Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

Missionary NumberLESSON HELPS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 21, 1954THE FIELD IS THE WORLD, TUB 50 IS THE WORD Of- GODVOLUME LIII WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1954 NUMBER 18Rejoicingto Suffer Dishonor for the NameBy Spiros Zodhiatesin Greek Harvest GleaningsFor a year now the Greek Government has beentrying arbitrarily to seize from the Evangelical Community in Katerini, Macedonia, a park located between the Evangelical Church and our Orphanagebuilding. This park has been used by the Evangelicals for over 30 years. The seizure was ordered bythe central Government which sent their officers tooccupy it. Immediately Luther's famed hymn "AMighty Fortress Is Our God" filled the air from thetower of the Evangelical Church. That was the signalfor all the women to assemble in the park where theychallenged the police to kill them if they wanted totake over their park. There was not much the policecould do but go away. However, they issued summonsagainst six of the women as disturbing public order.Finally these women were arraigned before a criminal court and were sentenced to ten days imprisonment. They could redeem their sentences by paying afine if they wanted. But they unanimously decidedthat they should go to prison for they considered it aunique privilege to suffer imprisonment for the sakeof Jesus Christ. Each one carried a Bible and a hymnbookwith her. When they arrived at the prison theguards were surprised to see the Bibles and hymnbooks.These were indeed strange prisoners! However, the guards did not permit them to take theirprecious books with them. The women then turnedknowwholechapters of the Bible by heart and we alsoto the guards and said: "Don't you worry, weknow many hymns. You can take our Bibles andhymnbooks away from us, but you cannot hold ourtongues and sew up our lips." In prison they didnot cease for one moment to sing praises unto God.That prison was turned to a Gospel Center. A womanwas brought in who had attempted to commit suicideand there she was exposed to the Gospel and to theclaims of Jesus Christ on her life that she tried todo awaywith. Greek Orthodox restaurant owners intown who heard about the imprisonment of theseEvangelical women sent them excellent meals as a token of their sympathy. The result of it all is that noweven the guards who would not permit these womento take the Bibles in with them want to read theWord of God. Everybody wants to find out about theChrist of these women for whose sake they considered it a joy to be imprisoned. One hundred Biblesare needed for the guards, their fellow prisoners andthe people whose lives were influenced by the wonderful testimony of these women. A great joy willoverwhelm you to complete the testimony of theseour gallant sisters in the Lord.It was in Greece Acts 16 :22-40 took place. Readit again.A Mohamedan Convert Suffering in thehands of "Christians"One of our missionaries in Northern Greece hasjust written us that as a result of his evangelisticefforts a Moslem came to know the Lord Jesus. "Hehas been trying hard to make a living as a cobbler.He was renting a small store which he had to abandon because he could not pay the rent. Then heshared another store with a Greek Orthodox, eachone paying half of the rent. A few days ago he wasasked to get out of that place because, as he was told,he became a Protestant. He is indeed very poor, butwe rejoice in his gallant faith. Will you please reprayer?"member him inIt is really a shame that a Moslem converted tothe Lord Jesus Christ should suffer such persecutionin the hands of so called "Christians." How dark candarkness get? Whatever you do for this convertedMoslem to help him in his utter poverty God will reward you.(Continued on page 278)