Project Thessalonica

Today was a less active day as we were hindered from doing much of what we had planned.

This morning we headed to the village of Tridos to finish letter boxing about 500 homes/apartments there (photos 038-040). After finishing that up and heading back for lunch, we learned that the Logans’ power was shut off (the Logans paid the landlord for the power bill, but she had failed to pay the power company), and their van’s transmission was not fixed properly (rolling when in park and not shifting into first gear). Angelo was needed to help make arrangements for both of these situations so we stayed at the house and stamped and placed tracts in the book of John booklets.

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Very interesting day thus far. Woke up to a gorgeous, sunny day (photo 033), excited about going to do some letter boxing and street work.

As we were getting ready to leave, Angelo came up and said that there was water in the basement. It kept coming up through a conduit in the floor so Angelo spent much of the morning mopping up water. While Angelo was mopping we started stamping the backs of tracts with the church phone number (photo 034).

By 11:00 we were finally ready to leave. So we prayed, jumped in the car, and left for Thessaloniki. As we were following Bro. Logan, a police bike came up behind us with his lights flashing. We pulled over and two police bikes with two policemen on each bike stopped about a block behind us. We were not sure what they were doing. Then they motioned Angelo to come. When he got there, they frisked him and checked his paperwork. Then they called Bro. Ryan and did the same. Next Bro. Jeff. And then Bro. Goebel. They also searched the car. Meanwhile Angelo is witnessing to them; telling them they need to get saved; that they are not guaranteed tomorrow. He offered them tracts and a Bible, but they would not take them. After they thoroughly checking us over, they let us go. Ryan and I took photos of them while we were in the car waiting, but they made us erase them.

Arriving in the city, we found many streets closed off because of a protest. Angelo dropped us off to walk to the square (photo 035), while he went to find a parking spot (about a mile away).

While handing out tracts on the way, Ryan met an English-speaking JW. Conversation soon revealed that he had no hope for a dying man, and (according to him) the Bible did not mean what it said.

We proceeded to the square where the protest was and quickly began handing out tracts. Many took tracts as the protest parade moved along. Bro. Logan and Benjamin also handed out tracts to those in the parade.

After the protest died down, we got out our scripture signs and continued to pass out tracts (photos 036-037). Bro. Logan, Bro. Jerry, and Bro. Angelo did some street preaching. Many heard the word of God; it is now their responsibility to respond. We planted seed, praying that God will give the increase.

These people are very proud and stuck on their Orthodox Church. We also met JW’s and Jews. All hoping in their own religion, but Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” Nothing can atone for their sin except the blood of Christ applied to their sin by faith.

It was a very exciting day. Not sure why some things happened the way they did, but God knows, and He is in control. We are just here to please Him.

A lot of precious seed has been sown in Thessaloniki, but there is so much more of the city to be reached. Please continue to pray for these people.

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We woke up this morning to pouring rain. So we came up with a plan B. Instead of doing street work in the square, we decided to go see the temple of Zeus (photo 028) and the Agora, then pass out tracts under awnings and such.

So that is what we did. After we visited the Agora, the rain settled down to a fine mist, so we started passing tracts up and down the streets (photo 029). We were able to give out a lot of tracts in a fairly short time.

We stopped for bougatsa (photos 030-031) and then hit the streets again.

Shortly after we started tracting the rain stopped. There were many people on the streets. Not everyone took them, but we had no problem getting then out. Bro. Angelo figured we got out about 1500 tracts. We often saw people reading the tracts while waiting to cross the street or get on a bus.

Near the end we sang at the arch, Angelo preached, and then we handed out what few remaining tracts we had (photo 032).

In spite of the rain it turned out to be a really good day. Angelo gave a tract to the guy at the till and found out he was born again. He invited him out to church.

There was a lady that Angelo stopped she said that she was saved. She had a clear testimony of salvation and said she had received a tract previously, but that particular tract did not have the church address. Angelo explained where the church was located, and she said she would come out.

After we were out of tracts we did some shopping and headed back to the mission house for supper. We are all very tired – in a good way.

Thanks for your prayers. It is evident that people are praying. Things like the rain are discouraging, but we see that God is in control and that He wants His word to go out even more than we do.

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We had a day off and went to do some sightseeing at the ancient ruins of Philippi. It was a great experience that we will not forget. We were able to see the old amphitheater (photo 019) and climb the mountain behind it to the lookout towers on top. Then went down to a museum where they had old statues and coffins, and from there we went to the main city market area (photos 020-021).

We could make out a number of rooms and items. It surely must have been magnificent in its day. The Bible says it was a chief city — I can see why.

After the main city, we saw Paul and Silas’ prison (photo 022) and then the place where Paul met Lydia by a riverside (photo 023). We had our lunch there and talked about what it would have been like.

From there we went into the nearby city of Philippi (which is really close) and put the book of John with a tract inside in about 700 mail boxes (photos 024-026), as well as passersby (photo 027). Even got an Orthodox priest to take one after he found out we weren’t JW’s.

Philippi is about 3 hours away. We left at about 9:00am and got back at 9:30pm. We are all exhausted but excited. While letter boxing today, Angelo received a call from one of the people who received one of our packages.

Tomorrow we go back to the square with the Logans for more preaching, singing, and tract distribution.

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The day was a blessing. We arrived at church early and fellowshipped until people started coming in. Many were early, a couple came last minute, and one more after service started. We sang some hymns in Greek (our group just humming along), then we sang one in English and almost lifted the roof off the building. Bro. Logan preached a simple but powerful message on who Jesus Christ is (photo 016). After the service, Angelo opened the Bible with Katrina, a lady who had come for the first time (photo 017). He had met her on the street several months ago. She had been mixed up in some charismatic teaching. Angelo spent about 30 minutes with her going over Bible verses about salvation, while we stayed around and fellowshipped after service until about 2:30 (photo 018).

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We really had a good time today. This morning we went to one of the villages outside of Thessaloniki to do some letter boxing (book of John and a gospel tract with church information stamped inside). We worked for several hours in the morning then went back out in the evening and worked until it was dark. Able to cover about half of the village. The remaining section is dense, but few of the houses have mail boxes. So we have to either stuff the booklets in the gates or lay them on the front steps.

We are also passing out literature to people walking the streets and people we pass. We don’t see responses except the occasional person checking their mailbox and reading the book of John.

Tomorrow we are planning on more street work at the square.

While the rest of the country suffers financially – businesses closed (photo 013); construction projects abandoned (photo 014) – the Greek Orthodox church (photo 015), supported by “the government” (i.e. the people’s tax money), continues to thrive. But it offers the people nothing in return. No hope. No salvation. All they have is an opportunity for religious people to sooth their conscience by giving to the church, lighting candles, doing good to outweigh their bad, etc.

The Summary: from Brother Logan

Thessalonica Project Gets Reinforcements

What a blessing to have like-minded Bible-believing brethren all over the world in different nations! This week some fine men from Golden Plains Baptist Church in Canada are laboring in the fight for the sake of the gospel in Thessaloniki. In addition, Bro. Angelo arrived back safely. We praise God for good godly men.

Already God’s hand has been at work in this course. Yet another suburb has been successfully reached with gospels of John at every door. Nea Redestos is a town of over 4,000 souls. With the help of this team, the area was finished very quickly, and we have moved on to another suburb called Triadi. The Lord has been gracious to provide plenty of literature and liberty for all of these outreaches.

The streets of Thessaloniki continue to ring out loud with songs of praise to the Lord Jesus Christ and the preaching of the way of salvation. As the men preached, people stopped in their places to hear the “strange” things of grace, mercy, peace, faith, repentance, and the gift of eternal life. One young woman asked for a New Testament. After she was given a Bible, she asked if it was free. Upon learning of our gift of the Scriptures to her, she beamed with a joyful smile and walked away. There were many other good conversations, witnesses, and invitations. Pray for fruit.

One answer to prayer that brings forth an additional request for intercession regards our dear Avra. She has talked with Angelo a couple of times by phone, and it is very evident that God has been working in her heart. We are hopeful for a meeting with her this week or maybe even a visit back to church. Pray on.

The Details: from the Golden Plains Baptist Team

2/14/13

The trip here went very well and without incident. Spent the evening recovering from the trip.

A thunderstorm hindered our efforts the following morning. So the three of us and Angelo shared our testimonies and what God is doing in our lives. What a blessing. Brother Angelo is a firecracker. His passion for the Lord and for souls is very evident. He has been a great host and an encouragement to all three of us.

After lunch we connected with Bro. Logan and Benjamin and went out letterboxing. We finished one small village and started another before heading back to get ready for church.

Please pray for Kiriakos and Telemachus, who were present for the service. Bro. Logan taught on God’s love. After the service, we fellowshipped at the church for a while, while Angelo very persistently and passionately talked of the things of the Lord.

Tomorrow we are planning on going street preaching at the main square downtown. We are nervous but also excited. The folks we encountered while letterboxing were receptive for the most part. We will see how those in the city respond when we confront them tomorrow with the gospel. Not planning on being confrontational, but we know the gospel is offensive to a lost person.

I am excited to see what God is going to do. It is obviously a very religious city but trusting in a false hope. Please pray for us for boldness, and that God would send us those who are seeking truth. Please pray for the people of Thessaloniki, that God would soften their hearts to the gospel.

Also could you pray for the mechanic that is fixing Bro. Logan’s transmission? I think it is a bigger job than he thought. Angelo was able to bring the parts from the States, but the mechanic is not familiar with these transmissions.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

2/15/13

This morning we went down to the city square where we held up scripture signs, street preached, sang, and handed out tracts and Gospels of John.

It was a different experience. The people are ignorantly religious and proud. Often they will stick up their nose at us or just pretend we do not exist. In spite of this, there were many who received tracts. We came with two large boxes and handed them all out. Not many were left lying on the ground.

There were a few who showed interest and engaged in conversation. I felt helpless when they would ask me something and simply sent them to Brother Angelo.

So far it has been an adventure. We plan on letterboxing again tomorrow.

We praise the Lord for the successful finish of the distribution of gospels of John and tracts in every dwelling in the municipality of Tagarades! What an honor and opportunity to continue to serve Christ and reach out to the people of the greater Thessaloniki area.

Upcoming Events
(1) Cindy Logan’s knee surgery is scheduled for this Thursday (Feb.7) at Noon.
(2) Bro. Angelo is scheduled to arrive back in Thessaloniki this Sunday (Feb.10).
(3) The next evangelistic team from Golden Plains Baptist Church in Canada is scheduled to arrive Tuesday (Feb.12).

A new suburb of Thessaloniki was begun this week in our house to house distribution effort with gospels of John. Tagarades (see map below marked with an A) is a town of about 3,000 people. Please pray for these lost souls to read with interest the Bible literature which they find in their mailboxes. It is almost certain that no one has ever entered this village with the plain and simple message of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are doing our best to reach the multitudes in the city of Thessaloniki without forgetting the smaller communities. Every individual needs a chance. We pray someone will take the opportunity placed before them.

We also ask you to pray for Mrs. Logan. After a doctor’s visit and an MRI, it was revealed that Cindy has a bad meniscus tear in her right knee for which she will have to have surgery. The operation, maybe occurring next week, will incapacitate her for some time. We appreciate your intercession that the arthroscopic surgery will be successful so that she may resume her normal activities for her family and the Lord.

We praise the Lord for a good week. God answered prayer and brought back a couple of people to the church that have been absent for a while. It is such a miracle to have Greeks in the services even if they are confused and unsaved at the present. We trust that the Spirit of God and the word of God will keep working on their hearts as they attend. It was a blessing to look at the person of Jesus Christ from the first chapter of the book of the Revelation. It is our intent to continue this study for several weeks on Sunday. On Wednesday we continue to go through basic doctrines of the word of God.

Thank you for your prayers and interest. Tracts continue to be passed, gospels of John are distributed each week, and the preaching never stops in the streets of Thessaloniki thanks to the good grace and liberty from the Lord. Remaining fruit is the real need, and only God can give that increase.

All is well!