STILL MORE REFLECTIONS ON MY FRIEND AND BROTHER SIMION MOTZ---BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

(The author with Brother Simion Motz about 1988)

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:16-18).

The apostle Paul praised God that he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, really more than once. He was the greatest preacher of the gospel other than our Lord Jesus Christ. He had absolute confidence in his redeemer who met him on the Damascus road and changed his life forever. He is near the end of his earthly life as he writes to Timothy, and to us, under inspiration of the Holy Ghost. For 2000 years these words have served the people of God. They are timeless.

I’ve had the great privilege in my life to meet and have fellowship with a number of Christians who were delivered out of the “lion’s mouth”. Some I met in the USSR and Eastern Europe, and some I met when they got to the west. There was Georgi Vins from Ukraine, Richard Wurmbrand from Romania, Janis Smits from Latvia, Haralan Popov from Bulgaria, John Noble from the USA (via Germany and Russia), and Simion Motz from Romania. One thing all these had in common; they suffered imprisonment for their Christian faith. Their families also suffered very much while they were imprisoned.

We in America can never really grasp what a price they paid there. We have lost some freedoms here in recent years that we have perhaps taken for granted. Two examples: the “right to die” advocates have gained ground, as well as the recent ruling on “eminent domain”, which can be, and is, in some cases, used to take America’s private property away without just and constitutional cause. Yet with these disturbing trends, and remembering that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” we still have far more freedom than they had under communism.

A Missionary Pastor friend I have known for many years reminded me of something Brother Simion often said to me and others. After visiting a prison gospel service with a church group in Kentucky ( or maybe Ohio, I can’t remember), Simion was astonished that the prisoners had a game room, TV and radio, a lounge, a gym, a library and even a swimming pool! He said “In prisons of America you have more luxury and freedom than they have outside the prisons in Romania”! I never forgot that, nor how amazed he was at our supermarkets. In communist countries usually you bought bread in one store, meat in another, vegetables in markets, other goods other places, assuming you could find the available goods! When you did there were often long lines.

I remember trying to buy a railway ticket in Budapest, Hungary to Arad, Romania right on the Hungarian border (Simion’s home town). I had to traverse three different long lines just to buy a ticket! Probably realizing I was an American (not savvy about the Hungarian system), people kept breaking in front of me very boldly. They did that until I “fought back” by crowding close to the person ahead of me. Otherwise, I would have likely been there all day!

Living in a system like that had much worse problems than just waiting in line. Simion often told me of how difficult it was to provide for his family. He was an accountant and the salary was fairly good, but goods were scarce, and the more he got involved in preaching in various churches, the more difficult his life became.

Our pastor was reflecting tonight in our church meeting on the value of good Christian biographies. It was a stimulating meeting and he asked for input from the congregation on biographies recently read. There were a number of responses. One had read the story of John G. Paton, the faithful Scottish missionary to the New Hebrides Islands (now Vanuatu in the South Pacific). These islands were inhabited by cannibals. He was warned by one cheerful soul” These people will probably eat you”! His answer was “Well, our bodies will ALL be eaten of worms one day. Better to be eaten of cannibals while serving God than to die disobedient and be eaten of worms anyway”. Not an EXACT quote- can’t find my copy of his autobiography.

In print in hardback, Banner of Truth, http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/home.php ).

Another spoke of Corrie ten Boom and her biographical story, The Hiding Place, and what a wonderful testimony she gave during the Nazi occupation of Holland. (Amazon.com has it).

Another spoke of Pilgrim’s Progress and John Bunyan’s Autobiography

(Several editions in print, even a free online edition; search at google.com).

Another spoke of Charles Spurgeon’s Autobiography. The two volumes are fascinating reading. (Also Banner of Truth). I highly recommend it if you are a good reader. Excerpts also available online at spurgeon.org

I mentioned that some years again I read the complete two volume biography of George Whitefield by Arnold Dalimore. Over 1200 pages but well worth the reading. (Still in print at Banner of Truth).

Also, what a blessing to read Tortured for His Faith by Haralan Popov. (Published by Zondervan). When I first obtained it I was looking for Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand (also excellent and soul stirring, can be obtained from several sources including persecution.com website). The lady at the local bookstore said “We are out of Mr. Wurmbrand’s book, but we have Mr. Popov’s book.” So I bought it. Little did I know that his biographical account of 13 years and 2 months in Bulgarian communist prison would change my direction and that within two years I would be working with him for nearly ten years.

Of course, in Popov’s ministry, ECL/Door of Hope I later met Brother Simion Motz. When the mission published Simion’s book On the Way of the Cross in the King’s Service, it also was added to my list of favorite biographical accounts. We hope his book will be back in print before long. I only have two personal copies. You can find used copies online.

It was a real joy in my life to travel frequently with these two soldiers of the cross, Haralan Popov, and Simion Motz. There is much I could recount of both men and will from time to time, D.V... I was a little part of their lives, their continuing biographies, and I am much the richer for it. You see, they came from a place that caused them to appreciate freedom (perhaps much more than we native born Americans do. They valued the things that really count. Their faith had been tried by fire!

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:7-9).

Originally written December 14, 2005 A.D... In Memory of my son Chuck (December14, 1962- February 13, 2004), whom we still miss very much. He loved Bro. Popov and Bro. Motz. I am confident these three are in heaven now together waiting for the resurrection of the body