Chapter 21

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

While Vahram was being used by God as a source of blessing and of His goodness, some people were speaking against him, sometimes smearing him, and others couldn't stand him. Nobody can recall a single instance where he reacted against such treatment, At all times towards all people he would act with the love of Christ. He would show affection toward those who derided him, he even spoke well of them and prayed earnestly for them. He never entertained hatred, anger or retaliation in his heart. Anyone wanting to see a person in a constant mood of happiness could see it in Vahram. Whatever he was in private, so he was in public. As the spring of his joy and sufficiency he would always point to the Lord. He often said, "Passing events can cause a great deal of distress, but our Lord supplies constant joy. We must always look up to Him."

Vahram always spoke or witnessed in a way that could be easily understood. He used a simple illustration to everyone he witnessed to. He would point to a place and say, "You were here". He would then point to another place and say, "Christ was here. He took your place and transferred you to His own place. Believe it now!" In this way, he helped countless people to commit their lives to Christ as their Savior. He would say, "If I don't bear witness there is no happiness for me." After a fruitful meeting, he would jubilate, "The Lord abundantly blessed everybody and saved souls."

He communicated at the level of his hearers and always with humility. He could speak as a child to children, as a young man to young people, as a thinking man to the educated. He would not miss any opportunity. He found it easy to open up a conversation and establish a good rapport with anyone. His unpretentiousness and ready smile inspired confidence in all. He was a believer to be trusted. The distinctive quality of his character was his total devotion to the sinless Christ, which life he as a mortal man scrupulously emulated. He was a Christian who could shout along with the Apostle Paul, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). He could effectively combat spiritual lethargy around him through the power of the Holy Spirit. He would express his joy with exclamations of "Hamdolsun Hallelujah!" Whenever he said, "Christ is alive!" that meant there was special joy in his heart. Sometimes in his exuberance he would call out to anyone around him, "Brother!" or "Sister!" To the query, "What do you want, Brother Vahram?" his response was, "Hallelujah!" Instead of engaging in chatter or gossip, he would express himself in praises of this kind.

To call him a simple man and on some occasions simplistic would not be a misnomer. In his speech, as far as balance and intellect were concerned, he sometimes expressed himself unintelligently. But his out-flowing love liberally expressed covered over his deficiencies. The matter at hand with anyone Vahram met was the salvation of that person's soul. Conversation about anything else had to come later. He had the knack of getting to the heart of the matter in a brief time. When questioned about why he gave his whole emphasis to this subject he would say, "Life's opportunities sometimes come only once." He was firmly convinced that the way to bring someone to repentance was through love. This can be verified by many whom he literally pushed into the Kingdom of God. And they in turn pushed others.

To people who came from a traditional Christian background he would direct this question, "Have you experienced the new birth?" Many in a somewhat hesitant and embarrassed manner would say 'yes'. Knowing their real condition Vahram would say, "But your face shows no sign of the joy that salvation brings. If you truly repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ you will be born again and find true happiness." In this way he led many to the forgiveness of their sins and the knowledge of salvation.

At a time when there were very few spiritual books or magazines in Turkish, Vahram's own life was the most effective book and spiritual epistle. He took special pleasure in selling or distributing spiritual books that came to hand. For him the dissemination of God's Word by every possible means was a prime obligation. He lived and worked a couple of generations before the mass communication explosion. But this present generation, blessed with the latest in communication technology, is generally not imparting the Word with such effectiveness. In reality, God's Word had made its home in him, and Vahram conveyed this Word to his fellow humans.

It would be unthinkable for such a person to indulge in trite conversation. His devotion to divine truths influenced his fellowship with the brothers and sisters when they gathered together for study and prayer. Among his close prayer companions were Moscho Bekleyen, Hagopos Karakochian and James K. Lyman. He loved to pray with both young and old people. Jesus Christ said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). The outworking of the new birth can be noted in the distinctives of this man: repentance, justification by faith, assurance of eternity in Christ's presence and an exemplary everyday life.

As an enlightened person on these basic verities, he was able to delve into the depth of theological truths with vitality. His ability to grasp and expound God's Word sprung from the indwelling reality of God's grace. In a loving manner he would silence all sorts of false and erroneous teachings. The so-called 'Jehovah's Witnesses' always avoided him. There were some who compared him to Elijah and John the Baptist. Like Amos and Ezekiel he had a definite call, and like Philip the evangelist he was always under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He would share his visions with others. At any visit he made he would say, "Let us first pray." This set the tone for a spiritual conversation.

Chapter 22

VAHRAM'S PREACHING STYLE

We have before us a man who has never been to school, neither taken lessons in speaking, nor been instructed in the art of homiletics. Throughout church history there has been no lack of great preachers of whom Apollos is foremost. Chrysostom, the 'Golden Mouth', is among the notable greats. Men like him could rivet the attention of his hearers and draw them to life's most crucial decision. These are remembered with deep appreciation. Effective preachers capable of forceful communication are sought after universally. These may be well trained and prepared for the pulpit, but always the prerequisite is that they be anointed by the Holy Spirit.

When called to God's service, Moses said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?...Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent...but I am slow of speech and of tongue." God replied, "Who has made man's mouth?...I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." When Moses still hesitated, God mentioned his brother Aaron, saying, "He shall speak for you to the people; and he shall be a mouth for you..." In this way the matter was settled. (Exodus 3:11 , 4:l0-12,16) But the outcome was striking. Not even once did Aaron speak either to Pharaoh or to the people. In spite of all Moses' fear and reticence, the LORD who called and sent him also made him a very effective speaker. Moses authoritatively defied Pharaoh and spoke to that vast congregation as a qualified leader, bringing many to the knowledge of YAWEH. When we look into the life and call of the prophet Jeremiah, we see the same development. (1:4-10)

The effective preacher anointed by God is neither a born orator nor a brilliant and highly-trained communicator. God won't use those who consider themselves in this class. The called evangelist or powerful preacher is one touched by the Holy Spirit, himself affected by Him and able to affect others. We are dealing with this kind of a preacher.

When Vahram took his place behind the sacred pulpit or led a house gathering, he could just carry people along with his lively, instructive messages. This was the doing of the Holy Spirit. His mouth was anointed by his Maker. He was under the absolute control of the One who inspired the Word and made it effective. So Vahram was able to explain God's living Word with power, bringing sinners to conviction through the Word. He induced men and women who realised their sinful condition to take the step of faith to the Savior. These few features typified his ministry.

His sermons or his witness were not mere suggestions of the course to take in life. Rather, they were the application of God's inspired Word to effect visible results in lives. He never hesitated to point out his own failures and incidents of disobedience. He would display the effect of God's Word in his own life. He never put himself up as one who had attained. What had been accomplished in his own life could be realised by everybody. Stressing this with confidence, he would invite his listeners to the same commitment. To appreciate this better, read his message entitled, "A Leaking Cup at a Fountain in Damascus" at the end of this book.

Very relevant to all his activities was his prayer life. He would take every matter, personal or pastoral, by prayer to God. The important work ever before him was not his own, but the Lord's. Therefore in all things he drew near to God by faith and pled with Him in fasting to complete His own work. Before talking to men and women about God, he always felt the need to talk to God about them. This constituted a major part of his prayer life. In his view, whatever thought is to philosophy, so is prayer to an effective ministry. The promises of God given to Jeremiah come to mind in this connection: "I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them"(Jeremiah 5:14). "Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29). "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot" (Jeremiah 20:9). God's Word was brought to men and women by His faithful servant with visible impact.

Chapter 23

THE BLESSEDNESS OF A LIFE DEDICATED TO GOD

Among the believers, Fazilet Hemshire was an exemplary follower of Christ. Her life was beyond reproach. This suited her name which means 'virtue'. Being a Turk, she was persecuted severely. Once she was even taken to the vali of Marash from which city she came. The vali questioned her in exact terms why she had abandoned Islam and followed Christianity. Her bold witness to the vali became kind of a legend among believers. She said she found no reality in Islam, made her commitment not to a religion but to Jesus Christ, and that no person on earth could move her away from Him. Vahram thought Fazilet would make a wonderful life partner and approached her for marriage. She showed no interest, so for Vahram the subject of marriage was dropped and never mentioned again. The thought of marriage had occurred to him a few times before, but he had never taken any serious initiative. To live in the reality of God's call was always his first love. His heavenly Father gave him several sisters in the Lord to be helpers, such as Aygül, Sirpuhi, Altun, Rebekka, Hayguhi… These rallied to his every need, always helping and supporting him more effectively than any mother or natural sister ever could have done.

Those who followed his life and looked into his spiritual service sometimes asked the question: "Could this man be a mystic?" The pre-reformation trend of mystics in Europe is known by those acquainted with church history. As far as it can be ascertained, he knew nothing about mysticism. Probably he had never heard of it. The only languages he could speak properly were Armenian and Turkish. Later he picked up conversational Arabic and Spanish. He had never had opportunity to read the life and works of such well-known mystics as 'Thomas â Kempis, St. Bernard de Clairvaux, St. Hildegard, Master Eckhart, Madame Guyon or Francois Fenelon.

Probably he bordered on mysticism with an element of mystical devotion to God, extraordinary sense of worship, persistent intercessory life, his deep dedication to the message communicated to him from the Word, high admiration of Christ's sinless life, his non-complaining attitude when hungry there were times when he had no food — and other remarkable particulars. He had a contrasting view of the world, people and events to that of others. He practiced fasting of food and superfluous words. Some observed that they often saw his lips moving. What could that mean? Praying on his knees was his daily practice. His intercessory life brought him to be in continuous prayer to God. Bernard de Clairvaux (l091-l153) expresses it in this hymn:

"Jesus, the very thought of Thee

With sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far Thy face to see,

And in Thy presence rest."

The supreme passion of his life was to feed his soul on God's Word in order to fully know his Savior. Also, he delved into fuller understanding of Christ's redemptive work and expressed to Him his boundless devotion. The whole longing of his soul was to be so comforted by Christ's resources that he could comfort others and draw unbelievers into the riches of this fascinating life. The consequence of this search was realisation of Christ's reality and a testimony activating willingness in others to enjoy the same life. His deep desire to bring sinners to Christ may be explained by this whole-hearted commitment.

He was not a prophet of noble descent like Isaiah or David, yet from his heart and lips flowed a prophetic message that drew many into the new birth and noble stand before God. God's holy word declared with the skill of an Apollos, but springing up from a humble heart, drew to heaven wayfarers from the wilderness of this world.

Vahram was just himself. There was nothing pretentious or counterfeit about him. Among God's servants having their roots in Anatolia he holds a special place. Only eternity will reveal what was achieved through him in Istanbul in the thirties and forties. His heart overflowed with love towards everyone — Muslims, Christians, Jews, irreligious. He reckoned himself debtor to all. It was not unusual for him to attend three or four house meetings in one day, and at each meeting he would lead men and women to Christ. It was highly unlikely for him to leave any meeting without someone being converted or being drawn closer to the Savior. Beginning in Turkey, he proclaimed the good news of God with singular devotion in the Middle East and then in South America, stretching all the way to Chile.

"But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!" (Romans 10:14, 15)

 

 

Chapter 24

ANATOLIAN VENTURE

By now many in Istanbul had found new life in Christ. House meetings were held daily in various parts of the city in which the steadily growing number of new converts were sharing exciting testimonies. Among these were Armenians who had moved from Anatolia to Istanbul. They were impressing upon Vahram the spiritual needs of the Armenian remnant in Anatolia who were left without Bibles or churches. They urged him to visit their towns and villages. Before promising anything, he resorted to prayer. He was determined not to make any move by the suggestions of others or by his own will. He wanted to be sure of the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For a long time he prayed, "Oh Lord, if you are guiding me to Anatolia, please open the way before me."

One day God revealed to him His will in these words, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt... I will go down with you to Egypt" (Genesis 46:3,4). In receiving this command, Vahram thanked his Lord, accepting this promise as a God-supplied passport. It was now the mid-forties. He went down to the Galata wharf accompanied by two brothers who were assisting him to carry his bags full of books. He bought a ticket for the ship bound for Samsun on the Black Sea. Many people were sending off their relatives and friends. Right there he was able to sell quite a number of books. After a hearty send-off by the brothers he boarded the ship. In his cabin he knelt down and prayed. For many years he had been in the midst of believers. The nearness of brothers and sisters had always provided warm support.

Now however he was the only believer in the ship. He was a servant of Christ set apart for the advance of God's work. Satan whispered in his ear, "Don't ever attempt to sell books in the ship; you could get yourself into serious trouble." Vahram responded within, "Is not my living Lord with me? Are not the many believers left behind interceding for me that the trip will be safe and fruitful?" Bringing these questions to his mind the Holy Spirit was reminding him that he was on the ship to sell books. So he started to pray that God's design would be carried on effectively.

He mentioned to a passenger that he was interested in selling books. The man responded, "Splendid! All these people on the boat have plenty of time to read. What are you waiting for? Get up and start selling!" Through an unknown passenger, the Holy Spirit was prodding him into action. Again he prayed and took up his work. The response was amazing. By the time they reached Samsun, he had sold nearly a hundred pieces of Scripture, including some Bibles and New Testaments. Wanting to start low-key, he first offered Proverbs or the Psalms, as was his custom in reaching out to Muslims. Vahram later wrote, "I approached a student and offered him Proverbs and the Psalms. He immediately responded, 'No, I want the life story of Jesus,' so I sold him a New Testament." This unexpected boost cheered him greatly.

The chief cook seemed to be extremely distressed. "What's the matter, my friend?" asked Vahram. "Tell me about whatever is troubling you." The man explained that his son had recently been given a prison sentence and was now in jail. "I comforted him," said Vahram, "explaining the surpassing love and Jesus Christ and his offer of salvation. Then I presented him with the gift of a book. He was genuinely thankful, smiling as he received it. He was truly comforted. He couldn't thank me enough. Wanting to help me in some way, he explained in detail the discount fares of the Maritime Lines." Establishing such genuine friendships was a special gift of Vahram's.

The ship docked in Samsun. Vahram's heart was full of praise. He started visiting a few Christian — mostly Armenian — families. He got acquainted with a successful businessman in his shop who told him that he had many Muslim friends. He immediately purchased thirty-three Scripture portions to offer as gifts to these friends. Then the man proceeded to pose a few of the unrelated questions that he himself was always being asked:

1. Could it be that this book has been abrogated?

2. How should we encounter spiritists and fortune-tellers?

3. What could the Apostle Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' have been?

Vahram answered each question appropriately from Scripture: Isaiah 34:16; 8:19, 10; II Corinthians 12:7-10. A Muslim man who happened to be listening in expressed his satisfaction from the answers and bought a New Testament. Vahram became acquainted with a born-again Armenian woman named Takuhi. She took him on visits from house to house. New joy came into many homes as men and women heard the Word of the Lord with delight. A few were saved, trusting in the love and grace of the Savior.

Later he visited a drinking joint. The owner was an Armenian. Both he and the customers purchased Scriptures. Vahram explained that the Savior had power to save sinners. One of the customers said, "I dragged myself here very unwillingly. I've not been able to find help anywhere. Let's see if Jesus can help me." So saying, he brought four Scripture portions. Vahram's time in Samsun was filled with new experiences which offered him opportunity to bear witness for the Savior.

He boarded the train for Amasya. True to custom, Vahram bowed his head and prayed. In the next compartment was a family with children. He struck up a friendship with them and offered them assistance. Touched with the love shown by this stranger the man asked where Vahram was from, what he did and where he was going. He bought a Bible. In fact, Vahram sold many books on the train.

The train finally pulled into the dilapidated station in Amasya. There was an Armenian church here, and on this particular day the travelling priest was present for a special visit. He was so pleased that Vahram was selling Bibles. He commended him saying, "You're doing the best work possible! " After awhile the priest officiated in a church liturgy, but the people couldn't understand it. Vahram asked the priest, "May I explain in Turkish the verse to which you referred in the liturgy?" The priest was too happy to comply. The particular text was, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24).

Taking these words of Christ Vahram expounded a lively message about the death of Jesus. "Every sinner ought to be benefited by His death and come to God as a fruit of Him who died." Before he even finished his words, one of those present asked, "Can I obtain a book where these truths are recorded?" Nobody wanted to go home. They said, "The priest comes here only once a year, but we need these truths every day." Vahram promised to pray about the possibility of making another visit, reassuring them that he would make every effort to come again. A young woman and her daughter had never seen a New Testament. Like a traveller parched with thirst who has discovered water in an oasis, they desperately clung to the book. A woman dressed in black was in deep mourning at the loss of her son. Through Vahram, the Holy Spirit lifted the woman's soul. These women entrusted their lives to Christ as their Savior. Someone who years before had obtained a Bible only to have it snatched away by a searching friend was overjoyed to find a Bible once again. An eleven-year-old girl wanted badly to pray out loud, but could not manage it. After talking to her, she was saved and lifted up words of praise to the Savior. Vahram joined the Sunday liturgy and assisted the priest in the ritual. This made a deep impression on all who attended.

Vahram went to visit a Muslim hoja. He read to him the passage of the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. "For three years I have been looking for a New Testament, but couldn't find one, and now you have brought one right to my home," said the hoja. He bought a copy and gave his address. At this juncture another hoja arrived and reprimanded Vahram, exclaiming, "This book has been altered!" Later on he raised the question, "How can a person know God?" Vahram answered persuasively with a Scripture verse: "God the righteous judge is slow to show his anger, but he is a God who is always enraged by those who refuse to repent" (Psalm 7:11 - JB).

Now the hoja came with another question, this time about spiritists and mediums. Vahram answered by quoting from Deuteronomy 18:9-14. The hoja was interested in the subject of the Paraclete (John 16:7-13). When Vahram had intelligently answered his question, the hoja apologised for getting angry and bought a Bible. He even suggested to arrange a meeting between Vahram and other hojas, but Vahram declined.

An Armenian wedding was arranged in Amasya. Many Muslims were among the guests. The wedding family wanted Vahram to attend and also bring a message. He read the account of the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) and the great joy Jesus brought to the wedding banquet. They had never heard a speech in Turkish like this before at a wedding. They proposed that he come to their city two or three times a year.

After visiting Merzifon where once was the famous American Anatolia College, he headed to neighboring Gümüshajiköy. On the way, the bus broke down. The driver announced that the repairs would take some hours. He advised passengers to walk the rest of the way, a journey of about one and a half hours on foot. The passengers shouldered their bags and began walking. But Vahram had a large carton of books as well as his bag. He was going to visit many families in Gümüshajiköy and books had to be taken to them. The Lord granted him special strength. Carrying both his bag and the carton of books he walked for nearly two hours. The load got heavier as he went along, but he thought about the gospel messengers of former times in this land who had walked long distances to carry the Good News. He praised his Lord, saying, "They walked with heavy loads not a mere two hours, but for many days. And if you, dear Christ, bore the weight of the cross to the hill of Golgotha for me, what is a two-hour walk for your sake?" Sustained by these touching thoughts, he trudged on, and the burden seemed as nothing.

Reaching the town at last, he gave thanks to the Lord. Starting with one person, the circle of contacts soon increased developing into friendships. Coincidentally, here too a wedding was about to begin. Without hesitation the family invited Vahram and within a few hours he found himself among the wedding guests. What setting could be more suitable for evangelism than a wedding! The experience of Amasya was being repeated.

When he went out to make house visits the next day, he met many people who were longing to hear God's Word, to receive Christ, or to possess books he had carried those two hours along the road. One young man ordered ten Bibles from Istanbul, giving the money in advance. Such was the happy outcome of the visit to Gümüshajiköy.

Frequent bus breakdowns were nothing unusual in those days. His bus broke down at Turhal, on the way to Tokat. It seemed as if it would never be repaired. Vahram had no plans to stop at Turhal, but here was a door of opportunity before him. He prayed that the Lord would provide contacts with Armenians who would receive him. His enquiries were leading nowhere, but he Lord directed him to persevere in his search. At last he met an Armenian who was a man of means. He invited Vahram to his home. As they were talking, the man's twelve-year old son begged, "Please, father, don't let this man leave!" So the man very cordially invited him to spend the night. "I'll stay on one condition," said Vahram, "if you arrange a meeting in your house this evening and invite anyone who would like to come." This request was gladly accepted. It was already getting dark and a porter was sent to fetch Vahram's luggage from the bus. Five families gathered that evening, excitement on every face. For a long time they had not heard God's Word. They owned no Scriptures. Vahram's host was grieving over the loss of his twenty-two-year-old brother. What a meeting that was! People couldn't believe what was happening. They found joy in God's presence. Several repented and believed in the Savior. Vahram sold books. The next day he went on to Tokat with deep thanksgiving.

Expectantly he arrived in Tokat, the place where the great missionary, Henry Martyn, had died. A woman who had trusted Christ in Istanbul was now living here. She arranged an evening meeting in her home and a number of people attended. Some responded to the call of Christ for salvation. Almost everybody bought books. Young people knelt and praised God and declared their love for Jesus Christ. There was an atmosphere of spiritual uplift in the house. One family there had written several times to Istanbul asking for a Bible, but had received no response. Now everyone was full of joy for having a copy of the Bible in their possession. They earnestly invited Vahram to visit them again.

From Tokat he went on to Sivas. By God's provision, there was someone in every place who would volunteer to take him around. In Sivas his guide was an eighty-year-old woman. She knew every part of the city as well as she knew every corner of her own house. They went from section to section and from house to house. Many people were blessed. The words of Jesus Christ were fulfilled: "And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you" (Matthew l0:11-13).

He enlightened many people whose knowledge about Jesus Christ was practically nil. The Armenian children were totally ignorant of the fascinating life of Jesus Christ. As he and his eighty-year-old guide were entering a neighborhood, a little boy threw stones at them. Sadly, he was an Armenian child. Vahram began explaining to him stories from the Bible which told of Christ's love. The child was so excited that he ran around the neighborhood and gathered ten friends. These children between six and twelve years of age listened to the words with rapt attention. They had never heard of Christ's love and that He had died for them on the cross.

The mother of one of the children noticed what was happening and called Vahram and the old sister to her house. When the same stories geared to the adult level were related to the woman, she started to weep. Vahram asked her, "Why don't you tell these beautiful Bible stories to the children yourself?" Lamenting bitterly, she replied, "How can such ignorant people as ourselves teach anybody anything?" Right there, the woman repented and believed wholeheartedly in Christ as her Savior. In each place he visited, the Holy Spirit was present to support the Word for the necessary impact upon hearts. Some of the children prayed that they might be washed and cleansed in the blood of Christ. The woman took a copy of the Psalms and at Vahram's suggestion began to teach the children the Twenty-third Psalm. A lot of books were sold in that section of town. A Christian girl took her Bible to school and her Turkish teacher liked it so much that she began to read from it to the class. Whenever she couldn't understand a passage, she sent the child to her parents and asked them to explain it, thinking that because they were Armenians they would know.

There were many house meetings in Sivas. Evening after evening people gathered in God's heart-lifting presence. People broke down in repentance and entered into a new relationship with Christ. Until then, they had been Christian in name only. Sample books were left in book-shops on consignment and orders taken for books to be shipped from Istanbul. Only one bookseller turned him away, and Vahram prayed for him as he left the shop. After appropriate time was spent in Sivas, he left the place. Many families and shopkeepers were talking about the Christ presented by this man. The love of Jesus had passed to others through him.

The last place he visited before returning to Istanbul was Ankara. He found the local Christians here indifferent and ignorant, engrossed in their daily business pursuits. Their condition oppressed him. Eventually he came across one or two believers. They prayed together and the oppression left him. Meeting some foreign believers, he immediately sensed a spiritual kinship, even though he did not know their language. Their meeting places were made available to him and, staying fourteen days in Ankara, he was able to organise several meetings. Many people repented of their sins and found saving faith in these gatherings. A note of thanksgiving at this point: The books ordered from Istanbul had already arrived! Vahram's original stock of books was exhausted before he arrived in Ankara. The new books sold fast. Countless doors were open to him. Families eagerly invited him to their homes and there were people being converted with tears.

People with various needs and especially the sick approached him offering money, with the request that he pray for them. They also wanted him to read from the Scriptures as a priest would do. But Vahram was not the kind to offer such services for money. He absolutely refused any payment. People were puzzled and asked, "What is this man driving at, running here and there, praying and cheering people up?" This query of the natural mind was to go unanswered.

An Armenian businessman wanting to extend a gesture of hospitality invited Vahram to a night-club. With his usual smile, Vahram said, "It's not my custom to go to such places". But the man continued to insist while Vahram was praying, "My Jesus, my Jesus, my Jesus!" Flabbergasted, the generous businessman asked, "What does Jesus have to do with going out to a club?" "I'm pleading with my Jesus to come and save you," replied Vahram. The man's mood changed. Vahram continued, "Instead of inviting me to a night-club, why don't you take me to your home?" Without the slightest objection, the man said, "Good idea, let's go!" His wife's joy was evident when she saw her husband not only coming home early but also bringing a kind gentleman with him. Normally, her husband wouldn't have come straight home from work. He would spend time at a pub and appear drunk, hours later at the door. In fact, that day he had lost a lot of money at the horse races, and in order to forget his sorrows he had intended to go to the night-club. But God intervened and changed the purposeless plan through Vahram. He explained the Good News to the man and his family; they all repented and were converted. The Lord fulfilled His design of grace in the whole family. This man was snatched from the barroom and placed into the haven of the loving Lord.

A Jewess attended the final meeting in Ankara. Hearing the testimonies, prayer, hymns and preaching for the first time, she was deeply affected and bought the last New Testament available. A joyful late-night meeting culminated this enriching evangelistic venture. Tired, but deeply gratified, Vahram planned to depart for Istanbul by bus the next morning.

However, he had not bought a ticket beforehand. In those days there was no central bus terminal. Buses started from various points in the city. He needed to go early in the morning to secure his ticket. But he was late. There was only one bus a day, and every seat was taken! Again he prayed to his all-providing heavenly Father. At that very moment someone turned up wanting to sell his ticket because he could not travel that day. The man was standing right in front of Vahram, who immediately gave thanks to God and bought the ticket from the grateful seller. What a pity he had not a single book left to sell to the man! So he set out on the twelve-hour journey to Istanbul, sitting in the very front seat. His delay in coming to the bus was because of taking time to read his Bible and pray, which practice he scrupulously followed. And his Father rewarded his faithfulness by preparing the best seat in the bus for him.