The words in the headline come from a project officerthat Danish European Mission's donors support. It's inspiring to talk to this man who clearly carries a calling from God to do this work that affects thousands of people.
How did the covid-19 hit Turkey?
"Borders, flights, schools and cafes - Yes, entire cities were closed so you couldn't leave them. Elderly people and children were not allowed outside at all for a while. During the lockdown, the all generationsUsing social media more than before, and it gives us new opportunities to present the gospelt.
FMore and more people are being saved. FMore people than ever before are seeing Christian videos on the different media platforms. For example, there has been a 30% increase in views of videos for young Turks on the youth channel Umut Kalesi on Youtube during covid-19. When life is really hard, I am encouraged by, that folk Come to faith."
How tothen follow I on on searching?
"We have decentralized the follow-up work and are working towards as many local Turkish churches as possible to follow up with new believers. I think, the combination of media can open a lot of doors, but there is nothing, that can replace the presence of the physical meeting when you come to church. The socialeMedia is social in nature and facilitates follow-up."
What do Turks find in the Christian faith, that they don't find in Islam?
"There is no doubt that Turks are searching more than before. When you get scared, as many are during COVID-19, you take stock and look to your God. Also People, the were previously Christians,comes back to God. The people say, that There must be something more than that, the board represents. More and more people are being pushed into The question:So what should we orient ourselves towards? Here we stand with the gospel that gives light in the darkness.Eriveted about God's love in Jesus is a positive message that stands in contrast to the retributive justice of Islam.
In the Christian faith, you get salvation wisdombut in Islam You don't know, if you go to heaven, When you die. And...then is our God is personal and relational. It is radically different. I KIt doesn't say that God is your father. The Christian message is gracious and loving. Former Muslims find joy, calm and peace, that they don't find in Islam. They find peace in, that they are good enough through grace in Christ."
How many Christians are there in Turkey?
" Maybe 6.000 Muslims have converted to the Christian faith, and the number is increasing. The follow-up team says they can come to villages where 10-15 people already meet in a home without a priest. There are many people out there who are not included in the statistics. They have become Christians by watching Christian TV or searching online.We get also many testimonies of, Muslims encounter Jesus in dreams and supernaturally."
Do Turkish-led churches take on a different cultural expression?
"There is a lot of persecution, and foreign missionaries stays expelled - oAround 40 missionaries in 2019 and around 20 in 2020.MAnd it can be, that the church straightas a tree is being pruned, which Paving the way for increased growth. The goal is, that the local church should grow. SOh sure there is a pain over, that missionaries Journeyrbut more and more we see local Turkish churches emerging and even focuses on, that people are saved.
As westerners, we want tonnot to be colonizing, but to help Turks to best lead their local churches themselves with respect for their own culture.
For example, when a missionary couple that our local team works with has to leave Turkey, one can fear the future and think: How will the church continue? But we see how God has a plan time and time again. Exampleempelvis this church experienced that a woman in the congregation haddhad a dream that the missionaries would go out, so she wasn't surprised when missionaries told her, that they traveled. God had already raised up a leadership team, which was ready to take over. This does not mean that we need all missionaries to leave Turkey, but instead focus on finding locals with the right character and willingness to serve.heat and prepare them to carry the baton forward.Finally, a positive effect of the persecution is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for local opponents of Christianity to criticize the Turkish church for being Western when more and more leaders are local and churches have a Turkish expression," concludes the project worker
Christianity through media can be financially supported. On average, it costs around DKK 7,500 to produce a Christian video or TV program that can be shown on satellite TV and the internet.
