Mike and Maria Long

State side ministry begins after marathon trip

At 3:35 pm we arrived at Chicago O'Hara airport after over 40 hours of sleeplessness.  Wednesday, July 23, began with whole list of last minute tasks.  We finished packing after midnight, showered, and headed for the airport at 2.30 am.  All of us fell asleep before take off at 4:40 am and again before breakfast at 5.30.  Arriving in Zurich, Switserland, we had coffee and waited 6 hours for our next flight.  We talked, walked, read, and ate again lunch before taking off for Chicago at 1.00 pm local time.  It was worth the hassle to unite with Gina and family finally.  From 8:00 am Wed until 5.00 pm Thursday plus 8 hours time change, we had survived over 40 hours of on and off rest to arrive back.  Praise the Lord, we are here in the states.

Ministry begins this Saturday when we have the joy and privilege of marrying Julie Vanderpool in West Lafayette, IN.  Her family was one of the core group in the Warsaw FM Church back in 1992-94.  It will be a reunion and special celebration. This Sunday, we will be ministering at a close by supporting church in Boswell, IN.  Next Sunday, we will be at Winona Lake, IN.  Then we are off to Georgia.

Here is the current schedule.  Please contact us so that we can meet up.  Gina's mobile is 517 416 1669.

July 24 depart for Chicago and arrive 1535 same day

July 25 depart for West Lafayette for wedding at 4.30 pm

July 26 Wedding Julie Vanderpool

July 27 am Boswell, IN and return in the afternoon to brother’s in Chicago

July 28-31 Long Grove, IL Chicago

Aug 1-3 Winona Lake, IN

Aug 3 am and pm Winona Lake, IN

Aug 4-9 Columbus, GA

Aug 10 am at Olney, IL and pm at St. Francisville, IL

Aug 13 Ft. Wayne, IN

Aug 17 am at Attica, IN

Aug 24 am Mooresville, IN and pm Indy First, IN

Aug 31 am Anderson, IN and drive the evening to Spring Arbor

Sept 1 Christi and Gina start University

Sept 2 Maria and Kali return to Greece at 1910

Sept 7 am Kokomo, IN and pm West Morris Indy, IN

Sept 14 am Vincennes, IN and pm Robinson, IN

Sept 17 Lakeland, FL

Sept 19-20 Pastors and Leaders Conference St. Pete, FL

Sept 21 am Fayetteville, GA and pm Pleasant Grove, AL Birmingham

Sept 28 am Griffith, IN and pm Michigan City, IN

Sept 30 Mike returns to Greece at 1910

Pray for us as we travel and ministry.  May we be the voice of God and minister His power and grace wherever we go.  Thanks for your support.

"Cleared of all charges" for the little church on Mitseon Street

The lawyers were nervous about our case because the Thessaloniki Housing Authority had lost the application for verification of compliance to housing codes.  Should we risk going to trial without the document?  The attempt to postpone was denied.  The only hope was for our testimony and pictures to convince the five member panel that the court demands were satisfied.  I prayed for mercy and grace from halls of civil justice.

I took the stand (bema) and looked up at the panel of judges.  First question was to my lawyer.  "Does he speak Greek?"  Witness's name, Long, is not Greek.  Second question.  "Do you take the oath?"  Witness is not Orthodox.  After a quick barrage of question, witness may sit down.  Then the announcement, "Cleared of all Charges, next case."  Thank God they believed my account and settled the suit against our little church that were filed back in 2003.  A neighbor did not want an evangelical church in his apartment building so he filed a complaint about non coded construction just to make life difficult.  Maybe the church would leave.  Despite the disfavor then in 2003, the church grew in numbers and moved across the street to a bigger space and the favor in the community is growing.  May our street Mitseon become as famous as Azusa someday as a spiritual place that draws persons to God's presence.

The cost of the trial was around $1,000.  If the Lord puts it on your heart, go to www.fmwm.org and follow instructions to donate on-line for Greece country shares. Or send donations to FM World Missions, PO Box 535002, Indianapolis, IN 46253  and designate gifts for Project #: WCS403.