Your ShelfYour Projects

Asia Minor

17%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 6, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 32.

Read the full edition

Asia Minor

By A. M. BUZUGHERIAN

MERSIN.—March 3 I left Tarsus for Adana, and spent about a month there, teaching the brethren the truth. God's Spirit is moving upon the hearts of the brethren, that they may carry the truth into their own countries. They are studying the English language, in order to learn the present message better. One of these is our Greek brother, Savvas. I also worked among the people in Adana. God's Spirit sought to win some to obedience, but only a man from among the revivalists obeyed the truth. As he was a dear member in the Protestant church, many called on him to convince him of his error, but only heard the message and returned.
Just at this time I received a letter from Mersin, in which our Brother — had written as follows: “Here an Englishman named Charles accepted the truth, and this case stirred others to investigate the truth. He keeps Sunday also, together with the Sabbath day. As I do not know the English language, I can not teach him the truth as it should be. He desires to be baptized, though he has been baptized in England.” As soon as I received this letter, I started for Mersin. I helped this new brother by the Word of God, and taught him that we must obey only God's commandments, and be wholly released from human traditions, and that as Sunday-keeping is not a commandment of God, but only a tradition, it is wrong to keep it. He presented the seven reasons, to which I answered, and he was convinced, and said, “As there is no commandment for Sunday-keeping, it will not be a sin to work on that day.” And the next Sunday he began to work. We expect that this brother will be useful in God's work. Though he was educated to be a Catholic priest, God has so ruled the circumstances that he has been led to accept the present message. He speaks the English, French, and Greek languages, and a little Turkish. As I also know the Armenian and Turkish languages, we began to give the message to any one we met except Arabs. Now Brother Charles is growing in the knowledge of the truth. While in England he learned many points of the truth, such as conditional immortality, the end of the wicked, baptism, etc. For some time he has been united to the Adventists and lately to the Brethren. But now his whole desireis in the work of the Lord. He is writing to his friends to communicate to them the new light he has received. The Lord willing, he will accompany me in visiting Tarsus, Kozoloak, and Adana.
My visit to Mersin was useful not only to Brother Charles, but to others also. A Greek, named Stilianos, accepted the truth, and after spending a few days with us, went to Adana. According to a letter from the elder of the church of Adana, a Greek brother has obeyed through his labors. And again, a brother who was once in the truth, but who had separated himself from God several years ago, now was reconciled to God through the convincing power of the Spirit. He is serving God, and working for others who have been like him, telling them to appreciate salvation and eternal life. May Jehovah, who raiseth up them that are bowed down, lift up these too!
There are others here also that have come to the point of decision. Let us pray for them also, that they soon turn to God from the kingdom of Satan, and to light from darkness, that at the coming of the Lord many may be found prepared to meet him.
A. M. BUZUGHERIAN.