only under different captions. Forms of religion are in evidence every where. Pictures of saints in Street cars, busses and public places. The Christ of God and of the Bible is still the unknown in the midst of all this religious activity. In spite of the val iant efforts of the small groups of be lievers, Greece still remains an un evangelized country. Large sections of all parts of the country are with out any evangelical witness. While traveling one night in 1950 the writer sat beside a priest all night. At first I was a bit apprehen sive lest an argument should take place and prayed that the Lord would undertake for me. As the train went on we became acquainted and I told him who and what I was. He said to me, “Mr. Simponis, I believe that the only thing that will save our coun try is the preaching of the Word.” During my stay in Katerini I saw people flocking to the Evangel ical Church to secure a copy of the
Word. The American Committee for the Evangelization of the Greeks sent over more than 100,000 that year and the supply was quickly exhaust ed. More have been sent; 30,000 were distributed this year. The Greek army ordered about 200,000 from the Bible Societies, an edition that is banned by the official church. There is_ much agitation within the church and in Parliament for an approved translation of the Bible in the lan guage of the people. Present Efforts The following principal groups are working for the evangelization of the country. The Greek E vangelica l Church, The Free E van ge lica l Church (Open Brethren in its organ iza tion ) and several very small groups. The total number of Protes tants is not more than 15,000. The American Committee for the Evangelization of the Greeks is col laborating with the Greek Evangeli cal Church and has begun an orph anage at Katerini. They are helping the Bible school and are sending med icines to fight tubercu losis. The whole range of evangelical literature will not fill two small shelves of a small home library at the most, so one can realize how important the production and publishing of strictly Christian literature is to the cause of evangelism. In this connection, pray for Dr. George Hadjiantoniou, Ph.D., LL.B., pastor of the Second Evangeli cal Church of Athens as he is work ing on a ten-volume commentary of the New Testament. The first volume is already published. So through the Bible school, the orphanage, the day school, evangelical publications, jail ministry and various other activities the work continues to reach Greece with the gospel. Greece at the Crossroads Greece is a country at the cross roads. The people are tired of form alism. They do not attend church and those who do, do so because of a sort of historic superstition. ¡They are seeking after realities and not dead types. They do not find these realities in the state church and for this reason they have turned to Com munism and all sorts of other “ isms” . What can we do, to bring them the realities of the blessed gospel? When Paul was in Athens and saw their idolatry, his spirit was stirred within him. Have we a vision of the lost condition of the Greek people or are we as one friend of mine who said to me, “Greece is not considered a mission field.” I am afraid many Protestants take just that attitude not only towards Greece but the whole of Europe. May God stir our spirits as he stirred Paul’s.
M IS S IO N S continued are laws that hinder the free preach ing of the Word. Tracts cannot be distributed freely and religious meet ings in other than the certified places of worship cannot be held except by special permit from the police. Tracts must have the word Evangelical clearly marked on them. The Greek people are a freedom loving people and persecution such as is going on in Roman Catholic countries is not tolerated there. We do pray, how ever, for the time when perfect free dom not only for worship, but also for the propagation of the evangelical truth will be granted. In the mean time our brethren go on quietly and lawfully proclaiming the gospel of His grace. Present Spiritual Conditions As one travels about the country today, he sees the same sights that St. Paul saw when he walked the streets of Athens or the country roads
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