Turkey
During the first millennium of church history, Turkey was a bastion of Christianity. However, through much of the second millennium Turkey became a stronghold and propagator of Islam. During the 20th century Christianity declined from 22% of the population to less than 1% today. There are slightly more than 3000 evangelical believers in Turkey.
Turkey has considered itself a secular state since the time of Ataturk in 1923, but Islam has become much more important politically in recent years. “To be a Turk is be a Muslim” in the eyes of the people, even if only culturally Muslim. Acute pressure from family, government intimidation, and Islamist threats keep many from accepting Christ and cause others to be “secret believers”.
Many Turkish citizens believe that Christians are trying to brainwash people, turn them against the country, and spy for other nations. Government officials make negative statements about followers of Jesus. One frequent slur against believers is a charge that Christians pay Muslims to convert to Christianity. “More than half of the population of…Turkey opposes members of other religions holding meetings or publishing materials to explain their faith.” Almost 40% of Turks said they had very negative views of Christianity. Because of this constant stream of propaganda, there have been many attacks against Christians.
In April 2007 five Muslim “seekers” attended a Bible study at a Christian publishing house in Malatya, along with two Turkish converts and one German missionary. The Muslims stabbed and cut the throats of the two Turkish believers and the missionary. Recently, a Muslim left his home “determined to kill a Christian that day.” When one Christian left the local church, this man accosted him and stabbed him to death. The attacker carried a note that said “I love my homeland. Those who disagree with my thoughts or don’t like them can get out of my country.” The government does little to hinder these attacks and has arrested several Christians on charges of “insulting Turkishness.”
Prayers for persecuted Christians in Turkey
Turkish children face hostility from families
TURKEY: Continue to pray for Gokhan, Derman, Ulas, and Yaren (ages 11-15) who all prayed for salvation through Jesus Christ last summer. Ask the Lord to keep the fire of their faith burning strong, even as they wrestle with loneliness and hostility from classmates and family.
Disciples in Turkey
Our partners “Amir” and “Ceyda” in TURKEY are discipling several converts from Islam. These new believers have many questions and many needs. Pray for God to provide time and energy to our partners and to protect new converts from their oppressors.
Having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God. - Colossians 2:12
Pastor saved from killers
Praise from TURKEY! God protected Emre Karaali, the pastor of Izmit Protestant Church, from a plot to kill him. Police arrested 14 suspects who were planning to murder the 33-yr-old convert and his family.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." – Colossians 2:6-7
Pray for a soft heart
Our partner in TURKEY asks us to pray for Semra. “She joined the church a long time ago but has not opened her heart to Jesus yet. She sometimes asks very good questions about our faith. We believe that the Holy Spirit is working in her heart. We want to see her accepting Christ soon.”
Pray for the Spirit to open the eyes of Semra's heart; ask God to use His Word to bring light into her darkness. Pray that this month is the time Semra breaks free from Islam and trusts Jesus with her whole heart!
Kids receive New Testaments
Our partners in TURKEY distributed 300 children’s New Testaments and printed and distributed 6,000 copies of their Gospel-focused children’s magazine. We know that it isn't the numbers that matter because only the Holy Spirit can change hearts set on sin to hearts set on worship. But the numbers do indicate the faithfulness of Turkish believers to preach the Word to their communities. Praise God for their diligence and pray that this seed will fall on good soil and that the Lord will draw many of Turkish kids to Himself!
Court case drags on
Keep our partner in TURKEY in your prayers. This year marks the sixth year of a court case brought against him by a Muslim who posed as a student and infiltrated his Bible school as a spy. Although our partner was not engaged in any illegal activity, he still must defend his ministry against accusations of wrongdoing. Pray for perseverance and for an end to the case.
“You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger." - Psalm 31:3
Christians given cemetery to build church on
In TURKEY, Christians who applied to the government THREE years ago for permission to build a new church were just given land. Sounds good, right? Turkish media hailed the land grant as a historic gesture of goodwill toward a religious minority and Muslim leaders pointed to it as an example of the 'charitable' nature of Islam. The problem? The land is a cemetery that Muslims confiscated from a Catholic church. The new church refuses to build on it and wants it to be returned to its rightful owners.
Difficulty in Turkey
TURKEY: our partner says, “Some of our church members are losing their jobs during the winter season. Pray for them. Pray for our new believers Hatice, Seyit, Rabia and Sedat to grow in their faith in Jesus Christ.” Pray that these believers will persevere through difficult times and for God to provide for their needs according to His riches in Christ.
“You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey Your word.” - Psalm 119:57
Follow up in Turkey
TURKEY: Pray for those who heard the Gospel at our partner’s Christmas outreach services. Ask the Holy Spirit to protect the faith of new converts and to water the seeds planted Muslim hearts.
“May those who fear You turn to me, those who understand Your statutes.” - Psalm 119:79
No Music at Church
“Unfortunately there is no musician at our church yet,” says our partner in TURKEY. Many believers are afraid to attend church or serve in leadership because of pressure from Muslim landlords, neighbors, family, and government officials. Ask God to give this church someone with musical talents!
“Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.” - Psalm 119:54