He was baptized in 1914 at 17 years of age. World War I was then raging, and he received a call for military service.
وَلٰكِنْ عِنْدَمَا أُطْلِقَ سَرَاحُهُ ،‏ بَدَأَ بِٱلْخِدْمَةِ كَامِلَ ٱلْوَقْتِ كَمُوَزِّعِ مَطْبُوعَاتٍ جَائِلٍ (‏ أَيْ فَاتِحٍ )‏ .‏