Greece is a beautiful tourist destination for people from the US and abroad. However, there are also those who travel to Greece far from the scourge of war and famine at home. One such people group are the Afghan refugees. Displaced from Afghanistan, these people have come to build a new life in Athens. However, many find themselves falling into poverty while in this transition. In despair, many turn to drugs, alcohol and prostitution. In these families, it is common for the children to stay home from school as their parents fear this may cause problems at home due to their illegal status. Unfortunately, many of these children end up on the streets where their situation continues to spiral downward.
Omonia Square is where TSC has built a relationship with the Mercy Center. By day, Omonia Square bustles with tourists, but at night it is riddled with hundreds of young people some frantically looking for their next heroin fix, some selling drugs and young women engaged in prostitution. The Mercy Center is located just blocks from Omonia Square, a true light in the darkness.
At the Mercy Center, in addition to the weekly outreaches and evangelistic services to the adults in Greek and Farsi (a common Afghan language), every Tuesday between 20 and 25 Afghan children gather for children’s church, bible stories and a meal provided by ChildCry. This meal is sometimes the only food these children will eat for days, ironic if you consider that this land so rich in produce and meats. In addition to the practical provision of food and clothing, the Mercy Center is a place where these refugees can know that there is a team that cares deeply for them, directly from the heart of Christ.
ChildCry provides funding to feed 20-25 children once per week.
