The following post is adapted from CBF field personnel, Bob and Janice Newell’s newsletter.

Much has changed since Liza Minelli belted out in Cabaret, “A mark, a yen, a buck or a pound… Is all that makes the world go around. That clinking, clanking sound… Can make the world go ’round!” With today’s Euro, the mark doesn’t leave a mark, the yen and the pound are stronger and sadly, the buck is weaker. The European Union, and especially the country of Greece, may be in trouble, but one thing remains: money, in some very important ways, still makes the world go ’round!

Many have asked how PORTA – the Albania House in Athens and this minstry among marginalized immigrants in Athens, Greece is doing financially. Although some are resistant to discuss money in ministry circles, I have never hesitated to do so.

Of course, Greece’s money troubles impact us. Most everything is more expensive these days and the dollar is less valuable when compared to the Euro. Despite its expansive array of classes, seminars, cultural events and Christian nurture programs, everything we do at PORTA is free to Albanians. Since they have very little of this world’s good and because, in Greece, we are considered a spiritual center, it is better for us not to charge for our services. So, everything we do must be provided by donor individuals and groups.

As we look toward our retirement in late 2014, we have created, with the assistance of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Foundation, a PORTA Tomorrow fund. The goal of this fund is to provide a minimum of $250,00 to underwrite the ministry expenses of PORTA during the first five post-Newell years. Contributions to this PORTA Tomorrow account #30112910, may be sent to the CBF Foundation, 2930 Flowers Rd. S., Ste 133, Atlanta, GA 30341.

Because we believe that life is far more than a cabaret and because we believe that Jesus has come to bring abundant life to the fullest, most especially to Albanians in Athens, we appreciate your support, and pledge to be good stewards.