by Paul Bayles, Pastor, Christ Community Church Canogi Park, Calif.
THE NEW SPAPER IS THE IR RIREE !
the Christian home
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A SUNDAY - MORNING HUSH descends over the congregation in a small Orthodox chapel in a rural Greek village. There is no priest—they have been without, one for a long time—but today’s service is going to be most un usual. The presiding village elder is going to read to them from the news paper! An advertisement, of all things! Yet nobody is shocked, for this is the weekly Gospel message of Spiros Zod- hiates, placed in the local paper by the American Mission to Greeks. It tells the old, old story of personal redemp tion in Christ—a story that is new to these people. Few of them have ever had a Bible in modem Greek. And yet this is the land to which Paul was beckoned by the “man of Macedonia” and in which he established the first centers of the apostolic faith. WEEK AFTER WEEK, in every village and city in Greece, men, women and children are reading the good news of salvation through faith in Christ, and making this a reality in their lives. The AMG has undertaken newspaper evangelism on a nation-wide scale. In no other country in the world has the Gospel ever been printed in 90 per cent of all secular newspapers—mostly on the front page, and amazingly, in the Communist press as well. IT WOULD TAKE MANY YEARS, and thousands of missionaries, to reach the same number of people. Yet AMG is bringing the people of Greece a fresh Go'spel message every week at a fraction of the cost of such a mission ary program. Surely this is one of the most economical and rewarding meth ods possible to reach a nation quickly with the Gospel. Everyone in Greece reads his local newspaper (2 to 12 pages)—and they read all of it. (No television or radio competition — most people are too poor!) W e can safely say that the Gospel is being read from one end of the land to another, every week of the year, by thousands who would otherwise never hear it— from King to peasant. FOR THE CONTINUANCE of this great ministry to a whole nation, we need your help. Here is your unique opportunity to preach weekly to 50,000 people or reach 70 villages in Greece with only a dollar. Where could your gift bring so much blessing at so little cost? We invite you to share generous ly in this unique and unprecedented evangelistic opportunity. To become a regular prayer partner write for the beautiful picture folder with twelve monthly self-addressed envelopes. Rev. Spiros Zodhiates, General Sec'y. American Mission To Greeks, Inc. Dept. K P.O. Box 423, New York 36, N.Y.
7. Date only Christians who live for the Lord. If you haven’t already observed these rules and your parents are un cooperative, you will have to plan on a long range program of rebuilding their confidence in you. You broke it down. You’ll have to build it up. Your parents would be delinquent if they were unconcerned about you. They cannot give you complete free dom too soon and too suddenly. Re spect their wishes. They’re supposed to know more about life than you do. That’s why they’re twenty years older than you are. Daughters often find it difficult to discuss boy friends with their dads. It seems as though dad will never ap prove of any guy! Cheer up. The man you marry will feel the same way about your daughter. Most, mothers feel the same way about the girls their sons date. Why? Fathers don’t trust their daughters to the normal tempestuous drives of teenage fellows. Mothers fear that their sons aren’t up to resisting the wiles of ambitious girls. Besides, your dad loves you so much that he may secretly fear that you will find a fellow with all the quali ties that he feels he no longer pos sesses. In other words, both of these men in your life are competing for your admiration and affection. Don’t neglect your dad, while trying to cul tivate friendship with a boy friend. This personal feeling in no way un derestimates the value of dad’s judg ment. Listen to and obey your parents. If the guy or girl is “ right,” then assure your parents that this “ dream- boat” doesn’t take their place in your heart. Of course, this “ somebody” is never “ right” if not a strong Christian. Perhaps this is a reason for your dad’s attitude. Listen to this dad who loves you so much. That’s why God gave him to you. Re-read this and then think! You do have wonderful parents after all. Have you told them so lately? Con sider your father. You may think he’s old fashioned. He may even embarass you at times. But have you considered how sharp he was to win the love of the greatest woman on earth — your mother?
A CHRISTIAN TEENAGE girl writes, I “My parents are so suspicious and uncooperative about my social life. Why can’t they trust me? No matter who my date is, my daddy doesn’t like him. What can I do?” Many fine young people find it dif ficult to convince parents that their so cial activities are wholesome. Your parents do worry about you. It is dif ficult for you to understand this, be cause it seems so natural for you to like young people of the opposite sex. You resent parental interference and advice, because you are sure that ev erything is so “ right.” You can understand your parents’ position, if you try. Fellows and girls do get into trouble. Mothers and fa thers read about it every day. They can’t shut their eyes to the problem. Parents are afraid when they are not “ let in” on the whole story. You think it’s great fun to have secrets and act mysterious, but that causes your par ents to fear all the more. It isn’t grown up to act mysterious. Actually, it’s a vestige of your childhood days when you would impishly chant, “ I know something you don’t know.” Remem ber? You were only five then! Your parents remember this too. It makes them wonder if you are mature enough for dating, when you revert to pre-adolescent behavior. Your parents trust you more than you realize, and you can increase their confidence in you. Try these sugges tions: 1. Let them meet and get acquaint ed with your date. 2. Don’t act ashamed. Of whom are you ashamed? Your date or your par ents? 3. Never date secretly and don’t act as though there was something to hide. You’re cutting your own throat. 4. Share some of your plans with them. Ask about their courtship days and tease them a little. 5. Tell them where you are going on a date. You’ll be lots happier if they know. 6. Play fair about returning home on time. The fellow should be just as prompt in returning his girl as he was in coming for her.
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OCTOBER, 1960
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