Fishing for Men in the Aegean Sea

WITH mainland Greece to the north and west, the island of Crete to the south, and Turkey to the east, the Aegean Sea covers a vast area of the eastern Mediterranean. The cradle of some great early civilization, the Aegean Sea is studded with islands and islets.  The rugged outlines of the islands, which have a smattering of tine, white houses gleaming in the sunlight, inspired one poet to liken them to "stone horses with rampant manes." 

 Little wonder these islands have become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world!  Their physical beauty is enhanced by the sterling qualities of the men and women who live and work there. Down to earth and  hospitable, yet independent, these people add a special touch to the uniqueness of the area.  Many of the islanders make a living by fishing in the waters of the Aegean Sea.  Another kind of important "fishing," however, is producing bountiful results in that area.  "Fishers of men," evangelizers of the good news of God's Kingdom, traverse the islands of the Aegean, making Christian disciples. -Matthew 4:18, 19; Luke 5:10. 

About 19 centuries ago, Christian evangelizers visited islands of the Aegean. In about 56 C.E., the apostle Paul, returning from his third missionary journey, stopped briefly at the islands of Lesvos, chios, Samos, Kos, and Rhodes. Ever a zealous preacher, Paul must have preached to some kind of islanders.  (Acts 20:14, 15, 24; 21:1, 2. Following his two years of imprisonment in Rome, he most likely visited Crete and engaged in Christian activity there. Near the end of the first century, the apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos "for speaking about God and bearing witness to Jesus." (Revelation 1:9)  How do modern-day proclaimers  of the good news fare in these islands?

Next time: Rewarding Preaching Campaigns 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000