Greece has a population of 11 million people. In 2024, 36 million people visited Greece as tourists. Why? Because of the warm sunny climate, incredible beaches, exotic islands, delicious food, warm people, and rich history. Greece can seem like a bit of a paradise, however life in Greece can be challenging. Given the economic situation, people in Greece struggle to pay their bills, causing many people to feel hopeless about their future and job opportunities. With only a 0.2% evangelical population, Greece sits in the 10/40 window. There is little gospel hope throughout the country.  200,000 college students live in Athens where they are increasingly discontent with the traditional way of life, but don’t have any relevant contact with a believer to help them consider the person of Jesus. They no longer hold on to their Greek Orthodox roots like previous generations did, but there is no clarity on a better path that leads to Life. But Greeks are incredibly warm and relationally centered, providing incredible opportunities for ministry through friendships. 

One year ago, Campus Outreach SERVE sent a family, the Frantzes, to Athens in partnership with the Pangrati Church. The Frantzes have begun with a long-term view of ministry in Greece, and have committed to two initial years in language school, while just beginning to explore and investigate the campus.  By fall of 2025–armed with Greek language proficiency–they intend to turn their attention fully to university students. There is still much to learn about how to best meet students (Greek universities lack campus housing or a strong campus culture), where to spend time, and how to engage Greek students with the gospel.  However, the hope is that the Lord will use the perseverance of those with a pioneer spirit to pursue relationships among non-Christian Greek college students. 

Although most Greeks are functional in the English language, life is in Greek - from the church service, bible studies, public transportation, eating out, university classes, etc. We are praying that the Lord will raise up a few CO LEAD candidates to engage in language learning part time while giving the majority of their time to relationships and ministry in English with university students. 

Moving to the densely populated city of Athens is no easy endeavor, but consider the weight of this fact: in the Greek Evangelical Church an average of only 10 people per year in all of Greece come to faith from an Orthodox background. Only 10.  If the Lord is pleased to use the efforts of a few laborers to increase or even multiply that number, it would represent a significant kingdom impact and be a vision worth giving one’s life to.