MMI Sponsors New Ministry Partner
in Greece
by Helen Kaufmann

Athina and Leonidas Georgantopolous

Leonidas and Athina Georgandopoulos in Greece are among the newest appointees to the 2 Timothy 2:2 program of Men's Ministries. Currently, evangelists are being sponsored in seven countries around the world in a ministry that is making the men's organization truly international.

Leonidas wears a number of hats in the church in Thessaloniki, Greece. In addition to his roles as youth leader, worship leader and guitar player, he works with men's ministries and does some preaching in the new church, which is pastored by Rev. Sakis Kopatzidis. Leonidas has occasion to draw on other skills, as well, including building, repairing and doing graphic design.

Work in progress on the Thessaloniki church

Leonidas also manages the Anagenesis Bookstore, which carries Christian books, school and office supplies, bus tickets and stamps, as well as providing Internet access. Missionary Michael Long reports that, "After school the neighborhood boys flood the store to play games on the five computers ... and play football when Leonidas arranges a match." Some stay for the kids' program or youth group. Athina, Leonidas' wife, meets with people at the bookstore and provides English and Greek lessons.

Leonidas holds the prayer globe at the Harare World Conference

Leonidas also helps in an innovative ministry through the church's Balkan aid agency headquartered in the back of the center. The agency will provide shoe manufacturing equipment to Christians in the Bulgarian town of Sandanski so that they will have a means of raising funds. The equipment is being provided by Pastor Sakis Kopatzidis, who has retired from his family's shoe-making business. Kopatzidis will train the Bulgarians to use the equipment.

There is great excitement among Free Methodists in Thessaloniki as they begin to worship in their new church building. Renovation is nearly completed, thanks to the help of work teams from Michigan and the UK. The first service was held in early November and already the congregation is growing. As Long observes, this new work is "just 50 feet from the ancient market where the Apostle Paul first preached the saving truth of the Gospel."