Terrorist Plot Discovered

In December, Christians in the capital city of TURKEY learned that they had been the intended target of a plot by Al Qaeda. The Islamic group planned to bomb the city’s churches and also had lists of the names and home addresses of pastors and other church workers.

Praise God that police discovered the plot in time. Pray that the believers in the region will remain bold in their faith. “According to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD!”

LEARN MORE: Trouble in Turkey

After the gruesome murder of three Christians in a publishing office in 2007, a prominent church leader in Turkey said, “We know this will not be the last [martyr]. But with all our hearts we wish it would be the last.” Threats against Christians in Turkey continue, although some threats are more high-profile than others. Back in July we prayed about a planned raid on churches and a plot to kill church leaders. We did not know details, but we knew our source was trustworthy. Even today we do not know whether that threat still lingers, but we do know that a similar threat in the capital city of Ankara was intercepted last July.

Last summer eleven alleged members of Al Qaeda were arrested. They reportedly had plans to attack all of Ankara’s churches and were found to have explosives, weapons, and the names and home addresses of pastors and church workers. The news of the arrests and discoveries was finally published in Turkey in December.

This news must be a relief to churches in Ankara. But it must raise a whole series of new fears and questions in people’s hearts. The eleven arrested suspects were receiving orders from higher up in their organization—from higher up Islamic leaders who presumably still wish for the death of Christians in Turkey.

Pray for courage for these believers as they stand firm under difficult circumstances. Dangers can linger for a long time.

In the case of the three martyrs in the publishing house so many years ago, continued delays could bring the trial to an end this April without a sentence. Please continue to pray for that situation as well.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” –Ephesians 6:13