Kids, Community, and the Kentro(s)

Last Friday some of our team went to the community center of the First Evangelical Church. First Evangelical's community center is open every Friday night as a place where kids from the area can simply hang out and have fun. There are lots of games for the kids, from Uno to Wii to Ping-Pong. Parents in the area appreciate the community center because it's a safe place to send their kids on Friday night. The community centers are primarily places where the churches connect with the community by building relationships with kids in Athens.

(First Church's community center - Kentro)

Every now and then, especially in the summertime, the community centers of both the First and Second Evangelical Churches host festivals on the weekend. They take lots of games and treats to a local park and kids just start showing up. It's "kind of a big deal." I took some pictures of our first festival.

(kids begin to gather)

(Chelsea doing some face (arm) painting... she did a lot of Albanian flags - Greece has many Albanian immigrants)

(preparing to throw water balloons, part of one of the games)

I've learned enough Greek to ask kids names and tell them my name. I can also say Thank You, You're Welcome, etc. It's amazing how much more you can communicate just through body language, especially around kids. Throwing a football or showing a kid how to walk on stilts (one of the games) doesn't need a lot of explanation.

It was great seeing so many neighborhood kids. It really gave you a feel for "growing up" in Athens. The Evangelical churches are trying to reach these kids and get involved in their lives.