June 12

June 12 Combining reports from Brother Logan and Sister Nicole

Upon arriving in the city center to spread the gospel, we put up our scripture signs AND IN 10 SECONDS we had a man named Vassilis (picture below) ask for the sign to be turned around so he could read it better. Afterwards, a wonderful conversation began with Angelo in Greek. This Greek man said he was not a believer and did not believe in churches or religion BUT that he believed the SIGNS WE HELD WERE TRUE BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT THE BIBLE SAID. Angelo explained to him the gospel and said, “What are you waiting for? Why won’t you be saved?” He said he knew he needed to be saved, knew what Angelo read from the Bible was the truth, and didn’t know why he had not yet accepted Christ. They exchanged phone numbers, he wanted the address of the church, and we hope to hear from him again.

Within 10 MORE SECONDS after this another man named Leonardus (picture below) drove up on a motorbike, received a tract, and asked what we were doing. Angelo told him and asked him if he died today where he would go. He said he had no idea. Angelo asked him if he wanted to know. He replied yes, turned off his motorbike, and said, “How can I know.” He further asked how could he know the truth with the JW’s, Orthodox, Catholics, Hindu, etc. all saying something different. Angelo explained that all religion tells you to do something to earn salvation while we proclaim the simple Bible message of God’s free gift through repentance and faith. He said he never had heard that before. Angelo told him that NO religion can save him and no one can save their own selves. In shock of the simple truth of the gospel he said, “I like that.” They exchanged phone numbers, and Angelo gave him the address to the church per his request.

Avra had intently read the Greek Bible we had given her Sunday. Nicole had encouraged her to read John 3. She had. On Monday, she directly asked Nicole over the phone about what Jesus meant in John 3 about being “born again”. With question after question, Nicole offered to meet with her at any time. Therefore, we planned at meeting around our witnessing time in the center. She came and walked to the coffee shop with Angelo and Nicole. They spent 2 hours with her over the word of God as we continued to pass multitudes of tracts and hold signs in the square.

Brother Angelo shared his testimony and preached the gospel hard and clear to Avra and had her read many verses on salvation. She could not believe being saved could be so simple. He pointed her to 2 Cor 11:3. She listened intently to him and then to Linda as she testified of God’s saving work in her life. After they ran out of tracts on the street, Brother Logan came and joined the conversation. She asked him to explain an illustration he used in his sermon during the first church meeting this Sunday. She wanted to understand how we could know God but he could not know us. He explained that we can know about God but he won’t know us as His children until we receive His salvation through Christ.

Angelo asked Avra why she was so interested in us. Meeting Avra had been a curious situation with us to say the least. During the first course of this evangelism effort, Avra had abruptly walked up to Bro. Logan, taken a tract, and asked in English if we had a church somewhere. He told her we hoped to have one soon and pointed her to the phone number on the back. She then had quietly walked away without another word or question. She later called to speak with Angelo begging us not to forget her when we opened a place for services. She even wanted to come help clean. Why? As they sat in the coffee shop today, she related the rest of the story of being in the city center drinking a coffee in a nearby coffee shop when she saw the first team of witnesses come to the center square. She drank her coffee as she watched us sing, give tracts, and preach the gospel. She was drawn to recognize the scoffing and rejection of many, but she also understood all the preaching going on in English. She heard Bro. Logan declare the gospel and the message of joy and peace within. She heard the cries of how money, sin, and pleasure didn’t satisfy. She heard that man’s problems could not be solved by anything or anyone but by salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. She became convinced sitting in that coffee shop that those preaching and giving the good news on the street before her WERE TELLING THE TRUTH AND THAT THEY WERE DIFFERENT. She got up went straight to Bro. Logan and asked for the tract from the man who had been screaming about the One Savior who had the answers for her life. “I know you all have experienced what you are telling people, and I need that,” she said in the coffee shop. She is overwhelmed of the simplicity of the gospel to the point she is having a difficult time accepting it, although she is so close to taking that step. She has acknowledged her sinfulness. She assented that the gospel we have shown her through the Scripture is the truth. She also had thought much about the preaching from Sunday. The words of Christ rang down in her heart, “I never knew you.” “I want God to know me,” she spoke. “The whole reason I came here today to talk with you again is because I want to be born again. I want Jesus to be my Savior.” She again was told of how one becomes a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ alone. She left the table promising to continue to read the Scriptures and consider her decision to receive Christ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR THIS MEETING WITH AVRA THAT WENT SO WELL! Avra is very close to salvation. Pray for this soul for whom Jesus died.