GLORY TO THE LAMB
First service held in Thessaloniki
I debated on whether or not to invite all the people with whom we had been in contact to our first service. Many people to whom you are strangers are influenced by their first opinions. Our building with NO electricity means we had no lights even for the bathroom. In addition the walls are in great need of painting and repair. There are wires sticking out all around, and much junk in the back that cannot be hauled off until Monday morning when the garbage runs in the city. This is not the way you want to introduce people to your first service. Nevertheless, we had several people who begged us to call the moment we had a facility. I had Bro. Angelo make about 7 phone calls to these select people. We were not able to pass tracts with information about the meeting place and time since we obtained the contract hurriedly only four days ago.
In all we had twelve people in church today. This means that four visitors came to our quickly called meeting. However, another man (Theodore) called Angelo’s phone (which was turned off) during the service. He was trying to find us. This man searched for one hour trying to find our location without success. He even walked into (and out of) a Mormon assembly trying to find where we were. Angelo gave him more details of our location and planned to meet him for next Sunday. He told Angelo he loved him.
One dear Greek lady named Avra brought a box of very nice chocolates with her to pass out to everyone. We apologized for the condition of the building, and she replied, “I did not come for the building but for the word of God.” She was extremely thankful for the Greek Bible we gave her exclaiming that she could not understand the very old Greek Bible she had at home. She enjoyed the service listening intently to the message, singing the songs, and indicated to Angelo she had been given a lot to think about.
Two Romanian ladies and a child also came. One was Roxana of whom we wrote. I talked with her after the service about the many problems in her life. It seems obvious that all of these people have never been born again but are seeking something. Today the message came from God’s word in Matthew 7. Jesus spoke of 2 ways, 2 fruits, 2 witnesses, and 2 men’s houses. There are really only 2 options in life. Pray that they will make the right decision and respond to the gospel when they truly have the understanding. It takes time to undo years and years of bad ideas especially when you have never heard the clear gospel before.
All of the people that attended today plus Theodore who couldn’t find us stated that they would come next Sunday. We will begin to publicize the address and meeting time more. Pray that the electricity and painting will be finished before next Sunday and that more will attend.
