Prayer Requests
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into Turkey to work among the Turkish Pomaks. Ask God to create a hunger within the hearts of the Turkish Pomaks to know the Truth.
Ask God to raise up teams of intercessors who will faithfully stand in the gap for the Turkish Pomaks.
Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
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The Pomak of Turkey
26 Mar 2007
The Turkish Pomak are a Slavic people who live near the borders of Greece and Bulgaria in Turkey. The government considers them to be Turk with Bulgarian backgrounds since they have Bulgarian features, and have some cultural practices similar to the Bulgarians. They primary language is Turkish (98%), with some homes speaking Bulgarian and Greek.
Cultural Fact –
The Pomaks probably converted to Islam in the 1370's. Tradition says that they did not voluntarily accept Islam, but were forced to do so. As time went by, they gradually began to adopt various Muslim customs, such as the veiling of women.
Current witness –In Turkey none. However, there is one IMB family living in the area targeting Turks. Recently as they were discipling (in Turkish) two potential leaders they discovered that these men were actually of Bulgarian background! Maybe God is at work?!
Current Projects – A partnership is forming with Bulgarian and Greek churches of Pomak background.
Need for prayer trips into Pomak areas
Need for distribution of Turkish language materials in Pomak areas.
Need for the formation of a Pomak prayer network
Places to visit - The border towns of Edirne and Ipsal. |
