OSBDR Works to Impact the Unreached People of Greece
OSBDR Team members who traveled to Greece included, Ervin Andy, Jersey Church, New Albany; John Heading, director, OSBDR; Matt Crum and David Bonnell, University BC, Beavercreek.
by Dr. John Heading, OSBDR director
How do you reach a country that is 99.5% lost and at the same time is 90% Greek Orthodox? Ohio Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (OSBDR) recently found out.
In Greece, you reach them one conversation at a time. Gospel conversations are taking place in the market and on the metro, but they could be more effective if a Send Relief Greek community center existed in Athens.
In early June, OSBDR received a request from IMB missionaries Jimmy and Davii Parris, who serve on the field in Athens, Greece. They asked for a Disaster Relief team to assist them in remodeling a new location for a community center.
On July 5, an OSBDR team of four boarded a plane to meet that need. The team included team leader John Heading, OSBDR director; David Bonnell, and Matthew Crum, University Baptist Church, Beavercreek, and Ervin Andy from Jersey Baptist Church, New Albany.
The missionaries rented a location for the community center in early 2023, but the work was moving slower than planned. The missionaries tasked the OSBDR team to move the project forward by installing and wiring new lights in the space, installing plumbing for a kitchenette, building a deck, and installing internet cable.
“No other non-profit is doing anything like this community center,” said Parris. “Any group offering services to the community expects something in return.” The purpose of the community center is to impact the local community, refugees, and those affected by human trafficking.
No other non-profit is doing anything like this community center.
During their ten days on the ground in Athens, the team members were able to complete more work than expected. However, one need was still unmet. The issue was how to provide heating and air conditioning so the community center could operate year-round.
Heading sent a message to all OSBDR members, asking them to contact their own churches to see if DR could raise $3000 to provide heating and cooling for the community center. Within three days the full amount had been raised with donations from Urbancrest BC, Lebanon; First Baptist, Waverly; Violet BC, Pickerington; and a private donor.
The OSBDR team is back home, but the work in Greece continues. OSBDR is responsible for covering disaster responses and requests from IMB personnel in Western Europe. If you would like to serve internationally through OSBDR, contact Dr. John Heading at jheading@scbo.org for more information.
David Bonnell, University BC, Beavercreek; and Ervin Andy, Jersey Church, New Albany, work on electrical, plumbing, and welding for a new community center in Athens, Greece.
Members of OSBDR worked in Greece, helping to build a community center.