Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

people."
ago,"
waiting."
ahead"
one."
ing the war, thought that he was dead. But in the
providence of God his life could not be terminated.
Christ wanted to give him life eternal because He
knew what a blessing he would be in the ensuing
years. For ten solid years he has been on his bed
of affliction 85% incapacitated, paralyzed on one
side, blind in one eye and constantly
shaken with
convulsive fits. Can a man like that be used as a
missionary
Through his "execution" experience and what
followed he accepted Christ as his personal Sav
iour. In the morning, disregarding physical excru
ciating pain, he and his wife always start the day
with the singing of a Gospel hymn. He has become
the unexplainable sufferer of Greece. People passing
by stop in to see what it is all about. Everybody
gets from his mouth a living testimony to the sav
ing grace of the Lord Jesus. They are all amazed at
how a man who has suffered so much can be so
happy and rejoicing. He always has his answer
ready: "It is Christ revealed in the Book," he says
of the New Testa
as he hands the visitor a copy
ment. The word about George Galanakis spreads
like wild fire. Men and women stream into his little
8'xl0'
room eager to know what makes him happy.
Thus his room, bare as it is with only a bed, chair
and a tiny table, has become a great evangelistic
center. There is nothing that breaks his heart more
than to have to send people away without giving
them God's Word. One night as I visited him the
first thing that he said to me was : "Did you bring
me Scriptures There are so many Mean
while a brother who was there informed me that
they hardly had anything to eat that day,
and yet
instead of
asking for something for his stomach,
he asked for the Bread of Life for other starving
souls. Maybe after you read this short sketch of
the life and industry of this invalid missionary,
you will never permit him to send away anyone
empty-handed.
His Story in a Newspaper and
the Athens Radio Station
As the word about George Galanakis spread
even among influential people, the medical editor of
a large Athens newspaper and one of the broad
casters of the Athens Radio Station heard about
him. From the columns of the newspaper and
through the radio everyone was invited to write
to this exceptional man and find out the secret
of his happy life. The invitation was especially di
rected to shut-ins, invalids and patients in the hos
pitals and homes. The assurance is given that
George, who has been through some of the most
trying experiences, is able to spread hope where
there seems to be no hope.
As soon as these announcements were given
out our invalid missionary found his little room
flooded with letters from all over Greece. "I never
realized,"
said George, "that there are so many af
flicted people and so many who long for happiness.
I have no doubt that this earth is inhabited by un
happy And now as a result of this, our
brother is in full time service for the One who
came to give the joy that no one can give and no
one can take away. "Ever since my
years George wrote in a most recent report,
"I have always believed that the Christian should
salvation four
never wait for opportunities for witnessing to come
May 4, 1955
to him, but he should try to create such opportuni
ties. Thus I try to use every experience of my life
Christ."
for the purpose of witnessing for my And
he surely does in spite of the fact that he can never
leave his tiny room. END.
Dreams Becoming a Reality
The Lord has finally given us the "go
signal on several long planned important projects.
Since the completion of our second orphanage build
ing, in faith we have launched out and are now estab
lishing in that building a workshop and a print shop
for the vocational training of the children. Further
more we are purchasing 100 acres of farm land for
the needs of our orphanage work. Last month we
sent $4,000 as the first installment for the realiza
tion of these important projects. Another $21,600 is
needed for the final completion. If every one reading
this paper sends $5 designated for this purpose this
work would indeed be a reality. It may foe of interest
to you to know that there are over three million out
of the seven millions who live in Greece who earn less
than $10 a month. Aren't you glad you are on the
giving end instead of on the receiving "Blessed is
he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver
him in time of trouble." (Ps. 41:1)
American Mission to Greeks
MISSIONARY FACTS . . . Cont'd from front page.
als in training. The idea is prevalent in foreign
lands that money grows on trees in America, and
young nationals in training can easily be tempted
to ask their correspondents in America for money
to help them in various ways. The trouble is this
money doesn't help them. It tempts them to feel
proud that they are "attaches" a western capital, in
stead of glorying in their being ministers of and sup
ported by the indigenous church. They can easily ac
quire a "superior" attitude.
Training programs that steer clear of these pit
falls are the ones that pay off in realizing their
aim, for no people or tribe is ever evangelized from
the top downward, but from the grassroots of the
population upward.
Erection of Church Buildings
The indigenous principle of missionary work
calls for great caution in the erection of church
buildings. Surely God would say to many a mission
as He said to David, "Whereas it was in thy heart
to build a house for my name . . nevertheless thou
.
shalt not build the house A missionary re
said "all over there are fine church build
cently
ings and about ten people worshiping in each
With but few exceptions, mission-financed church
buildings have done more to hinder the indigenous
church than to help it.
How much pride would we take in our own
church buildings in this country if they were great
cathedral-like structures built by agencies from
other countries and of architectural types utterly
foreign to us Dare we rob any group of Christians
of the privilege to build a chapel, hallowed by their
own sacrifice and labors, that parallels their own
economic level and ability to maintain And until
they are sufficient in number to build themselves
a humble chapel, is it not more natural and Scrip
tural that some Christian should have the honor of
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