Despite the central role of Turkey's church in the New Testament, evangelical believers today number only in the thousands within this highly Gospel-resistant Islamic country of more than 80 million. Turks are proud of their country, which has become rapidly industrialized and modernized. Yet, the love for their country is so fused with Islam that it is inconceivable for a Turk to be a Christian. Followers of Christ are generally characterized in the Turkish press as western imports who don't belong. By God's grace, Christians still have some degree of freedom to worship together. Over the years, efforts have been underway to strengthen and mature the leadership of the few Turkish churches located in the country. Turkish believers wisely utilize all major media platforms in order to share the Gospel with fellow Turks.
Life for Christians
Pastors have been targeted in sophisticated assassination plots. In 2007, two Turkish believers and a missionary were brutally murdered. More than a decade later, the perpetrators' trial still drags on. There is a huge stigma against becoming a Christian in Turkey, resulting in converts from Islam facing stiff opposition from all sides – their families, communities and government. In the process, many believers lose housing, jobs and familial relationships.
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Ethnicity (%) Turkish (70-75), Kurdish (19), other minorities (7-12)
Religion (%) Islam (99.8), other (0.2)
Leader President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2014)
Government type Parliamentary republic
Legal system Civil law system derived from various European continental legal systems
Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Turkey
Prayerfully uphold those who have had their churches and places of worship taken over by a government that does not represent their beliefs, values or ordinances. Ask the Lord to oversee the mediation process as church officials and government representatives endeavour to work out a solution that is both honouring to Him and fair to all the members of the various churches. Despite the challenges experienced by the believers of this country, may they have a sense of God's reassuring presence and peace, knowing that one day He will reign supremely and justly over the entire earth.
Joy Subaşıgüller and her family Photo: Facebook / Joy Subaşıgüller
Last year, at least thirty-five foreign Christian workers were expelled from Turkey, as their permits had been either revoked or denied renewal. So far this year, the number of those forced to leave the country has already reached si
A Christian teacher has been dismissed from her teaching job after the press accused her of conducting missionary activities through social media. Esma Bağci Kaya had been teaching religion and morality at the Hasan Fatma Onal Anadolu High School, a pr
For years, Turkey has placed restrictions on religious leadership training. As a result, many pastors in the country have been foreign nationals. However, new visa restrictions are now being placed on foreign religious workers entering the country.
On April 18th, 2007, three Christian workers at a publishing house in Malatya, Turkey, were tortured and murdered (see this report). Ultimately five men were convicted and given three consecutive life sentences. Although an appeal was heard on January 23r
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