“European countries becoming more ethnically diverse because of immigration is not a new phenomenon but churches and mission groups becoming more aware of migrants is something to be grateful for.”

Migration in Europe is multifaceted. There is no ‘typical immigrant’ – everyone has a unique story. However it can be helpful to cluster, at least to some extent, these groups into ‘settled communities’ who have been here for two or more generations, and ‘unsettled’, such as students, seasonal workers,refugees or asylum seekers. Each group needs a different approach on how to engage with them. South Asian refugees in Greece are one example of an unsettled group.

After an initial visit to Athens in 2011 (see Concern Oct – Dec 2011) I shared about the situation there with various people. Some said they would pray and God started bringing people and resources together.

A bookshop in Holland donated money for Urdu Bibles after a request came from a leader of a church in Athens that I had visited. My report on the situation in Greece was given to a German mission organization, who have now taken up the challenge to mobilize people and resources for short term mission trips to Athens. They also carried by hand most of the Urdu New Testaments from Pakistan to Germany through returning personnel.

 Their first trip took place last July. It was a big ‘success’ in building relationships with the local church and the refugees in Athens. In October a second team went to deepen relationships with a church near the port of Piraeus. Two more visits are already lined up for Spring 2013. The leader of the first trip wrote the following:

 “We have seen the heavens open over Athens, at least in regard to refugees from Muslim countries. It is fascinating to see how open and free we could talk here in Athens and Patras with refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Somalia and other countries about the Gospel. The possibilities and the freedom for the spread of the Gospel among Muslim refugees in Greece are great…”

 I am amazed to see how God brought all the people and pieces together and how working together is such a blessing with lasting fruit. For me this is a model of partnership. Such cooperation is needed to respond to the changing and diverse needs of some of the immigrant communities in Europe. It is also an example of how God uses different people to bring help and foster unity. And all this started with an email to South Asian Concern(UK) in 2010 from a concerned Greek brother living in the UK!

 “Mr S and other brothers have a burden for the many refugees that the Lord has brought to [their] shores: Pakistanis, Indians, Kurds etc. Do you know of a couple who would be interested in working with them..?”

It is my deep conviction that as we see similar models of partnership emerging we will also see the Great Commission being fulfilled amongst the various immigrant communities in Europe.