From some pastors in the country

A very hot summer in Turkey

The Turkish seasides and coasts are very beautiful. If you were to visit you would fall in love with them. Generally, in Turkey, the weather is very hot in summer, especially on the coasts where some of our churches are. However, this year we have been "feeling the heat" of the political situation and not just the weather. As you may know, on July 15th there was a coup attempt in Turkey. This attempt caused the death of at least 294 people and 15.000-20.000 people have been arrested so far.

It has been a complicated season for Turkey. The group that is apparently responsible for this attempt is an influential religious sect that has members within the military. If they had succeeded, the country could have been in real trouble, but the coup attempt failed. Shortly after the failed coup attempt, the president instituted a three-month state of emergency for the purpose of tracking down the other members of this sect within Turkey. Both foreign and local believers were concerned about how the state of emergency would affect the church, but it seems that the danger has passed for now.

This is an internal issue in the political and religious life of Turkey. So far the only real impact it has had in our ministries is in the new temporary rules regarding international travel for Turkish people. We have to bring extra documentation and undergo more thorough questioning at the border. We expect that all of this will return to normal within one or two months and life will continue as always.  In the meantime, there are 3 important commandments to remember: 

1. Rejoice all the time.
2. Give thanks all the time
3. Pray all the time

Could you join us in prayer:

1.  against the fear among believers
2. for wisdom and safety
3. peace
4. for people to draw nearer to God

Other friends who work in the country report on what life looks like after July 15. As a result of the coup, we have seen a greater openness to the Gospel.

• Pray for many to come to Christ through this
• Pray God's will to come to place here
• Pray for truth and justice to rule

Praise God for the news that of growing Christian communities and opportunities to share Jesus with the Turkish, Kurdish and other people groups. We are thankful to the Lord for the news that more people are listening to Radio Shema’s broadcast after the failed coup.

Other prayer topics

For Pastors

That pastors, their families and churches would be protected from possible threats by the local mafia, and that the authorities are able to sort things out without anyone being hurt

For the Revival of the Churches

That authorities will recognize the right of Christians to meet in a legally recognized place of worship, and provide suitable property for that purpose

For Deliverance of Middle East Refugees

That God will break into the lives of Middle East refugees with the brilliance of His love and mercy, and that with each step God will turn this dark road into the pathway to provision, with a growing sense of His loving presence

• Pray that God will give wisdom and discernment to church leaders to establish helpful relations with local authorities
• Pray that legislation will be adopted that will grant equality before the law and protection against discrimination on the grounds of religion
• Pray that the Republic of Turkey would be resettled as soon as possible, and that it will recover an air of peace and reconciliation, in which the Gospel can be proclaimed again all over the land

Pray that Christians workers, their families, and their ministries would be protected with divine supernatural power, even in the turbulent situation after the failed coup.