Turkey

Partner with Local Missionaries in Turkey

Located in the 10/40 Window

With most of its land mass in the Anatolian peninsula of western Asia and a lesser part on the Balkan peninsula of southeastern Europe, Turkey (now officially Republic of Türkiye) has a rich cultural and religious history and is a major political force in the region. Though overwhelmingly Muslim at 96.2 percent of the population, most adherents are nominal, as few have knowledge of the Quran, yet fiercely loyal, as Islam is integral to nationalistic fervor.

Another paradox: while Turkey has had a secular government for most of the past century, the current administration of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been marked by strongly Islamist tendencies. At the same time, the non-religious portion of the population has been growing, with estimates ranging from 3.1 percent to into the double digits. Only 0.04 percent of the population evangelical, according to Joshua Project.

Local missionaries in Turkey report unprecedented openness to the gospel among a growing number of Turkish Muslims and Muslim refugees from Syria and elsewhere. With so few evangelical Christians, however, churches can hardly support evangelists and pastors, and they need donations for their monthly expenses and for tools such as ministry vehicles vital for outreaches to refugee camps.

One effective ministry has planted churches in the Black Sea region, and they need assistance for rental of their worship places. Meantime, the demand for Bibles has increased as Muslim refugees’ disillusionment with Islam drives them to seek answers elsewhere. Local workers request assistance to keep Bibles and New Testaments in stock, as well as an apologetics book written by a native missionary. These books are distributed in refugee camps and prisons, during one-on-one outreach and in stands in front of a church building.

Media and social media are having an increasingly strong impact. One native missionary publishes a magazine that clarifies who Christ is and addresses various topics from a Christian perspective, and another has a radio program with a large audience. The latter also posts teaching and preaching on Internet outlets, reaching a potential audience of millions. Through responses to these media, local missionaries are seeing the prevalence of disillusion with Islam and interest in the person of Christ.

Sources: Joshua Project, Wikipedia

84.2 million

Population

0.04%

Evangelical Population:

People Groups:

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Turkey

Pray for protection of local missionaries, as they are facing increasing threats and attacks in media, on the street and among powers and authorities.
Pray that Muslims putting their faith in Christ will be protected from family and societal opposition and will find support in Christian community.
Pray that native leadership will be developed in spite of a national ban on Christian seminaries in the country.

More Stories from Turkey

Encourage Christian Workers to Remain Steadfast in Turkey

A church planted by a local ministry continues to draw more people to its services. Recently, six people gave their lives to Jesus there and were baptized. “We are so thankful to God,” the ministry leader said. “The church has become stronger and more receptive as new spiritual fruit is drawing more people to attend its meetings.” But during one recent worship service, someone came to the church intent on attacking it. Several men in attendance were able to stop the attacker, and the police arrested him. Your donations assist local missionaries who work in dangerous places.

Spread the Gospel Message in Turkey

Through the diligent evangelism of local missionaries, approximately four to five Turkish young people put their faith in Jesus each month, and the ministry leader praised the Lord for the transformations he has witnessed. Some of these new believers have begun ministering in local churches and pray together that more believers will go to other cities to share the gospel. "God is definitely awakening the young people in our country," the ministry leader said. "So many of the youth here are accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior." Your donations support missionaries in their evangelism efforts.

Share Gospel Truths in Turkey

A local ministry trained a believer to be a pastor of a church in another city. But the ministry leader was concerned whether the congregation would accept the man and his wife. One Sunday, he attended the church to determine whether his worries were valid. To his amazement, not only had the congregation embraced their new pastor, but even more people now came to the church. “It was obvious that more people were attending church under his leadership not just to connect with people, but to connect with Jesus,” the ministry leader said. Your donations support local missionaries as they faithfully serve the Lord.

Lift Up Believers in Turkey

When a woman from a strict Muslim family was discovered reading the New Testament, her relatives persecuted her. During this time of persecution, she dreamed she was with a crowd walking toward Jesus, and He called her name. When she drew nearer to Him, He told her how much He loved her. Later, when she told local missionaries about the dream, she not only expressed the joy that filled her when He called her name, but she also chose to publicly declare her faith at the local church. Your donations assist persecuted believers.

Christian Article Leads Turkish Muslim to Jesus

Yusuf*, a young Muslim man in Turkey, believed Christianity was false. He believed it was a threat to the true religion—Islam—and from the time he was a young child, he felt a deep hatred toward it. But that was to be expected of a young boy growing up in a strict Muslim family. When he was old enough for formal education, his parents sent him away to be educated in the rules of Islam, and those principles became the guiding force of his life. He had no reason to believe that what he studied and chose to believe in was anything other than the ultimate Truth.

Testify to God’s Great Love in Turkey

Pray the lost will find hope in God's word. A young government employee told a local ministry leader he was a traitor for believing God was more important than their country. The leader shared with her the Scripture that encourages believers to pray for those in authority, which he was committed to doing.