Day 256: Country Focus TURKEY

DAY 256

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith, by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland – pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Thirty-seven    Wednesday 25 November 2020

Country Focus: Turkey

After centuries of being part of the larger Islamic Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey was founded in the 1920’s as a secular state with a guarantee of freedom of religion. In reality, however, it remains a Muslim country statistically – 99%, and culturally, with a Christian population of 22% in 1900 reduced to less than 1% today. The recent murders of a priest and several Christians have served as reminders that people still today are paying for their faith with their lives. This year the government has converted the historic Christian church of Hagia Sophia back into a mosque which it was turned into following victory over the Christians during the crusades. Modern day Turkey was the location of the seven churches of the Book of Revelation, but none exist today. 

Prayer Focus

+ Pray for the tiny Christian witness hindered by “doctrinal extremes, legalism, personality

   clashes and disunity” that work against a positive witness to the difference Jesus makes.

+ Pray for new converts who face hostile rejection and persecution from close knit family

   systems for betraying Islam, that churches will learn how to be replacement families for them.

+ Pray for works of evangelism, taking place since 1821, and the more than 50 agencies and

   1,500-2,000 expatriate Gospel and humanitarian workers for Holy Spirit fruitfulness.

+ Pray for the diaspora of millions of Turks who are ‘guest workers’ across western Europe

   where Christianity is largely cultural, that they will have contact with true believers.   

+ Pray that the Holy Spirit will use TV programming broadcast into Turkey from Cyprus.

+ Pray that the Holy Spirit will raise up maturing stable Turkish leaders in every congregation.

Jesus’ Prayer Request each Wednesday:

“’The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest,

therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus – Matthew 9:37-38.

For additional information on praying for Turkey go to: operationworld.org.

Reflective question: Will you ask the Holy Spirit to use you to intercede for Turkey?

Reflective Scripture: 1 Samuel 12:23 - …far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.”

Reflective hymn:

“Grant Blessings, O God” – Rev. Turgay Ucal, Pastor, Istanbul Presbyterian Church

Grant blessings, O God. Expand my limits;

May your hand be with me, may it shield me from evil.

Grant blessings, O God. Widen my paths;

May your Spirit be with me, may it shield me from evil.