About a month ago, my friend Rachel persistently asked me to take her to church. Rachel is covered and devoutly Muslim, so this took me by surprise. After praying and deciding it would be best to take her to a church with Turkish believers, I chose one and took her. This decision was complicated by the fact that her father is a police officer and she wanted to bring her 13-year-old sister along. In this country, it is illegal for me to share with people younger than 18, which I am sure Rachel is aware of. Stepping out in faith, I trusted that God would protect me and I took her to a church on a Sunday morning.

Before the service even started, a Turkish woman approached us and gave Rachel a New Testament and a Mary Magdalene film. The service was nice and Rachel had several questions during the service and even more afterward. I answered some of her questions as they came up. The woman who gave Rachel the materials invited us to stay for tea and snacks after the service and Rachel talked to her for a long time. I followed some of the questions and answers, but they were talking really fast and passionately in Turkish; so I mainly prayed for Rachel to understand the Truth. Then, another lady came to introduce herself and she shared Truth too. A few minutes later, a man came and then another man. In a little over an hour, Rachel had the Gospel explained to her about ten times!

When we left, Rachel was a little overwhelmed and confused, but the lady challenged her to watch the movie and see if it answered any of her questions and to read the New Testament about Jesus’ life. She also gave her a Josh McDowell book to read. I only had a few minutes after the service with Rachel but I think it left her with a lot to think about. When I got on my bus and headed home, I text messaged her and said, “Thanks again Rachel. I enjoyed going to church with you. If you ever want to go again or have questions, ask me. I am praying that God will show you what is the true way and that He will reveal Himself to you.” She thanked me and said she enjoyed it.

This could be just another step along her path of coming to know Jesus as Savior. I am asking that He will keep her up at night thinking about it and that He will come to her in dreams and show her who He is in His word.

Rachel was moved by watching the Turkish believers worship and was challenged a lot by the Turkish believers when talking with them after the service. It was so encouraging to see how loving and open they were to her and to see how passionately they explained the Gospel to her. They did not want her to leave without knowing the Truth about who He is. They were a little more charismatic than me, but we could tell they were passionately worshiping Jesus. It was beautiful.

Join us at our next partnership meeting in November to learn how you and your fellowship can know how to better pray for people like Rachel.

“Stop the van!  Those people look like they could use some help,” a team of volunteers shouted.  The hired driver rolled his eyes (again) and mumbled under his breath, “ But the touristic site is just up the road. Why do these people want to stop?”   One volunteer said, “Tell the driver a family needs help loading those bails of tea…let’s help them!”   For the next hour, we stayed and helped, earning the right to share the reason for the Hope we have within us.  “We are Christians, we love Turkey and the people of Turkey and we want you to know that God loves you too”.
Without the help of a volunteer team, this family may never have met a Christian or heard of God’s love for them.  Opportunities like this exist all over Turkey.   Join us at our next partnership meeting in November to learn how your fellowship can help us share God’s love to Turkish people worldwide.

   Last week one of the neighbor girls had a birthday and invited our kids over for a little party. They (of course) went, but before they left my son came to me and asked if he could give a Bible to the birthday girl if her mother said it was okay. I was surprised by his request, but of course I said YES!

   I was surprised and embarrassed because it should have been me that thought of giving it to them but it wasn’t. It was my nine-year-old son reminding me to look for and take any and all of the opportunities that we’re given to share. He wrapped it up along with the little bracelet they bought for her and took it over.

   The mother said yes about presenting the Bible to her daughter and the kids went through with the plan. When the birthday girl opened the present she was so excited to receive the Bible and showed it to the other two girls at the party. They each wanted one and after asking their parents permission, the kids also gave them The Bible. It seems that one of the girls hasn’t put it down since and has been reading from it every day.

We wait anticipating what God will do through His words and the faithful work of a nine-year-old boy!