Team Report – #439S
| Location: | Turkey (Black Sea Region) |
| Date: | Oct 9-Oct 23 2004 |
| Sending Partner: | STEM SHARE, Bemidji, MN |
Zero Believers
+ Zero Churches
+ A prayer of faith
----------------
= A seed planted
After a long winding drive we parked in the heart of a mountain-top city. There are no known believers here. The only churches are ancient shells or piles of rubble, destroyed many years ago. Recently, a Turkish Christian lived here, but he’s been forced out of town. Our host cautioned us that we would likely be watched by secret police. Townspeople are fasting from sunrise to sunset to observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Even low-key evangelism is disastrous without earning respect and friendship.
For hundreds of miles from this place, the story is much the same in every village and in every city.
Our small team sat around a table in an empty restaurant. What hope can this team have of making any difference? But I am excited. Against all odds, God has put faith in our hearts to pray for churches to be born in these places. And so we pray! Asking the King of the Nations to call these people to worship Him, that the Lord would receive the honor due Him from this place and from these people.
Although we see no immediate changes, we know a seed of faith has been planted, and we move on to the next place.
I feel as if we’ve been a part of an irreversible process. It began long before we came, and will continue long after we’ve gone. But all those who sent, went, or received have played a small part in an eternal plan to bring glory to the Father.
Will you help water this seed by praying? By giving? By going?
“Father, we lift the land of Turkey before you. Carry out your vast and gracious plan to draw millions to your light. Cause the name of Jesus and the word of God to be honored by all. May believers and churches spring up in barren places, bringing the message of life. Amen.”
