Evi Rodemann, from Germany, Hamburg, shares her experience
attending the event, from 5th until 13th July 2017, in North Greece.
About:
Served in full time ministry in her local church and across various nations outside Europe.
Nowadays working in Germany´s largest aluminum company part-time,
while at the same time, leading various European projects concerning youth and young leaders.
Her passions involves youth, young leaders and Europe. The combination out of these
three provides her great joy and fulfillment.
Evi. How often have you visited Greece?
I have now been in Greece four times. Once it was on holidays in 2007 and since
then three times having returned, always with a connection to Hellenic Ministries.
Once having a day getting to know some HM Ministries in Athens while attending a
mentoring retreat with the European Leadership Forum in 2015, once taking a team
of Europeans to help among the refugees in 2016 and now having attended
Operation Joshua 2017.
OPERATION JOSHUA - Hellenic Ministries
(Operation
Joshua 2017 with the red color the area of this year distribution. The gray color shows the already distributed areas and the white left color the remaining areas that remains)
Recently you visited North Greece to take place
at the New Testament distribution event "Operation Joshua".
What was it all about?
Operation Joshua was founded 10 years ago. Encouraged by the founder of
Hellenic Ministries, Costas Macris, that every household in Greece should receive
the word of God in the modern spoken Greek language.
His son Johnathan, took up the vision and with his team and more than 4000 volunteers
through the 10 years, they distributed over 1 million New Testaments.
(Dan Vorm wrote down the life story of Costas Macris, the founder of the Hellenic Ministries)
I had the huge privilege of attending this year and celebrate with 350 other people
the handing over of the 1 millionth Bible. So exciting!
Hellenic Ministries will continue to do so until every city and village has received
Bibles, with 2019 focusing on Thessaloniki only. What an endeavor and faith
journey as the funds for the Bibles need to be raised yearly.
More info can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/operationjoshua/?fref=ts
http://www.hellenicministries.org/ministries/operationjoshua/
Greeks are Orthodox Christians. How did they reacted to this action?
It was really fascinating to bring Bibles into a nation where the Orthodox Church is
still very strong and in control.
(Visit in Berea, where Paul preached the Gospel. The Macedonian call is painted here)
In some areas teams were hassled by the police and Orthodox priests because
bringing the Bible to every home in their own language feels to them like loss of
control. In addition, the Orthodox believers perceive Evangelicals (who are only
20,000 believers in Greece) as heretics. Some got so excited to have a Bible
and asked also for the Old Testament.
It seems that times are changing, though, and for the first time in the history of the
Hellenic Ministries, a press release by an Orthodox Theologian associated with
the Orthodox Church encouraged people to keep the Bibles and read them.
It is a smart move as this New Testament has been authorized and signed by the Patriarchs of the Orthodox Chruch so going against it would be going against their own endorsements.
Which was the Highlight of this distribution for you?
The highlight for me was certainly the handing over of the 1 millionth Bible by the
teams this Operation Joshua. After 10 years, the first million was reached!
An incredible achievement plus incredible provision from God over the years.
As we celebrated in the evening, I felt so excited, thrilled and
had goose bumps all over! Seeing the team in action, glorifying God in the heat just
moved my heart to tears of gratitude.
(Every bag included a New Testament with the statement of faith and a flyer)
(These were the villages and cities targeted for this Operation Joshua)
How did Greeks react, that you as a German hand them the New Testament?
As we handed out the Bibles to the front doors, I personally didn't have contact with the Greeks.
(64 cars were traveling on the road to bring Bibles in the various regions)
But when I sat down in cafés and restaurants, I got talking and shared eg. with a
Greek lady in a shop who had lived and worked in Germany. She was delighted to
hear that we would distribute Bibles.
A restaurant owner wanted us to come back and bring him a Bible, too.
How many attendees took part and from which countries?
At OJ 2017, 350 people from about 20 countries took part. This year we had a record number
of South Africans. People come from various nations in Europe, but also quite a big delegation
from the USA, Canada, Australia etc.
Impressed with these guys paying their trip plus paying to attend OJ to distribute
Bibles in their holidays. Have met some outstanding people! I also loved the age
span, from babies to 87 year old grandfathers.
Was there any Program beside the distribution?
It kicked off with 1 day of orientation, then 5 days of Bible distributions while starting
each day with a devotion.
Some stayed behind to pray and pack more Bible bags.
Sunday, after a
sea-side morning service, was a day off for rest, developing friendships,
sight-seeing, etc.
Each
evening we had a celebration with worship by various fantastic and known
Greek musicians,
some
excellent speakers from various nations,
always brilliant stories from the day and time to fellowship.
The days were long and filled with beautiful encounters.
How would you describe OJ with a few words?
OJ for me is: dedication, heat, Bibles, team, passion, difference.
Want to participate next OJ with Hellenic Ministries?
http://www.hellenicministries.org/ministries/operationjoshua/
Want to contact Evi Rodemann:
Mobil: +49 172 4536072
Skype: evirodemann
www.evirodemann.com
N.S. 31/7/2017
Dozen cars, destroyed, people reported to have been burnt and whole neighborhood left behind in ashes.
