INTRODUCTION
These notes are a summary collection of memories and certainly not a complete one. There are dates, persons and events that would otherwise be forgotten as the time goes by and the older friends are passing away. The younger friends hardly know any of these stories and to some of them even the name of John Micheletos will be unknown.
In the fall of 1982 my husband and I visited South Africa and the friends there showed great interest into hearing our testimony and especially the stories about the beginnings of the work in Greece. I know some stories from my mother Elly and my father Kimon Vardakis. As a child I had heard John Micheletos many times giving his testimony and later Anton Koutsourelis. The friends in South Africa wrote down our narrative and sent the notes to us in Athens. This motivated me to ask my mother to fill some gaps as I realized it was about time to keep some notes on the past events. It is hard to describe the hardships that the first workers and friends faced in our country. But it was a good and sound foundation and there was true unity among them.
At John’s funeral on Dec. 8, 1966 there was a big crowd of people, friends, relatives of friends and people who had met him and had been impressed by his spirit. It was like Jacob who had left his fathers home with only his rod in hand yet he returned rich with a crowd of people and many possessions.
John Micheletos passed away in Athens 1966
Annie Mc Bride-Micheletos in Hania, Crete 1944
Theo Karvounakis in Athens 1944
John Bacossis was executed by guerillas 1944
Amalia Bouzakis in Hania 1980
Anton Koutsourelis while visiting the U.S.A. 1981
John Micheletos was born in a village on the high mountains of western Crete around 1880. As a young man of about 17 he left Crete and went to Canada to seek his fortune, as many other Greeks did in those days. He had no formal education, he had only learned the essentials of reading and writing instructed by his father. He was a strong, tall fellow ready to fight at the least provocation and--as he used to say in his testimony--he always slept with a revolver gun under his pillow.
In Canada he used to work as a helping hand in the farms. Teams of men like him offered their work during times of pressure with harvesting et. al. moving from one location to another.In those days preachers of various denominations would stop by giving sermons after which there was a collection.One day two sister workers arrived at the area of John's work and held a Gospel meeting for the farm hands that evening. They were surprised to see and hear women preachers. These were Annie McBride and her companion. After the meeting the men decided to have a collection among themselves and offer it to the sisters. They thought it would be more appropriate than letting the women collect. To their surprise the preachers refused to accept any offer.This made a deep impression to John. He attended further meetings and he came to the point of decision. He wanted to follow the Truth but he felt so unworthy, so full of sin, that he believed the Lord would not accept him. One certain night he prayed in agony and promised that if the Lord would accept him, he would serve him with all his heart for the rest of his life.This prayer brought suddenly a great peace in his heart, an assurance of God’s acceptance and a calm restful sleep as he never had before. He must have been in his mid-twenties at that time.Living a Christian life among these hard people was not easy at all, and John was teased and tested by his comrades all the time. But he had made a steady decision. After some time he expressed the desire to go out to the harvest field.
His own country, Greece, was in his mind and he wanted to spend his life preaching the gospel to his people. But this was discouraged by everyone. Greece was just after 1st World War. Times were difficult with a lot of internal political turmoil in the country. No companion was available for him and John was extremely disappointed.He confessed all his thoughts and temptations to Annie McBride who had brought the Truth to him and who listened to him as a spiritual mother. Annie, who was almost 20 years his senior, offered to marry him and join him as his companion to Greece.She did this because she realised how eager he was to go and how sincere his desire was to help Greece. She understood him deeply and helped him stand on his feet and overcome his disappointment. Their decision was faced with great skepticism by the elders; and John would always refer to Annie's great sacrifice to marry him and spoil her flawless testimony.
Annie was a very spiritual person and had a deep knowledge and revelation of the Bible. Her presence helped John to deepen his roots and rise above his background. Everybody who knew them remember how much he respected her and seeked her opinion and also how she obeyed his every decision.
While they were in the British Isles they gave wise advice to a problem that had arisen in the church and thus brought a godly solution and peace to the friends there. They were encouraged by the brethren, and it was from these countries that they received help in the difficult years of the beginning while there were no saints in Greece.
They arrived in Greece in 1920. At first in Athens and then to Crete in the mountain villages of John's parents. (John's mother died early and he had been raised by a stepmother). They spent their time visiting the relatives while Annie tried to learn Greek. John, as well, had quite forgotten his language after more than 20 years in Canada.John's immediate family regarded Annie with great respect but they never professed. His stepmother professed in the last days of her life. Many of his other relatives, however, professed later.After some time Annie could manage the language quite well even though she always spoke Greek as it is written in the Bible.
They were alone until 1924 when Theo Karvounakis and Fred Quick, came from Australia to join them. Theo and Fred stayed mostly around Athens, while John and Annie from the villages went to Hania the nearest town and started to preach the gospel.
Wow, what a story!
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