p. 15 | The Levant Union Conference by Z. G. Baharian

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1911

The Levant Union Conference

By Z. G. Baharian

Z. G. BAHARIAN

“The Levant” is in reality a term to express the idea of the rising sun. From this part of the earth began to shine, two thousand years ago, the bright light of the gospel, which became the blessing and the salvation of all the world. Mohammedanism has darkened this light. Moslemism never displayed such an organized activity as now. Only with untiring efforts and much patience can the light of the gospel make its way through this Mohammedan kingdom.

Our direct work of evangelizing, which began sixteen years ago, produced up to the end of 1909 a membership of 225 souls, who were scattered in fifteen churches and companies over Bithynia, Galatia, Pontus, Cappadocia, Cilicia, Lydia, Macedonia, and Albania. While the past shows an increase of scarcely twenty members a year, the year 1910 resulted in four new churches and companies, and an increase of more than fifty members, bringing the list up to 275. Tithes and offerings grew from 18,000 to 29,694 piasters. In this line we could give a still better report for the first quarter of 1911, as the donations this quarter have already reached an amount higher than the tithe in all the year 1908. The visits, instruction, and the correspondence with the churches have proved a great blessing to our field.

The Canvassing Work

This branch of the work was not entered before we came to this field. Inside and outside the church there was prejudice against the system of selling books and tracts, as it was the general idea that if people would take literature when it was presented free to them, it was a wonderful thing. But trusting in the Lord, with confidence we began this part of the work. We had the help of a young Italian brother, who spoke Italian, German, and French, and who desired to accompany me at his own expense to this field. While we were encouraging the brethren with our words, he, a foreigner, showed them by his action what could be done in their own country, by one who did not even know the language of the people. His example encouraged others; and to the astonishment of the brethren we sold during the last quarter of 1909, 1,625 piasters’ worth of literature, and in the year 1910, 15,853 piasters’ worth.

The brethren experienced many hardships; they were even beaten till the blood came; the people also spit into their faces. It was a new thing in the Orient for canvassers to enter the houses of the people; for strangers are never allowed to enter Turkish homes. Week after week our workers were arrested. We presented a petition to the Sublime Porte, and after many visits, obtained permission to offer our literature, but were restrained from entering Turkish houses. Nevertheless, we are allowed to sell not only in French, German, English, Italian, Spanish, Rumanian, Bulgarian, Russian, Armenian, Greek, and Turkish, but also in Turkish with Arabic characters.

We are now selling the second edition of “Who Is Jesus?” We are the first Christian denomination to print real Turkish literature and obtain such sales. It is easy to understand that, from the beginning, political as well as religious papers have published warnings against our activity. In religious circles our success is a wonder before their eyes.

Constantinople.