2025 Athens Intensive Schedule
The mornings will focus on the following topics. The afternoons will be spent interviewing local church planters.Day 1
September 2
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Sashko and David
Just a brief introduction to the conference.
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Glotis Kantarkzis
Gospel-centered ministry starts with a clear understanding of what the gospel is and is not. Understanding the richness and the outlines of the Biblical gospel is the starting point and the power for all of life and your ministry. The gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life. It is inaccurate to think the gospel is what saves non-Christians, and then Christians mature by trying hard to live according to biblical principles. It is more accurate to say that we are saved by believing the gospel, and then we are transformed in every part of our minds, hearts, and lives by believing the gospel more and more deeply as life goes on.
Recommended Reading:
Center Church, Timothy Keller, part 1&2 (Chapters 1-6)
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A small break for coffee and conversation between morning sessions
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David Stoddard
So where do you start? And once the first steps in church-planting are taken, where do you go from there? In this seminar we will focus on defining the “big picture” and the life-cycle of a local church from its beginning to maturity.
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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The Pangrati Project
Directions: Douridos 2, Athina 116 34
Day 2
September 3
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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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George Tolias
Most Christians spend their working lives hoping that God will find some way to use their efforts for his priorities. They may not be able to see how God can use what they consider their daily grind or, by contrast, the glorious pursuits for which they are passionate. Still, because they are God’s people, they pray that he will provide some real connection between their work and his mission for our world. As church-planters, these are some of the questions we have to answer to the people we are trying to reach and engage in ministry: What is the purpose of work? How can I use my skills in a vocation that has meaning and purpose? Can I stay true to my values and still advance in my field? When we realize that every honest job exists on the holy ground of God’s calling, then we will rejoice in the mission we have at work.
Recommended Reading:
Every Good Endeavour, Timothy Keller
Grace at Work, Bryan Chapell
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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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Greek Evangelical Church of Glyfada
Directions: Achilleos 29, Glifada 166 75, Greece
September 4
Day 3
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Tim Coomar
How do we best connect to unbelievers and connect them to Christ? It begins by understanding how to recognize the cultural glasses we wear, removing them, and exchanging them for other lenses. We need to learn to see life through others' lenses, but ultimately help them see life through the lense of the Gospel. The first "seeing" involves critical engagement, the second Gospel proclamation. This will be a workshop unpacking Dan Strange's model of "subversive fullment."
Recommended Reading:
Plugged In & Making Faith Magnetic, Dan Strange
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A small break for coffee and conversation between morning sessions
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Tim Coomar
Is the current culture redeemable and good, or fundamentally fallen? Should we be pessimistic or optimistic about cultural change? Why all models of approaching the culture are right and… wrong? This biblical understanding of our fallenness — cursed yet still sustained by non-salvific grace — is crucial for relating Christ to culture. The world is sustained by common grace —yet it is cursed. Christians are redeemed and saved — yet they are still filled with remaining sin. The battle line between God and idols not only runs through the world; it runs through the heart of every believer. How should we then relate to the world around us and to the culture we are called to?
Recommended Reading:
Center Church, Timothy Keller (part 5, chapters 15-18)
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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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Greek Evangelical Church of Exarcheia
Directions: Emmanouil Benaki 83, Athina 106 81
September Intensive Info
Athens, Greece
September 2-4, 2025
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First Church recommends Acropolis Select (a 5-minute walk to 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 3 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. Note that you will need CASH (in EUROS), as taxis don’t typically accept credit cards unless you book through the Uber or FreeNow apps. This will be the fastest and most convenient method.
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 card fits your needs best. We will be taking public transportation at least once per day. 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 cohort.
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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