The Third Angel’s Message to Macedonia
By J. YERAM
PERHAPS very many of our people do not know that the present truth is being preached in Macedonia. This is to give a brief sketch of the gospel work done here. May the Lord stir the hearts of our people to work somewhere in the great field of this world,—the Lord’s vineyard. For several years I have served for the government as city physician in different parts of Macedonia. At first the government sent me to a town in the interior. Although small, it was called the “Bethlehem of Macedonia.” Not in any other town or city of Macedonia can you find so many Protestants (Congregationalists)17as in Radowishe. I preached there, and gave Bible readings, and my wife and I translated many lessons into Bulgarian. And the Lord blessed our effort. A few souls came to the truth. Nearly all the Protestants and many of the orthodox were much interested in the message we were giving. From this place the truth sounded to a few parts of Macedonia. Unfortunately, there the day of bazar is the seventh day. The people are poor. It is on that day mostly that they sell or buy. This hindered our work. But we hope a few will have strong faith to resist the devil and all his obstacles. A Bulgarian young man, son of a priest, and formerly a teacher, has been converted. Now he wishes to work for the Lord. Thanks be to Him who helps us on every hand and always. We are glad for this young man who is so promising. There was also a Greek young man, a teacher, who from another town came to us to learn more about Jesus. After a few weeks’ study he was converted. But after two years he has backslidden, yet he does not openly reject the Bible. Now he is in Athens, Greece. A few weeks ago in his letter to me he stated that the Spirit of God is striving with him. He and all those who are backslidden for different reasons need the fervent prayers of our people. Pray that their feeble feet stand firm on the eternal Rock, that they also may establish others in the truth for this time. There are different nationalities in Macedonia, and as many different languages. We need to have translated some of our religious and health literature. Now I am a city physician near Thessalonica, where in the first century of Christianity Paul preached the second coming of Christ. Then they were waiting for it. 2 Thess. 2:1, 2. Again it shall be preached to the uttermost parts of the globe, and even with much more power. In the apostles’ time this church was renowned. 1 Thess. 1:8. There the word of God sounded to other countries, and their faith to Godward was spread abroad. Can it not be so now? May the Lord help us to begin our work in this large city for both soul and body. What has been done here is a small beginning compared with what should be done. Pray for the work. Don’t forget the Macedonia field before the throne of God. J. YERAM.