To help better meet the various physical and spiritual needs of the refugees, Helping Hands purchased, renovated and opened a ministry facility in November 1999 called the Athens Refugee Centre.

THE ATHENS REFUGEE CENTRE (ARC)

The Athens Refugee Centre (ARC) is a ministry facility taking up one floor (450 sq. meters) of a 7-story building in a centrally located area. A variety of ministries take place within the walls of the ARC, including:

•  Shower Ministry . An opportunity for homeless refugees to get off the streets and take showers. While waiting their turn, they read evangelistic literature, watch the Jesus video, or interact with believers who tell them how their sins can be washed away.

•  Tea House. Where we serve food to hungry refugees in an informal atmosphere where they can play games, watch videos, and have conversations that build relationships in which the Gospel is shared.

•  Language Classes. Local volunteers offer both English and Greek classes. There are classes that are focused on women and children, and there are other classes open to anyone. The classes help provide a practical need while offering a context in which to verbally share the Gospel.

•  Clothing Room. Locally donated items are distributed by lottery system, personal appointments and large give-aways.

•  Seekers Bible Study . Various evangelistic Bible studies are offered regularly to help introduce lost refugees to Jesus.

•  Intensive Biblical Studies . A systematic discipleship course, in partnership with B.E.E. and Campus Crusade (for some of the materials) for new and old believers alike to help them grow in Christ. We also host several intensive weekend discipleship retreats a year (outside of Athens ).

• Lending Library. Christian tapes, videos and books (mostly in English but also some other languages) can be borrowed to aid spiritual growth and understanding.

•  Bible/literature Distribution and Video Presentations.

•  Ethnic Fellowships. Iranian and other international fellowships currently use the facilities of the ARC for meeting together.

•  Computer Classes . Basic computer skills are taught to a small class on a weekly basis.

•  Russian Tea Room. Weekly outreach to Russians and Ukrainians, which provides spiritual and physical food.

•  Special Outreaches. For women and children, for families, for holiday celebrations, for special clothing or sleeping bag give-aways, etc.

Current monthly costs of running the ARC (water, electricity, food, cleaning supplies, ministry supplies, office supplies, etc.): about $15,000/month

MINISTRIES THAT TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE ARC INCLUDE:

•  hospitality

•  married couples ministry

•  pick-up/receiving/delivering of used furniture and appliances

•  prison ministry to English and Farsi-speaking foreigners

•  language tutoring

•  special refugee camp outreaches

•  the Nests Shelter Ministry

•  Timothy Projects (discipleship retreats)

•  Seekers Weekends (evangelistic retreats).

"THE NEST" MINISTRY

In most cases, the refugees ministered to by Helping Hands are homeless people living on the streets and in parks.

Since February of 1998, IT Athens and Helping Hands have been renting apartment(s) to temporarily house homeless refugees. Furnished with bunk beds, our current facility can house up to 35 people at a time. Initially, it was used for sheltering Kurdish believers who were the founding members of the Kurdish Christian Fellowship in Athens, but others in need have also found a place of refuge, new life, and nourishment in "The Nest" (nest = a temporary domicile for creatures of flight).

Because most of those who stay in the Nests are believers (or become believers while there), and because all of them will only stay there temporarily before moving on, these places are not only a physical shelter from the elements but also places of spiritual preparation where they can be strengthened and nourished before "spreading their wings for flight".

These are not just apartments. They are places of fellowship for believers, places of hearing and experiencing the Good News, places where refugees who come to Christ can be prepared to be sent out as missionaries to other lands. They are "nests"--temporary homes for creatures of flight. This is not just a nice theory, but it has been reality for the past 6+ years.

Current monthly costs of running the Nest ministry (rent, utilities, cleaning supplies, maintenance and repair): $2.600,00/month.( € 2.200,00)