Athens Short-term Team Mission Trip Report
For more photos and information about the trip, you can go to: https://scottmccracken.wixsite.com/mysite/as-is-church-mission-teams NOTE: We were not allowed to take pics of refugees' faces without permission, and only then if we had some relationship with them. PLEASE DO NOT REPOST any of our photos online.
After 20 months of training, one postponement, losing two team members and gaining one other, the As Is Church Short-term Ministry Team left Portland on September 22nd for Athens, Greece where they served the staff of the Helping Hands ministry for 2 weeks. We had a flexible, loving team, with servants hearts. God provided all the funds we needed to go and we were able to buy a lot of socks and underwear, buy some ministry supplies for a park outreach, and make a financial contribution to the ministry. Other than our teammate Rose getting stuck in San Francisco, unable to join us in Athens until the day after we arrived, and Vicki experiencing a TIA (mini-stroke) and ending up in the hospital for a couple of days, the trip went very well. Although under strict COVID restrictions and a very limited number of refugees allowed in the building, the Helping Hands ministry adapted strategically and creatively to continue meeting practical and spiritual needs of the refugees. Our days and nights were full and included Men's Day, Women's Day, Children Outreaches, Women's Crafts, Clothing distribution, Food distribution, showers, games, videos, conversations and a Park Outreach. When not at Helping Hands, we were able to share meals (i.e., GREAT Greek food) with the team, with some of our former colleagues and friends, with HH staff, and with some dear refugee friends. The weather was fantastic (rained only one day), relationships were formed with refugees and staff, the Gospel was communicated in word and deed, gifts were used, love was shared, the staff was served, vision for the world was enlarged and hearts for the nations were sensitized. And our team's love for each other was deepened. THE DISCIPLESHIP PROCESS CONTINUES!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL WHO FINANCIALLY INVESTED AND/OR PRAYED FOR US.
For more photos and information about the trip, you can go to:
https://scottmccracken.wixsite.com/mysite/as-is-church-mission-teams
NOTE: We were not allowed to take pics of refugees' faces without permission, and only then if we had some relationship with them. PLEASE DO NOT REPOST any of our photos online.
We were so pleased to have our dear brother and former Athens teammate Nader Mohajer come visit us and speak to small groups in our church, as well as be interviewed by me in our worship service on Missions Sunday. He also spoke some at the lunch following the morning service. If you want to see the interview you can do so here:
https://www.facebook.com/ASISChurch/videos/255071136495013
(there are some audio difficulties at the beginning that eventually get worked out)
Additionally, while Nader was here, we spent a day filming me teaching lessons on marriage and parenting which will be broadcast into the Middle East via Sat7 (https://sat7.org/), the largest Christian satellite network beaming into the Middle East. Nader is the media producer for Christian satellite programs and studio manager for Gideon's ShareWord Global.
Scott has three YouTube Channels now (big deal)! If you visit them and click "subscribe" (you don't even have to watch them), it will help get them out to people who need the info on them. I am trying to add one video per week to each channel. 1, YouTube Channel #1, Parenting Matters With McCracken (applicable to parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers, etc.): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaPAv4EZvuCAWuWC3h3BkJg 2. YouTube Channel #2, Marriage Matters With McCracken (applicable to people who already are married or who want to get ready for marriage some day): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-bN1Y1fBq3JL9HdBXcwswg/videos 3. YouTube Channel #3, Story Time With Salty ("Salty" is my nickname at our church, and our Family Minister asked me to make this channel; it is made up of stories, parables, and illustrations that have a spiritual meaning) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Story+time+with+salty
If you do not receive our updates once every month or two, it may be that your contact info somehow dropped off our list (it has happened to some people lately). Please let us know if you do not hear from us on a regular basis. You can also find most of our updates posted at: https://www.imccracken7.net/
Because of YOU, we are able to educate others about sex trafficking, help foster a collaborative spirit amongst churches in an at-risk community, disciple others who will disciple others, and take the Gospel to the nations! Thank you for allowing God to use your prayers and financial investments to help this happen!
Copyright © 2021 Scott and Vicki McCracken, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because somehow you connected with our life and/or ministry . Please let us know if you prefer to not receive these updates, or feel free to click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of this page. ** Team Ministry (https://onecollective.org/community/rockwood-usa) ** Family/Ministry (https://scottmccracken.wixsite.com/mysite) THANKS AGAIN FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN THE GOSPEL THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS AND/OR FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS! WE APPRECIATE YOU! Tax-deductible donations may be made to "One Collective" (with an enclosed note expressing your intended designation--i.e., "for Scott and Vicki McCracken's account"), and sent to: One Collective 2155 Point Boulevard, Suite 200 Elgin, IL 60123 For online giving, go to: https://give.onecollective.org/30US0203Copyright (C) 2021 Scott and Vicki McCracken. All rights reserved. Scott and Vicki McCracken 2225 SE 157th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97233 Add us to your address book Copyright © 2021 Scott and Vicki McCracken, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because somehow you connected with our life and/or ministry . Please let us know if you prefer to not receive these updates. Our mailing address is: Scott and Vicki McCracken 2225 SE 157th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97233 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
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