Cilician Mission by A. M. BUZUGHERIAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1914

Cilician Mission

By A. M. BUZUGHERIAN

A. M. BUZUGHERIAN

AFTER the conference in Ovadjik, Nicomedia, four workers and myself returned to this field. We had sent Sister G. Hadjadorian to Tarsus, the birthplace of Paul. There the Lord opened a door before her, and a fellah (an Arab peasant) accepted the truth. The fellahs are a peculiar sect. They believe in Ali, son-in-law of Mohammed, and in Christ, but not in the resurrection. They believe that if a good man dies, his soul goes to a good animal, like a sheep or a cow; but if a bad man dies, his soul goes to a dog, pig, or mouse. When their preachers speak about repentance and obedience, they add these words: “If you do not repent, when you die your soul will go to a dog.” A young woman also accepted the message. When I heard of these conversions, I went there to teach them further of this truth. May the Lord pour his rain on the seed sown, that many souls from this sect may accept the last warning message; for this message is to go to every nation.

Brother A. Veziriades is in Antioch. The Lord has blessed his work. Two sisters have accepted the truth. These two, also another sister, await baptism. Others are interested.

Brother Shadarifian has been working in Adana. The Lord has blessed his work also. During my last visit to Adana, I baptized six new believers. While I was there, an Armenian accepted the third angel’s message. At present, Brother Shadarifian is working in Ain-tab. He writes that he is having good meetings.

Brother K. Apovian has worked in Konieh and Akshehr. In Konieh the canvasser of the American Bible Society and the cook of the doctor of the American Hospital have accepted the message. Brethren E. E. Frauchiger and Z. G. Baharian and others have worked for these persons, and they have accepted the truth with great sacrifice. They both took into consideration that they might be dismissed from their positions, and decided to begin farming; but because of the faithfulness of our canvasser brother in his work, he was not dismissed. Although this brother had been baptized, still, after hearing the present truth and seeing the truer and deeper meaning of baptism, he expressed a desire for a second baptism. He said: “My brother, the one who is to be baptized must understand the real meaning of baptism. I did not know about baptism as I do since hearing it from the true source. Therefore I must be baptized again.” He and his friend and another brother were baptized.

The Lord has blessed my work in Akshehr. When I reached the city and began holding meetings, from forty to one hundred persons came to hear the message. No Protestants had been here. The people had never heard a sermon in their own language, so they ran to the Word of God spoken in their own tongue, as a thirsty person runs to pure cold water. The Lord has granted us some souls here. As I have to go to other parts of the field, we have appointed Brother Apovian to continue the work here. We hope that a rich blessing will be granted us in this city. I hope to go to the eastern part of this mission in the near future. Let us pray that the Lord may give greater success in these places where the apostles trod, that many may be ready to meet the Lord at his glorious coming.

Hadjin.