{"id":4555,"date":"2020-02-10T16:55:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T16:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/2020\/02\/10\/from-mars-to-mobiles-sharing-the-gospel-in-greece\/"},"modified":"2020-02-10T16:55:14","modified_gmt":"2020-02-10T16:55:14","slug":"from-mars-to-mobiles-sharing-the-gospel-in-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/from-mars-to-mobiles-sharing-the-gospel-in-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"From Mars to mobiles \u2013 sharing the gospel in Greece"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>10 February 2020 | Athens, Greece [TED\/Greek Mission Communications]&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_videw_from_mars_hill_across_the_sprawling_population_of_athens_edited.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a>Standing on Mars Hill watching Friday evening sunset, Victor Hulbert recognised the similarities between the ancient world of first century Christianity and the modern challenges of 21<sup>st<\/sup> century Athens.<\/p>\n<p>Called to support the Greek Mission with a weekend of communication training, Hulbert reflected on how the Apostle Paul sought a way to break through the communication barriers of Greek philosophy and belief. He found a common platform \u2013 an altar to an unknown god. <a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-4549\" style=\"margin: 5px; float: right;\" title=\"Sunset on Mars Hill.\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset on Mars Hill.\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-1100x619.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sunset_on_mars_hill_edited-560x315.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Standing on Mars Hill he proclaimed, \u201cas I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So, you are ignorant of the very thing you worship\u2014and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.\u201d [Acts 17:23 NIV]<\/p>\n<p>And proclaim he did! Paul\u2019s skill was to adapt his message to his audience. Follow his missionary journeys and note the different styles. Read his letters and note them even more \u2013 the same gospel but slanted to audience needs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"Sabbath%20worship%20in%20central%20Athens%20church\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-4552\" style=\"margin: 5px; float: left;\" title=\"Sabbath worship in central Athens church.\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited.jpg\" alt=\"Sabbath worship in central Athens church\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-1100x619.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_sabbath_worship_in_central_athens_church_edited-560x315.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>The same applied to training during the weekend \u2013 with Athens church members joining together with ministers and elders from across Greece for Sabbath morning and afternoon presentations. This was followed by specialist training with ministers and elders on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>In an active question-and-answer period one member asked whether we should be giving up the old methods in favour of the new. \u201cNot at all,\u201d Hulbert responded. \u201cWe should still use the tried and tested methods while incorporating new ways to reach modern generations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignleft size-full wp-image-4553\" style=\"margin: 5px; float: left;\" title=\"The ancient acropolis contrasts with modern graffiti.  How do we mix the ancient and modern to reach society? \" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited.jpg\" alt=\"The ancient acropolis contrasts with modern graffiti\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-1100x619.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_the_acient_acropolis_contrasts_with_modern_graffiti_edited-560x315.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Hulbert emphasied that Adventists had always been on the cutting edge of technology in sharing the gospel \u2013 whether with books and tracts in the publishing ministry, radio \u2013 with the earliest broadcasts of HMS Richards and the Voice of Prophecy \u2013 or more modern TV ministries such as It is Written, Faith for Today and, more recently, Hope Channel and internet ministries.<\/p>\n<p>It was internet ministries that gained the primary attention of the young adult audience. Hanging out in the upstairs balcony, smartphones in hand, they gained ideas on how they can effectively use their phones for Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>One lady from the Ukraine stated afterwards, \u201cI wish we had his message three years ago. I have been wanting to start a social media ministry and didn\u2019t know how. Now I have some really practical ideas.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-4554\" style=\"margin: 5px; float: right;\" title=\"Communication secretary Yannis Samaras (r) interviewed by Moses, a young elder, during the training.\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right.jpg\" alt=\"Comms secretary Jannis conducting an interview.\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-1100x619.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_Comms-secretary-Jannis-right-560x315.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Yannis Samaras pastors the Katerini district in northern Greece. He also has a passion for Communication and is now working with the team to restore an old radio studio in the Mission office, buy some simple equipment for producing videos appealing to Greek culture, and engaging with the youth to record simple messages and testimonies that will appeal to their friends. Following the weekend, he is now looking for further training opportunities. \u201cI see this kind of ministries as one of the primary ways that we can use to build bridges and open doors with our local communities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>As for Hulbert, following his visit to Mars hill and other locations of biblical historical significance, his aim is to continue helping church members and leaders focus on effective ways of using media to share the Gospel.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>ted<\/em>NEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojkovi\u0107, associate editor<br \/>119 St Peter&#8217;s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England<br \/>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:tednews@ted.adventist.org\">tednews@ted.adventist.org<\/a><br \/>Website: www.ted.adventist.org<br \/><em>ted<\/em>NEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. Readers are free to republish or share this article with appropriate credit including an active hyperlink to the original article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>10 February 2020 | Athens, Greece [TED\/Greek Mission Communications]&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images_news-2020_videw_from_mars_hill_across_the_sprawling_population_of_athens_edited.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a>Standing on Mars Hill watching Friday evening sunset, Victor Hulbert recognised the similarities between the ancient world of first century Christianity and the modern challenges of 21<sup>st<\/sup> century Athens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4541,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1572,1585,7],"tags":[203,193,434,435,289],"class_list":["post-4555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-evangelism-mission","category-greece","category-news","tag-communication","tag-greece","tag-greek-mission","tag-mars-hill","tag-training"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4555\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}