The scene was the same as last Sunday with multitudes leaving the city for the sea (picture 1). The left side of the highway is bumper to bumper while the RIGHT side to church is scarcely populated. What a perfect picture of the direction of man’s broad way in contrast to God’s narrow way. Many of the people who had promised to come to church admitted Saturday night that they would be heading to the beach instead. It is really almost a cultural way of life here. Everybody goes to the sea on Sunday during the hot summer months. One couple who came to church today (Niko and Stella) even admitted that they had received an unusual phone call this morning from a relative asking them to go to the beach for a swim. In answer to prayer, they had resisted the temptation saying that they had been looking forward all week long to come again to church. Amen!
The first Greek to walk into church this morning was an older lady named Harula (picture 2) who lives up the street. It was her first visit. She had walked past the building during the week and had seen the sign with the big Bible advertising a church. She was curious. She told her husband about it, and he sent her this morning to “check it out”. Once inside, Angelo began speaking with her. She said she had been to the Orthodox church but didn’t understand anything. She and her husband had gotten nothing from attending the G.O. church, and they had never been taught the Bible there. She was interested when Angelo assured her that we were Bible believing Christians emphasizing only the word of God. After church was over, she told Angelo that she agreed with and loved the preaching, promising to bring her husband next Sunday. God had spoken to her heart as well, and Angelo began to challenge her about the matter of salvation. She said that before today’s message, she had never heard the gospel that way before. Angelo asked her if she had ever called upon the Lord to be saved as the publican had done in Luke 18 (today’s sermon, picture 3). She replied that she prayed every day for God to save her. Angelo explained the way of salvation more perfectly to her, and she said she understood. We hope to be able to speak with her in more detail in the coming days.
Faithful Avra came again today. She has never missed a service. After hearing about the difference between the Pharisee and the publican, she admitted to Angelo that she was the guilty Pharisee, insisting that most all Greeks are the same as her…trying to establish their own righteousness in order to be accepted with God. She said God was working in her heart but that she was not going to call out to the Lord as the publican just to please us. She continues to intently listen and internally debate her choice about repentance and faith in Christ. The simplicity of the gospel continues to overwhelm her. Your prayers are not wasted on this soul wrestling with her eternity.
Niko & Stella also returned to church today. They love the services. Stella almost apologized for crying in church last Sunday. “I have never done that before. I felt like getting on my knees while you were preaching, but I was too afraid to.” Niko and I told her never to hesitate to respond to the Lord. Niko, who claims to have been saved about 12 years ago, asked me if I would be willing to teach him the Bible during the week sometime. When I said yes, he nearly hugged me. “I have always wanted someone to teach me the Bible in detail. You mean I can come here to this place and learn at night? Can she come too?” You can guess what I told him. Details to follow by God’s grace.
