My name is Theresa Thombs, my husband Barry and I are writing you with
some exciting news about an adventure of a life time.
In August of 2004 the eyes of the world will be focused on Athens, Greece.
The 1,000 Olympiad will be held at the birthplace of the Olympics, some
3,000 years ago. As you know, the Athens area is also the birthplace
of Christianity as we know it today. Millions of people from every part
of the world will be gathered in this one place.
Our organization is known as Taking Him to the Streets. God birthed
our ministry in spring of 1998 on the streets of Fort Worth, Texas. Our
focus has been to just hold Jesus up to a lost and dieing world. Through
His Holy Spirit many lives have been touched and changed for eternity.
We are writing because God has chosen to position us in a very unique
opportunity to help impact the world and the country of Greece in August
of 2004. Since 2000 our ministry has witnessed at 2 Olympic Games and
traveled to six (6) different countries. This has allowed us meet and
become friends with many Christian organizations and individuals all
over the world. Christ is now allowing us to head a team of warriors
to Athens.
To briefly explain, the country of Greece is ruled by the Greek Orthodox
Church. In Greece today there are approx. 25,000 evangelical Christians
in a country of over 12 million. The Christian people in this ancient
country face persecution and ridicule. The Greek government has a law
on the books that prohibit Greek Christians from any form of witnessing
to the children or teenagers up to the age of 18. Breaking this law carries
a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The church and its members are
always on guard. This means that there are literally millions of people
in this modern day place that have never heard the real truth about Jesus
and the wonderful plan for their lives.
These Olympics
have created a very unique opportunity, maybe the last before His return,
to spread the gospel to the children and people of
Greece. It is not illegal for visitors to spread the gospel. With the
eyes of the world on Athens, Christian groups from all over the world
will be meeting in this place. The plan is simple. We intend to hand
out 1,000,000 Jesus videos in Greek. Dispurse more than 2,000,000 books
of John of the Greek language. The local churches have formed a community
outreach called Fanning the Flames of Glory and are asking Christians
world wide to help.
Our mission will be to bring very special people to help attract many
to hear the message. We are taking a musical band, a basketball team,
a karate world champion and lay people who will become clowns, operate
a puppet stage, tie balloons, and present a very entertaining program.
Other ministry groups coming to Athens will join us in these programs
and have the opportunity to witness one on one.
At present we have been blessed with permission to perform in four (4)
outdoor courtyards in Athens around the Acropolis, market place, and
other major sites around the area. We are planning a variety show to
help raise funds to expand the only Retirement Center for Christian people.
We are planning a Sports Camp for children, and a program in the State
run prison in Athens. Our trip will not be a vacation.
We
have reserved Airline tickets for 26 people. The dates of our trip will
be leaving August 4th and returning August 20th 2004 (this in
it’s self is a miracle. We have secured the last 26 tickets into
Athens available as a group to anyone.) We have secured lodging. We
will be sleeping dormitory style. There are no hotel rooms left in
Athens unless you are willing to pay $450.00-2,000.00 a night. Our
lodging will be approx. $60.00 per night. God has made it possible
for us to make these arrangements in faith.
We are asking for your help in one of three ways. First prayer, the
weather will be over 100 degrees every day and we are expecting to be
used approximately 15 hours a day. The climate for terrorism will be
very high and their will be obstacles in transportation, cultural differences
and Satan will be make this a very tough trip. Second, this trip will
require a large financial investment, approximately $46,800.00 for travel
to and from Athens, approximately $26,250.00 for lodging, approximately
$10,000.00 for ministry materials, approximately $6,000.00 for uniforms,
permits, and basic necessities, plus food and some entertainment, that
comes to approximately $90,000.00 in total estimated costs. A very large
hurdle, but one we know God can handle. You see why I am asking for help?!
The third way you can help is volunteer to become part of the team. Take
an adventure for Christ that you will never forget.
In
closing, I want to thank you for your time today. I have never needed
to raise this type of funds before in such
a short period of time. I
feel very much in awe at this point and can’t wait to see the next
miracle Christ will perform. Please pray and consider any amount you
can help with. It will be tax deductible. But more importunately, I truly
feel your help can help change the lives of many. Every penny will be
going to seeing the lost hear the truth. No salaries, no luxuries, or
overhead expenses, just salvations. Please mail your contributions to
Taking Him to the Streets at 4017 Clay Ave. Suite G, Haltom City, TX
76117. God Bless you and hope to hear from you soon.
Your
sister in Christ,
Theresa Thombs