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Chapter 9
A
FUTILE SEMINAR
Haralambos didn’t relate
much of what he was experiencing in Aintab to Aneta as he wanted to spare
her undue anguish. While encountering those ordeals in Aintab which
catapulted him into ministry in Adana, he was unaware of what was happening
in the Talas school. As mentioned previously, the medical staff of the
Board left the hospital and moved to Konya where they opened a new hospital
in accordance with their own theological persuasion. The atmosphere in the
school had changed a great deal. Aneta tried to ignore what was happening
and concentrate on her teaching. A great desire for spiritual depth had
come upon the girls. Early each morning and again every afternoon they
spent time together in prayer. But this did not last long. The dean of
students, a woman, abruptly put a halt to these private meetings. So the
girls had only the Sunday services from where they could receive their
spiritual encouragement. At this point the Evangelical Church in Talas
separated itself from the missionaries. The decision of the church was
interpreted by the missionaries as a lack of perception of the issues.
Not long after
Haralambos became director of the Zion Orphanage in Zinjidere near Talas,
the stance of the Talas Academy faculty members became clear. They started
following the teaching of higher criticism with its particular
interpretation of the Scriptures. Haralambos, while not at that school, knew
what was happening there and adamantly opposed this new theology. The
teachers with whom Aneta rubbed shoulders daily were acting as if they had
received a new revelation and were expected to subscribe to it
wholeheartedly.
One of them was
assigned to hold a regular teaching session in which the position of modern
theology was to be clarified to the teachers, doctors and nurses of the
mission. The routine continued week after week. It was during these lectures
that Aneta first heard that there was room for other interpretations of the
Bible. She related, “I felt chills in my bones and coals of fire poured on
my head. I couldn’t bear sitting through the lectures. My inner turmoil
motivated me to approach two other friends of like mind and suggest that we
stay away from these sessions from now on.” One of them said that that
wasn’t a good idea. She said, “Keep on going, but ignore everything you
hear.” Easier said than done! At the end of each lecture there was a
question and answer period. In one of these Aneta gathered her inner
strength and challenged what had been said. She quoted Romans 11:33, “Oh
the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” Her brave stance
settled the problem of her attending the sessions, making de facto
her withdrawal from the tedious ordeal. Later on her friends told her about
a remark made by the instructor, that some are not ripe for this teaching.
But he no longer pushed his point so determinedly. However, his position
remained the same.
Three years later,
the administration sent a cordial letter to Aneta. In it they expressed
satisfaction for her conscientious service and diligence to duty. They
offered her a promotion both in position and financial benefit. There were
certain strings attached, however. She was to soften her adamant stand about
being so outspoken on theological issues. Their beliefs were as valid as
hers and deserved to be studied and considered!
The reply to this
letter was not simple for Aneta. She reassured the administration that her
love toward them was sincere, teaching in the school was a joyous experience
and that their thoughtfulness toward her was appreciated. But her prime love
and commitment were to the Savior; so with deep regret she would have to
turn down their kind offer. This terminated her affiliation with the school
which had nourished her, graduated her and for three years employed her as a
teacher. From this point on, her Heavenly Father had different plans for
her.
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