From Brother Brent:
Sunday Service in Thessaloniki
Many thanks to all of you who prayed for the Sunday service in Thessaloniki. On Saturday evening, we contacted all 16 people that had given us their phone numbers having expressed interest in attending the service this week. We were a bit disappointed that almost all of them offered an excuse for why they could not come. Some were going out of town while others were working. A few just said they had obligations that prevented them from attending. In lieu of these responses, we did not know what to expect. Upon driving to church Sunday morning, the other side of the highway was packed with vehicles leaving the city to go to the sea. The scene of bumper to bumper cars for miles and miles revealed that most Greeks do not worship any god or go to any church. Their bodies and their comfort is the religion of choice. As we waited and prayed for people to come, Bro. Angelo spotted Andromachi walking down the street looking for the building. This is the dear lady mentioned in the report of June 19-20. Angelo ran after her and brought her to the building. She had driven 75 miles to come to church. It was also her birthday, and she wanted to stay with us after the service so as not to be alone. There are many hurting people in this world. She has been a widow for 25 years. Her husband was a lawyer who went to work one day and never came home. He died suddenly in his thirties. She never remarried. She sat through the service listening to the word of God and fellowshipped with us over a meal after the service. Pray for her. Avra then walked through the door. She had spoken to Angelo the day before asking what the Bible passage would be for the sermon Sunday so that she could read it the night before. She listened intently to the message. Her heart was moved by the message from Luke 16 about the rich man and Lazarus. She left the church almost in tears and saying she wanted to meet with us this week if possible because she “wanted to know”. She is so close to receiving Christ. Pray for her! Two more Greeks walked in the door right as we began to sing. Niko and a lady were very glad to be there today. Niko had spoken to some of us on the street through the course of several weeks. Today he came. He professes to be a believer and even verbally rejoiced during the preaching with a “Hallelujah” as Jesus Christ was being lifted up as the only Good and only Savior. The lady with him was in tears during the message. During the service, another Greek man named Thanasis walked in off the street because he had heard the singing. He did not stay for the whole service because he had not prepared for this. He was a passerby. We hope to see him again. Many others walked by during the preaching and singing curiously staring at the unusual event they were beholding. This day was a blessing. There had been 13 of us in the service. Jesus had been praised with hymns in Greek and English. Greeks had heard the gospel. Thanks be unto God.
