to bring them to the church, how to teach them enough that they can understand what is the plan of salvation, to be saved. Then when they leave, to tell them it’s important to be part of the church and then find them a church in other parts of Europe.”

Fatahi himself arrived in Greece in 2017 through Samos Island as a refugee from Iran. Through worshiping and now ministering at the Glyfada congregation, he has witnessed firsthand the dramatic shifts in refugee populations. When Fatahi started worshiping with the church, anywhere from 80 to 150 people attended the Farsi-speaking service.

Attendance — and the general population of Farsi-speaking refugees in Athens — decreased in 2019 partially because many refugees from the 2015 European migrant crisis received papers to move to other countries. Today, Fatahi said, the average attendance at the Farsi service is between 30 and 40 members.

When refugees who become Christians leave for other countries, it is a bittersweet experience for the preachers at Glyfada. They do not witness firsthand the continued growth of new believers, but they do hear reports about what those Christians are accomplishing when they settle in other nations.

“It’s a joy, and it’s sad, and sometimes it’s strange,” Fatahi said.

Overcoming Challenges and Change

Missionaries Keith and Tricia Young, who worship at the Glyfada congregation, learned to adapt to the flow of refugees through Athens when they arrived in October 2021. The couple expected to work exclusively with Farsi-speaking refugees, but when they arrived, there were large numbers of Ukrainian refugees because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Youngs adapted and began working with the Ukrainian refugees at the church. They later connected with nonprofit Hellenic Ministries and began serving Farsi-speaking refugees in the community.

“We never dreamed that we’d be working with the Ukrainian outreach and the Farsi,” Tricia said.

“The Ukrainian outreach has taken off so much with so many people being baptized and starting to learn more about Jesus.”

The couple attends the Greek, Russian/Ukrainian and Farsi-speaking worship services but acknowledged it has been difficult for all the small groups to feel like one unified congregation. However, Young said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders have encouraged interaction between the ethnic groups, and there is more crossover now. The smallest group at Glyfada is actually the Greek population, but Young said this gives the church more opportunities to evangelize.

“It gives the ministers here other audiences that might be more receptive,” Young said.

“The refugee population has been the most receptive, especially the Iranian population. They were unhappy with what they had at home and they’re looking for something better.”

Tricia Young, who teaches the children’s class during the Farsi service, said some of the children were especially receptive to the Bible lessons because they could personally relate to the stories of displacement and seeking refuge.

“It was traumatic for them when we talked about Jesus. This is the story they know, having to travel, going to Egypt to be in a safe place. They knew that story. It was their story, too.”

The Ebb and Flow of Refugees

The refugees with whom Fatahi and the Youngs work represent a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of people seeking refuge in Greece. According to the International Rescue Committee, there are 214,000 refugees and 20,000 asylum-seekers in the country this year.

Major world events directly influence the number of refugees — and the countries from which they primarily come. Fatahi first witnessed the effects of the 2015 European migrant crisis, when over 821,000 refugees arrived in Europe through Greece.

A few years later, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Athens Institute for Education and Research President Gregory T. Papanikos said the government implemented strict border controls, temporarily reducing the flow of refugees and migrants. Next, the Ukrainian refugee population in Greece increased dramatically with the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war. Papanikos wrote in an October 2022 paper that the Greek government welcomed large numbers of Ukrainian refugees — about 32,600 arrived from January to May 2022 alone.

However, that meant the number of refugees accepted from other countries decreased proportionally. One of the most recent world conflicts that could affect refugees in Greece is the war between Iran and joint U.S.-Israeli forces. However, data from the Ministry of Migration in Asylum does not indicate a significant increase in Iranian refugees yet.

“To my knowledge, there is no clear evidence of (Iranian outmigration because of the war) or at least no official record,” Papanikos said.

“Current reports from international organizations suggest that, despite significant internal displacement within Iran, there has not been a major cross-border exodus so far.”

Leonid Ivanov, Hellenic Ministries’ director of compassion ministry, has served with the nonprofit since 2017 and also observed the flow of refugees through working in the community. Ivanov, who came to Athens as a refugee from eastern Ukraine, said he remembered the years when refugees in Athens were primarily Farsi-speaking, and the nonprofit served over 500 meals daily. Then, he said, the majority were African refugees, and today, there are many Ukrainian refugees.

“The most rewarding (thing) about ministering to the refugee community is to see the transformation in the lives of refugees. Of course, I mean first the spiritual transformation. … It’s great to see how Muslims become Christian. It’s good to see how people can integrate into society, into Athens.”

Whether refugees choose to stay in Greece, like Fatahi, or if they only remain for a few months, the ministers at Glyfada serve however they can — by helping with housing accommodations, food distribution and, most importantly, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Here, they find fellowship,” Glyfada minister Dino Roussos said.

“It’s not just salvation for eternity, which is the most important, but while we’re on this earth, we need to have good fellowship and a good place. This is a refuge for those who are hurting and trying to find the truth.”

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