NEWS FLASH ROM ATHENS GREECE

I PRAT TO THE LORO THAT MY LETTER WILL

FIND ALL OF YOU GROWING IN THE SAVING
KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORO. .
1 HAVE BEEN STAYING IN HY HOMETOWN FOR
ABOUT ONE WEEK. MY FATHER, SISTERS AND
BROTHERS, WERE EXTREMELY HAPPY TO SEE ME*
AFTER HAVING NOT- SEEN ME FOR SIX CON-
SEQUTIVE YEARS,
Tomorrow, Thursday, Jan
1^, I will pay a VISIT TO
THE PROPER MILITARY
AUTHORITIES, (5 MILES
AWAY FROM MY HOMETOWN. IT
IS MY CONVICTION THAT I
WILL BE EXCUSED FROM THE
ARMEO FORCES. I WILL NOTI
FY YOU IMMEDIATELY OF
THIS DECISION.
It seems that I will
Study Hour in Athens in
ABOUT A WEEK. ThERE IS A VERY SMALL GROUP
OF WORLDLY INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR OUR MESSAGE. PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. I WILL WRITE YOU MORE ABOUT
THIS.
Most of my fellow countrymen seem tc
BE INDIFFERENT TOWARDS THE CHRISTIAh
FAITH. This attitude reflects the failuri
OF THE Greek Orthodox church to make the
Christian message relative to the lives
OF THE Greeks.
I AM SURE THAT W CAN FILL THE GAP IN
TIME WITH THE GOSPEL OF ChRIST. THE
Greeks suffer much - too much - economi
cally. The cost of living is as high here
AS IT IS IN the United States, All in
dividual GOODS seel at higher PRICES IN
Greece than anywhere else. A refrigera
tor SELLS FOR AS MUCH AS $500, A WASHING
MACHINE $350*i etc, FoOD IS SOMEWHAT
CHEAPER THAN IT IS IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND THIS KEEPS THE PEOPLE FROM STARVATION.
HCW THANKFUL MUST THE BRETHREN IN THE
UNITED STATES BE FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS
THE LORD HAS GIVEN THEM.
A FEW DAYS AFTER I RETURN TO ATHENS I
WILL TRY TO PURCHASE THE PIECE OF PROP
ERTY I MENTIONED TO YOU. I HOPE TO HAVE
MEETINGS TAKING PLACE THERE AND I WILL
HAVE TO START PREPARING AND PRINTING MY
MESSAGES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I NEED A
TYPEWRITER AND MEMEOGRAPH MACHINE VERY
BADLY.
The piece of property will cost me
$1,000, More dollars than I anticipated,
I have to borrow some money to purchase
THE HOUSE.
I MUST HAVE $400, PER MONTH IN ORDER
TO KEEP GOING IN GREECE AND HAVE MY MESS
AGES PRINTED, I PRAY THAT CHURCH GROUPS
AND INDIVIDUALS WILL SEE THE NEED AND"*
RESPOND QUICKLY,
I HOPE THAT IN TWO YEARS OUR FiRST ,
Church of Christ will be established in
Athens, 1 also hope that many op you will
START A Bible
HAVE the opportunity TO SEE IT.
I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SUCCEEDING
FOR Christ in Greece, It may take me a
LITTLE TIME TO MAKE MY FIRST CONVERTS BUT
IN THE END I'm sure I WILL SEE MUCH FRUIT
IN THE Lord's House. Georgia (his fiance)
IS AND WILL BE A BLESSING TO ME. I THANK
God for her. I will write to you more
ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIPS. | THINK WE WILL
GET MARRIED IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR FROM
NOW.
1 HAVE MISSED MY FELLOW AhERICAN's
VERY VERY MUCH AND IT IS THE LoRD'S WORK
HERE WHICH GivES ME "HMirrTirT AND JOY,
Greetings to
increase the light
HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING HIS IST 6 MONTHS
January - June I965
He immediately started a Bible Study Class in Athens which is slowly but
STEADILY GROWING AND HE HAS HAD AT LEAST 3 CONVERSIONS AND BAPTISMS FROM THIS
GROUP SO FAR, HE HAS BAPTIZED HIS FIANCEE AND HER MOTHER WHO ARE NOW EAGERLY
HELPING HIM, He GOES TO CITIES SUCH AS CORINTH, MACEDONIA AND OTHER CITIES
IN North and Central Greece and is now going to the Isle of Crete where some
FRIENDS have INVITED HIM TO COME AND PREACH. AT EACH OF THESE PLACES HE FINDS
MANY WHO WANT HIS CORRESPONDENCE COURSE AND LITERATURE WHICH HE HAS NOT BEEN
ABLE TO PROVIDE (hE DID SAY HE WAS GOING TO 00 THESE BY HANo) BECAUSE HE DOES
NOT HAVE THE PRINTING EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO DO THE JOB, IT WILL NOT BE TOO
LONG BEFORE HE HAS THE II CONVERTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR A LICENSE, WHEN
THIS TIME COMES AND HE SHOULD BE TURNED DOWN (aS IS EXPECTED WILL HAPPEN THE
FIRST time) he will CONTINUE TO EVANGELIZE IN THE HOMES AND THROUGH CORRESPON
DENCE. Most missionaries have to spend the first year or two learning the
LANGUAGE OF THE LAND, SO WE BELIEVE CHRISTOS HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN 6
MONTHS TIME AND AGAINST STRONG OPPOSITION,
A WORLD-WIDE
\message
>FOR THE
/WHOLE WIDE
WOR LD !!!!!!!(
CONSIDER HIS QUALiFICATIONS I
The Greek Orthodox Church is as intolerant of other groups as the Roman
Catholic Church, The Greek Church will not permit foreign missionaries in Greece.
It seems that the only opportunity to convey the New Testament faith to the Greeks
IS through Greek citizens, Christos, being a Greek, has an opportunity not afford
ed TO MANY TODAY,
Al Young states 6 reasons for training nationals to go with the gospel to their
OWN people:
1. There will be no language barrier to overcome,
2. They will be culturally identified with their own people,
3. They will be psychologically fitted to preach the gospel among their own
PE0PLE.^FbR example THERE WILL BE NO "YANKEE GO HOME" ),
h. They will be financially adjusted to the living standards of their people.
They will have a legal right to preach in their own countries,
6, They will be acquainted with the climate and will be immune from many of
THE illnesses THAT BREAK THE HEALTH OF AMERICANS,
The MORE YOU study his qualifications the more you will be convinced he is
BEING LEO OF THE LORO.
CBRIST, TSE HOPE OF TEE WORLD - ISOS
FUNDS URGENTLY NEEDED
Deaii Friends in Christ:
You HAVE COME TO THIS PLACE TO HEAR THE WITNESS OF THE ChURCH OF THE LORD
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THROUGH THE WORD OF QOO.
I AN CONFIDENT THAT YOU KNOW VERY LITTLE^ IF ANYTHING AT ALL, OF THE PROCLAMA
TION OF THE GOSPEL IN THE LAND OF GREECE* YOU DO KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT GREECE IS A
PART OF THE ANCIENT BIBLICAL WORLD WHERE VERY MANY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT EVENTS
OCCURRED.
The glory of the Church of Christ planted by Paul in Greece faded away through
THE CENTURIES. HER OBEDIENCE TO THE LORO AND THE PURITY OF HER MESSAGE WERE REPLACED
BY THE WISE COUNSELS AND TRADITIONS OF MORTAL PEOPLE.
But THE HOUR OF THE RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH IN GREECE CAME; AND THE RESTORA
TION IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SERVANTS WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO THE MESSAGE OF THE WORO OF
God.
Perhaps you know that I had been staying in your land for almost six years. I
CAME NOT TO BECOME A MINISTER, BUT TO BE AN ENGINEER. THE MIGHTY HAND OF THE LORD,
though, led ME TO HIS Church through the instrumentality OF Albert Young, Following
MY conversion I decided that Greece needed more missionaries than engineers. | went
to the Minnesota Bible College to study the Word of Goo. Following my Graduation I
returned home to proclaim the Word.
A Bible Class was established in Athens. At least 10 individuals attend it. We
HAD three conversions AND TWO MORE PERSONS ARE ABOUT TO BE IMMERSED.
In two years we will apply for a license. I KNOW THAT OUR APPLICATION WILL BE
TURNED DOWN. WE WILL TAKE OUR CASE TO THE SUPREME CoURT AND WE WILL WIN. ThE
Orthodox Church is constantly opposing and persecuting us. We will go onJ We cannot
stopI There are countless souls in Greece waiting to hear the message of Paul in
their own days. I WENT MACEDONIA; I VISITED CoRINTH; I WAS INVITED TO GO TO THE
Island of Crete, and everywhere I find people eager to hear the good news.
Yours in His Service,
Christos Danikas
P.S. Remember the witness op the Church op Christ ih Greece.
Please send all funds to:
Mrs. Russell Kill
220 Case Street
Michigan City, Indiana
AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE CHURCH
j\oP
C^STOS DANIKAS REQUESTS PRAYER
Christos writes of his regular weekly
, Bible Class which is con-
DUCTING A STUDY OF THE BoOK
ALSO TELLS OF PERSE-
P^- ht " CUTION FROM THE GREEK ORTHO-
. .- i- church: "I HAVE HAD
J\ PROBLEMS WITH THE GREEK
Orthodox church. The law
TO HAVE AN IDEN-
^^^tification card. In order
iHir.^^^^BTO obtain it from the local
^ POLiCEj the priest must
GIVE ME A certificate BE
CAUSE I DID NOT BELONG TO THE ORTHODOX
CHURCH, I DID NOT GET THE IDENTIFICATION
CARD, Without it I could do nothing. The
POLICE SENT ME TO THE OFFICE OF THE GENE
RAL Attorney,,,.Eventually he excused me
FROM THE CERTIFICATE THE PRIEST SHOULD
HAVE GIVEN ME, AND THE POLICE WAS AUTHOR
IZED TO GIVE ME THE IDENTIFICATION CARD,
In these last days the Orthodox Church
HAS INTENSIFIED HER PERSECUTION AGAINST
non-Greek Orthodox groups. Priests and bis
hops WENT THROUGH THE STREETS OF TOWNS AND
VILLAGES DISTRIBUTING SERMONS: IN WHICH
THEY CHARACTERIZED US AS TRAITORS,ETC, |
HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD, NO MATTER WHAT THE
Greek Church does, the Word of God will be
PROCLAIMED AND THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY AND
thirsty for the righteousness of God will
HEAR IT,
It seems that I must work "Underground"
UNTIL WE establish OUR CHURCH,,,,"
He request that we pray for him,(Also,
he requests that this above be not printed
.IN ANY OF OUR NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS.)
Hat Bill or someone fill me in about ^Georgia" I had not heard that Christos was married
KOBERN'^APCSTLS PAUl'^H GREECE
Christos Danikas arrived in his homeland in iLXKIjfXIgi^ late 19^^ with a view to
carrying the Gospel to his own people. He was converted in the States, and turned
from training in a technological field to study for the ministry. He graduated from
Minnesota Ekble College, Minneapolis.
The^dp^rs of the First Christian Church of Michigan City, Ind. ordained him
to the ministry and join others in commending him to the work# Kis Forwarding Agent, Mrs.
Russell Kill,
/^220 Case St., Mici.igan City, Ind.^is a member of that congregation.
Wlien he arrived in Athens, he planned to enter the mil/itary service for the
two years required of all Greek citizens. However a recently passed law exempts
all ministers of non-Greek Orthodox Churches from military service and he is able to
Lgy
proceed with his plansfimmediately. fmore
, However, this sdvantag is offset by the pofclem of the State church, whose deliberate
opposition to other churches creates difficulties with the authorities. For illustration:
it is illegal to proselyte members from the State churchy-even for a citizen. A foreigner
is forbidden to propagate his faith at all. No missionaries are admitted to the country.
This complicates the problem of lestablishing a church" but does not prevent
Bro. Danikas from tecching the faith from house to house. This he is doing both
in Athens and in recent visits to Corinth. He needs simplprinting equipment and
materials (mimeograph supplies and equipment will do) in order to provide some printed
helps with which to extend the work end preserve the faith in those who comehe repdrts
baptisms and in Corinth .the interest of a medical doctor and a lawyer who expressed>-
the Bible as the revelation of God. Bro. Danikas said: "They did not
malce the final step of cormii^iient, but I believe t;-et it will not take long
before they devote their lives to the Lord." ^ j
/ more y
Danikas
Bro. D^ikas requests concern, prayer and financial support. Correspondence
should be directed to the forwarding agent whose address is ^iven earlier in this
story.
9L>5
f NEWS FROM CH^TOS DAN IKAS
"The group in Athens keeps advanc
AND GROWING. IN A FEW DAYS
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR
FIRST PICNIC BY THE SEA.
We will not have Pepsi
Coke, or potato chips. We
WILL HAVE RAISINS, GRAPES, jp^-, p
WHITE CHEESE, WATERMELON ,
tasty figs. We will not
HAVE MEAT BECAUSE IT ' ^ M
EXPENSIVE HERE. ONE MUST
WORK A WHOLE DAY TO
ENOUGH MEAT FOR AN ENTIRE
FAMILY. But we will HEAR THE WORD OF
AND THIS WILL SUFFICE."
'Dec,
Dear Brother Bob:
It has certainly seen a long, long time
WITHOUT HAVING WRITTEN TO EACH OTHER. THE
FIRST THING I HAVE WANTED TO WRITE TO YOU
IS THE FACT THAT NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN
ITY IS BEING PROCLAIMED AMONGST MY FELLOW-
COUNTRYMEN AND THE Lord is being glorified
THROUGH HIS Church.
The SECOND thing has been my desire to
express my THANKFULLNESS TO YOU AND ALL
Christian Brethren in the United States
for having made my work here in Greece
possible. Let all of you be proud for the
work which is being done for the glory
of the Lord in the Biblical land of
Greece.
The work here has been a little slow
but very steady, I am sure that in three
YEARS WE will HAVE OUR CHURCH BUILDING, MY
TASK IS twofold; To preach the Word of God
to new souls, and to strengthen the SAVED
ONES DOCTRINALLY, SPIRITUALLY, DEVOTION-
ALLY, To THIS END 1 AM WORKING VERY MUCH
THROUGH THE ^R|^TING EQUIPMENT... PLEASE
00 KEEP THE ^Ofnf1W't^H''^'^BETN^ IN
Greece in your prayers so that the Lord
WILL INCREASE IT IN ALL RESPECTS.
YOudMj^b^^EB^CE,