The Church Grows in Athens

On our most recent trip to Athens, Greece, we installed Javad Jak as our Europe & Middle East Ambassador. Javad has been working with the refugee ministry for over 10 years and currently serves as the pastor to Christ’s Love Persian Church in Athens. A native Iranian, he came to Athens as a refugee and now ministers to former Muslim refugees who have taken asylum in Greece. Javad started with One Kingdom as a World Radio speaker in 2019—but instead of FM radio, he uses an online video ministry. Using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, Javad and his team have broadcast hundreds of videos that provide ministry to some of the most hard-to-reach areas in the world in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, and beyond. 

As we visited with Javad, his wife Julie, and many of the leaders in their community, one of the most encouraging things to see was the church growing in that region. Many of the refugees who come to Athens are just passing through. But as they came to Christ in Athens, they have moved on to share the good news deeper in Europe. New churches have sprouted up in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and more. 

Javad and his team are also working closely with a group in Iran who are leading an underground church movement. You wouldn’t know it by watching the news, but the church in Iran is one of the fastest growing Christian movements in the world. As an ambassador, Javad will help One Kingdom support new leaders in that region and break down barriers for the glory of God. 

I couldn’t be more filled with joy being around these former Muslim refugees. They were looking for freedom and thought that meant countries and borders. Instead, they found freedom in Jesus Christ. The passion they exude when talking about our savior is infectious. This world is not our home, and because of that, we are all refugees. Our home is in Christ, in His kingdom, and that is what unites us all.