2027 Athens Intensive Schedule
January 12-15, 2027
The mornings will focus on the following topics. The afternoons will be spent interviewing local church planters.Day 1
January 12
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Sashko and David
A brief introduction to the intensive
Location for all main sessions:
First Greek Evangelical Church
Leof. Vasilisis Amalias 50, Athina 105 58 -
Mike Tilley
The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This salvation is more than simply payment for our sins, it is the power for our sanctification and spiritual growth. Thus the gospel is the basis of our acceptance with God, the power underlying Christian community, and the impulse for mission in the world. We will discuss some key questions. How do we include both gospel astonishment and gospel obedience? How do we walk the balance beam that keeps us from both legalism and license? How do we keep the gospel central in worship, discipleship, evangelism, and church planting? We will discover that the gospel is not only good news for the lost. It is good news for the found, for the city, and for the world.
Recommended Reading:
Center Church by Tim Keller, chapters 1-6
Gospel Centered Leadership by Mike Tilley
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A small break for coffee and conversation between morning sessions
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David Stoddard
In considering if someone should plant a church, the foundational question is this: “Is he called to do so?” The great need of a city, the leadership skills of the candidate, even the urgency of the Lord’s command (Matthew 28:16-20), while essential elements, do not in themselves constitute a call. So what are key elements of this call and what are essential characteristics of a called church planter? Additionally, since we are focusing on teams in this cohort, what are key DNA factors for healthy church-planting teams?
Recommended Reading:
Authentic Ministry, Michael Reeves
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Lunch is on your own, ideally with other members of the cohort.
From David Pervis: A list of recommendations of where to eat
David Pervis writes, "There’s lots of good food in Greece, and we’ve included an attachment with a few places we like in the areas around the Acropolis, Monastiraki, the Plaka, Syntagma Square, and Sigrou Fix. But there are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from! Our advice would be to check TripAdvisor for recent reviews, as sometimes the touristy places can be ‘tired.’ Even better, ask your Greek colleagues where they would recommend. Καλή όρεξη!”
From Emmanuel Tsoutsas: A list of the best spots in Athens for food, ancient sights, coffee, beaches, and more
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Location: The Pangrati Project
Directions: Douridos 2, Athina 116 34
Day 2
January 13
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Alexandros Pipilios
You must somehow submerse yourself deeply into the context you want to serve. Of course, the best way to do this is to live with the people: learn their idioms, study their humor, enjoy their foods, listen to their stories, sing their songs. This takes time. A short cut is to learn to observe with spiritually sensitive eyes, like Paul when he visited Athens. This module helps you do this through explaining how various types of research help and how to summarize your findings in people profiles.
Recommended Reading:
Center Church, Timothy Keller (chapters 19-21)
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A small break for coffee and conversation between morning sessions
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Sashko Nezamutdinov
Theological vision is how we see our culture in light of our doctrine, and examining it will likely result in a ministry that serves others rather than ourselves. Differences in theological vision explain why two churches in the same denomination with the same creeds will look completely different to an outsider, or may even vehemently disagree with each other's choice of music, liturgy and programs. It is also why a first-time visitor may feel instantly alienated or embraced. The concept of "theological vision," or "middleware" between doctrine and ministry decisions.
Recommended Reading:
Center Church, Timothy Keller (Introduction)
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Lunch is on your own, ideally with other members of the cohort.
From David Pervis: A list of recommendations of where to eat
David Pervis writes, "There’s lots of good food in Greece, and we’ve included an attachment with a few places we like in the areas around the Acropolis, Monastiraki, the Plaka, Syntagma Square, and Sigrou Fix. But there are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from! Our advice would be to check TripAdvisor for recent reviews, as sometimes the touristy places can be ‘tired.’ Even better, ask your Greek colleagues where they would recommend. Καλή όρεξη!”
From Emmanuel Tsoutsas: A list of the best spots in Athens for food, ancient sights, coffee, beaches, and more
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Location: Pisti sto Kentro (Faith in the Center)
Directions: Ipparchou 49-53, Athina 117 43
January 14
Day 3
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Mike Tilley
God works through prayer, leaders, and wise planning to advance his kingdom. But how do we formulate strategy that will work in our unique cultural context? This session offers two “tools” that we can use to formulate strategy. Both tools are team based and robust, meaning you can use them with your team, and you can use them in any context. The first is a big picture planning tool called “The Strategic Planning Process.” This tool guides a group to answer six questions to create a wise long-range plan for your ministry. The second tool is called “The Problem Solving Process,” and this one is a tool to solve problems and create solutions. Whether your challenges are evangelism, developing leaders, recruiting, making plans for discipleship, or numerous other challenges, you can use this tool to “mine group gold.”
Recommended Reading:
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A small break for coffee and conversation between morning sessions
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David Stoddard
This seminar walks through the full life cycle of a church plant—from the initial dream and strategic vision, through evangelism, leadership development, and public launch, to maturity and reproduction.
Drawing on biblical models and real-world examples from European church-planting contexts, we explore each phase with honest attention to where churches commonly stall or lose their sense of mission.
Participants will consider what it looks like to plant strategically rather than just conveniently, to prioritize gathering unbelievers rather than simply consolidating Christians, and to build a reproductive DNA into a church from day one—so that multiplication isn't a late-stage afterthought but a founding conviction.
Whether you’re in the early stages of dreaming about a plant or leading a church that has plateaued, this seminar offers both a diagnostic framework and a forward-looking vision for what healthy, multiplying churches can look like.
Location:
Chalmers Hall, Edinburgh Theological Seminary
15 N Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LS -
Lunch is on your own, ideally with other members of the cohort.
From David Pervis: A list of recommendations of where to eat
David Pervis writes, "There’s lots of good food in Greece, and we’ve included an attachment with a few places we like in the areas around the Acropolis, Monastiraki, the Plaka, Syntagma Square, and Sigrou Fix. But there are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from! Our advice would be to check TripAdvisor for recent reviews, as sometimes the touristy places can be ‘tired.’ Even better, ask your Greek colleagues where they would recommend. Καλή όρεξη!”
From Emmanuel Tsoutsas: A list of the best spots in Athens for food, ancient sights, coffee, beaches, and more
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Location: Greek Evangelical Church of Exarcheia
Directions: Sardeon 17, Nea Smyrni, 17121
January 15
Day 4
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Daniel Brink
Deciding how to use limited time and manpower when there are so many good things to be doing in church planting.
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January Intensive Info
Athens, Greece
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First Church recommends Acropolis Select (a 5-minute walk to First Church) or anywhere within walking distance of First Church
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First Greek Evangelical Church
Leof. Vasilisis Amalias 50, Athina 105 58, Greece
Participants are on their own to buy appropriate tickets to/from the airport, as well as transportation over the 4 days.
We’ll be traveling to different church-planting sites each afternoon, so you’ll need to arrange your own transportation.
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Getting to/from the airport
Airport shuttle buses run 24 hours
Taxi
Should cost 40-60 Euros to downtown Athens. Taxis are required to take payment by credit card, though some will claim their meter is broken so that you will pay them in cash.
The fastest and most convenient way to secure a ride is through the Uber or FreeNow apps.
Get more info about taxis via This is Athens
Metro
May involve one or more line changes, depending on where you are staying. Tickets can be purchased from machines at the airport using either cash or a credit card. This will take longer than a taxi.
Getting around Athens
You will need to figure out which transportation fits your needs best. We will be taking public transportation at least once during the week. Feel free to share findings or recommendations with this group (or via our WhatsApp group).
Check out This is Athens for more info about using public transportation.
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We ask that participants bring any snacks they want during the day. Lunch and dinner are on your own, or hopefully with others in the intensive.
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From David Pervis: A list of recommendations of where to eat
David Pervis writes, "There’s lots of good food in Greece, and we’ve included an attachment with a few places we like in the areas around the Acropolis, Monastiraki, the Plaka, Syntagma Square, and Sigrou Fix. But there are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from! Our advice would be to check TripAdvisor for recent reviews, as sometimes the touristy places can be ‘tired.’ Even better, ask your Greek colleagues where they would recommend. Καλή όρεξη!”
From Emmanuel Tsoutsas: A list of the best spots in Athens for food, ancient sights, coffee, beaches, and more