There has never been a true work of the Spirit of God without opposition. There are enemies of the gospel in every place where the whole counsel of God is declared. Up until today, we have had the most perfect unhindered liberty to preach, sing, witness, pass tracts, hold Scripture signs, and represent Jesus Christ as our conscience leads us. We have always counted this to be an unusual blessing and open door protected by our heavenly Father. However, it would be fantasy to think that the rulers of the darkness of this world would forever stand on the sidelines without recourse to our activities for Jesus. Neither our Savior nor the apostle to the Gentiles had such continual circumstances of peace. The servant is not greater than his Lord. We have always expected opposition. We just didn’t know when, where, and how it would come. Today as we proclaimed the gospel of the grace of God, the enemy revealed himself. As several priests lazily sat at a nearby caffe smoking their cigarettes and drinking their cocktails, they began hearing songs of praise to Jesus and the preaching of the word of God in English and Greek. Hearing enough, one priest straightened out his dress, approached Bro, Grandstaff, and verbally began to assault him in English. After the exchange of words, the priest went back to his table, and started making phone calls.
Within about ten minutes, a rabid devil-possessed woman approached me and began her diatribe. She kept saying “Orthodox” over and over, and I kept saying “No. Only Jesus.” Two men soon joined her. It was also apparent that all three were intoxicated. The men were kissing their crosses and beads while spewing their disdain. They walked away from me without further event, but we could see them making phone calls over at the caffe after they walked away. In about ten more minutes several police officers showed up. We conversed with them. The police were unconcerned that the accusers were inebriated but were insistent that we stop preaching and singing. We related our legal activities underneath a Greek Baptist church to no avail. The 3 accusers continued their accusations with much fervor until the police asked Bro. Angelo to come to the police station to answer the charges being pressed against him. It was most interesting that they were pressing charges against Angelo and none of the Americans. He had not even spoken with these people prior to the police coming. Nevertheless, they took him in.
While at the police station, Angelo was not allowed to speak for himself as he sat in their “interrogation” room. The accusing woman won an Academy award for her performance of how she was threatened and maligned. The lies poured like the sea with the police taking their side and rudely treating Angelo.
A lady who had been speaking with Angelo before he had to leave was visibly upset after he was escorted to the station. She grabbed a passerby to translate her concerns to me. “Don’t let them take that man away. Go to him. Help him.” She even walked to the police station and sat there with us in concern. We could hear her praying with us in Greek as well.
After this conversation, a man called out to me in English. “Is everything alright? Why are they taking him away? Are they taking him because you are sharing the gospel?” I informed this unknown man of what had taken place. He shook his head and said he was not surprised and then asked where we were from. Upon hearing most of us were US citizens, he said, “I work for the US Consulate’s office here in Thessaloniki. If this doesn’t get resolved then here is the person in charge you should contact. They will be most willing to help.” How amazing that this man was in the right place at the right time with the right job to give us the right instructions about the Consulate and even the person in charge to speak with!
Angelo was told he would be detained because of the charges and since he did not have his passport. I had to drive back to the house to get it. Several of us didn’t have our passports with us since we had never had any issues to this point. While waiting, Bro. Grandstaff, his son, my son, and my daughter were also escorted into the police station. It seemed things were getting out of hand. I sent a text to Angelo from the car with our Christian lawyer’s phone number in Athens. He was allowed to call the lawyer. The lawyer insisted on speaking with the police. Angelo could hear the lawyer’s loud rebukes through the phone as the officer held the phone away from his ear for the volume. “You let them go. You know they have done absolutely nothing illegal. If you mistreat them in any way, then it will be front page news tomorrow, and we may sue for defamation and illegal escort into the police station.” Many more words were said. When the police got off the phone, everything changed. They began to be more respectful to Angelo, let everyone else go, and said that as soon as Angelo’s passport was produced all would be rectified. When we got the passport to the station, it was copied, and he was released.
All is well, but things were a bit hostile for a while. Thanks to all who prayed to see the matter resolved. Please continue to pray for liberty that we may give the gospel to every creature in this city. We rejoice in being counted worthy to endure a tiny inconvenience for the truth’s sake. Our desire is to continue unhesitatingly forward yet with wisdom learned from the situation.
