Lighting the Way: Testimonies of Transformation from Türkiye

It's truly inspiring to witness the incredible impact of our Turkish Baptist Alliance church planters. They're lighting the way and spreading the love of Christ throughout society, helping people in need, and nurturing the next generation of Jesus followers in universities and schools. They're building genuine friendships and relationships, and it's amazing to see the positive influence they have on the community.

I invite you to read the testimonies and prayer requests and join us in praying for these beautiful churches transforming Turkiye.

Testimonies from our Church Planter Onur in Pergamon Church

” ...Brother “B” expressed his desire to publicly declare his faith.”

I had the privilege of having baptism classes with our brother, B, both in Bergama and

online via Zoom. This month, B expressed his desire to publicly declare his faith, proclaiming that he has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.  It is a moment of immense joy, and we give thanks to God for this decision. The transformations and blessings in B's life have been profound, serving as the backbone of his faith. He shared that since he began reading the Holy Scriptures, he has experienced a newfound sense of calm and peace. B mentioned the numerous blessings he has encountered in his professional life, which he attributes to God's grace. We are committed to praying for B as he embarks on this new journey of faith, grateful for the profound impact it is having on his life and the lives of those around him.

"…students travelled approximately five hours to spend  more time with us.” 

We organised a picnic outdoors that attracted approximately 40 students, creating an engaging and lively atmosphere for all participants. This event provided a wonderful opportunity for us to spend quality time together, allowing the students to voice their lingering questions and curiosities about Christianity in a relaxed environment. The informal setting of the picnic facilitated open discussions, enabling students to explore their thoughts and feelings in a supportive space.

Following the picnic, we also held a separate craft activity exclusively for the female students, which further strengthened our connection as a church community. This additional event not only encouraged creativity among the participants but also nurtured relationships and fostered a sense of belonging within the group. Overall, the picnic and subsequent activities served to enhance our outreach efforts, creating meaningful interactions and enriching the students' understanding of faith while building a supportive community. 

„Friends from Partner Baptist Union visiting and helping in connecting with Students”

At the end of this month, we were blessed to welcome Tomas, Travis, and Tereza, our brothers and sister from the Czech Baptist Union, who are visiting Bergama for the second time to engage in service and fellowship.  Their return signifies not only a strengthening of the bonds between our communities but also offers us a valuable opportunity to connect with students at the local university once again.

Prayer Request from Onur:

• In our community, we are currently focusing on several prayer requests that highlight the importance of spiritual support and perseverance in faith. First and foremost, we are lifting up our brother B, who is embarking on a new journey of faith, asking the Lord to provide him with courage as he navigates the trials that lie ahead. We believe that through prayer, he will emerge victorious from his challenges.  

• We ask for God’s abundant blessings upon them, so that the seeds we have planted in this community may thrive and bear fruit.  

• This month, I became a father for the second time, and I am grateful for your prayers. I also thank  God for blessing us with a baby girl, and my wife Marina is healthy and full of joy and thankfulness.

From our Church planter Mert in Church Buka and Church Konak

” ...a growing spiritual awakening among young people...”

This month, by God’s grace, we continued our regular worship services at Buca and Konak churches. We also held youth meetings and Bible study sessions at Buca Church. Our youth meetings have been a great blessing, as new young people have joined our church and come to faith in the Lord! Seeing a growing spiritual awakening among young people has been a source of great joy and encouragement for us.

Sister “Ş” Testimony 

This month, our sister Ş professed her faith in Christ and started baptism classes. We are going through the Foundations of Faith course, which consists of 24 lessons, and we are currently on lesson 4.  

Sister Ş’s story is quite moving. She grew up in a radical religious family, yet she always felt a deep curiosity about Christianity and churches. After moving to Izmir, she experienced a difficult period in her personal life, including physical abuse from her ex-boyfriend. This painful event led her to seek God more deeply.  Surprisingly, when her family discovered she had become a Christian, they did not react negatively.  Instead, they told her, “At least you have faith in  something; it is better than being faithless.” Now, Sister Ş regularly shares Bible verses with her mother, and we pray that the Lord will touch her family’s heart as well.

At Buca Baptist Church, because of our location near university campuses, we encounter new visitors every day. Throughout March, we’ve had an average of 25-30 young people visit daily, some curious, others with deep questions. Some pick up a book and leave, while others stay for hours to think and reflect. Some of them visit us repeatedly, quietly observing.  We provide them with Christian literature, engage in one-on-one conversations, sometimes a student plays a hymn on the piano, and other times someone asks, “Can you tell me about Jesus?” and we end up having a long conversation. The atmosphere is truly fruitful and spiritually rich.

We hosted a group of students from the University (one of the largest and most well-known universities in İzmir) at Buca Baptist Church. Before their class began, we introduced ourselves, and many of them asked us questions about Christianity. After answering their questions, we shared a few worship songs with them. Following the program, we had meaningful conversations with the students and received very positive feedback. Seeing interest was truly encouraging.

Food Package Assistance – Helping Those in Need  

In March, we organised a food package distribution for those in need. Working with both a local  NGO and the municipality, we distributed 500 food packages. The program was very successful, and it was a joy to see how the Lord used this effort to reach those in need.

Please continue to pray for the spiritual growth of these new believers, for those who are still seeking, and for the expansion of Christ’s kingdom in Izmir.