Something New In Thessaloniki…Empty streets and sidewalks
Today was the great wicked Greek Orthodox holiday for the Virgin Mary. It is called Panaghia or Dekapentavgoustos (proclaiming Mary to have ascended to heaven as Jesus) and is the 3rd most important holiday in the land of Greece. Multitudes go for a ten minute walk through an Orthodox church (a very unusual event for people in Greece) in order to worship and pray to Mary whom they call the mother of God. She is asked to perform miracles for them. Her pictures are kissed and bowed down to. Candles are lit in her honor. It is most pagan. Then, they walk out to go back to their life of sin and disregard for the word of God. With their quick meaningless religious ritual done, the majority pack up and go to the beach. Therefore, because of this, no one is in the public square.
In spite of hearing of these events, we were determined to try our best to represent Jesus this day. With our new team from Spring City Baptist Church (Lebanon, Virginia), we went to evangelize and found the city as we had never seen it before. The pedestrians were gone (picture below). We stayed for a few hours with our scripture signs and gave tracts to the very few that walked by. We then packed up and went to another location at the Galerius Arch. It was no better there except for the fact that there was a large Orthodox church nearby where people were coming in and out. We stood our ground in front of this shrine with the word of God meeting them. Pray for this land of spiritual deception and darkness.
Bro. Angelo did have several good conversations today. One in particular merits your intercessions. Katerina (pictured below) approached Benjamin and was directed toward Angelo who was already speaking with a man about Christ. Katerina thought she was accepted in the sight of God because of her religiosity and the dreams/visions she had. Angelo sat and showed her the Bible. She read for herself how Satan deceives with signs, miracles, and lying wonders. For over half an hour she sat and read aloud the Scriptures. After her reading, she became very scared and convicted in her spirit. With tears, she acknowledged that she was not saved. Angelo exhorted her to receive Christ. She promised to consider these things and to come to church, howbeit, in a few weeks when she returns from her holiday.
