This morning we had plans to visit a missionary to Christians. Sound weird? Actually a lot of mission work today is to Christians. In Greece, over 90% are officially part of the Orthodox church yet in a city like Chania with over 100,000 people only 200 or so have read the Bible or come to a personal faith in Christ.
The journey took us 165 kilometers West of our resort to Chania, the second largest city in Crete. The road was an amazing path along the sea and at the same time through the sea. At times we were only meters from the sea and then we'd climb to passes through the mountains often seeing the remains of snow high about us.
Entering Chania we were impressed with the volume of people, many tourists from the large cruise ship sitting in the harbor. Finding a place to park, we followed our map to 13 Ionias street, an address we had been given for a missionary to Christians.
It appeared to be a small coffee shop yet no one was visible. Hearing voices from the basement, we hesitantly moved on and discovered a small group of 8 engaged in listening to the testimony of a Greek man saved 47 years ago.
This is the ministry of Ilias and his wife Nelly. Having spent 10 years in the US, Ilias speaks a respectable English but it is obvious his native tongue is Greek. His winsome smile and gracious hospitality are immediately evident. Sensing a need to share Christ with his homeland, Ilias left Brooklyn and is attempting to reach others with the Gospel.
Since "prosylitizing" is constitutionally illegal, he has a coffee shop which offers free coffee, wifi, laundry, clothing and hospitality, all as a way to simply be with others and open them to the Bible. Today they had gathered to pray but since an unsaved person joined they had the man share his testimony. Like Ilias most of the others also came to Crete to be a missionary to Christians. One, for example, is a US worker who is able to do his work from anywhere with internet. He decided to do it from Crete and see if the Lord would use him to reach others.
These reflect a huge trend in missions. Rather than joining a mission agency and requiring support, men and women have simply found a job in a needy place so they can be used of the Lord in making disciples. What a novel thought! !
Lynette and I were quite struck with the dedication of these and the goal of being a missionary to Christians and realize its what we all can do anywhere God plants us.
1 comment:
Sounds like another precious day of fellowhip! It is neat to see God connecting you with other believers. I imagine they were encouraged by your visit, as well as you being touched by their testimony and work. I am encouraged by the man who works from Crete so he can minister to others!!! WOW!! Lynnette, on a practical note, how was the calamari? XO
PS, I am not a robot...lol
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