On July 24, 2020 bMuslim Friday prayer held in the former Christian church Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, and it is now officially a mosque.
The Hagia Sophia Church was built in 532-537, but converted into a mosque in 1453 when the Turks took Constantinople. In 1934, the secular Turkish leader transformed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk the building as a museum, which it now no longer is.
Thus the church is taken in a symbolic sense - just like the Ottomans did before him in 1453.One could argue that theyn dThis time not days from Christian Byzantium, but from secular Turkey.
This action is simply éone of many initiatives where he follows in the footsteps of the Ottoman Empire - a kingdom he has referred to as exemplary. When forces Attempting to Islamize Turkey as well asmilitaryt Engaging in Libya, Syria and Iraq and in additionseeking influence in the Balkans - he legitimizes it with, what Ottomans did Before him.
I 2019bAbout 40 foreign missionaries were expelled from Turkey in 2019, while about 20 have been expelled so far in 2020.
However, there is another, more positive development taking place in Turkey these years - which has only been accelerated by COVID-19. When Turkey shut down, Turks started using Facebook, Instagram, Youtuberadio and TV more than before.
Despite deportations and more difficult conditions for sharing the Christian faith in Turkey, our media partners can bring the Gospel into Turkey - on every television, tablet, computer and mobile device. For example Kanal Hayat has had 39 % more views than before the COVID-19 outbreak. Help usforHuman and Kirche and Danish EuropamissionsDonors contribute to, that our media partners can introduceTurks to the Christian faith in a contemporary and relevant way - and provide answers to the many serious Questions, that arise during a pandemic.
Unlike Christians, Muslims do not have certainty of salvation. They don't know if they will go to heaven or hell when they die. They believe there are two angels sitting on their shoulders, Raqib to the right, closely monitoring and writing down good intentions, words and deeds, while Always sits on the left and writes down evil ditto. On the Day of Judgment, the records with all their intentions, words and actions are presented to Allah. If there are more good deeds, the Muslim goes to heaven, and if there are more sins, to hell. However, Allah may show mercy, but it is not certain that he will do so. This teaching in Islam under the section on the angels - "kirâmankatibîn” - means that many Muslims are thinking about where they will spend eternity.
This may be one of the reasons why we are hearing reports of a growing interest in faith in Jesus, who has prepared a place in heaven for all who believe in him.The Turks has a spiritual needs that Islam does not fulfill. The is the need to experience feel loved by God. To feel God's unconditional love that he showed when he sent Jesus to walk in our place and sacrifice himself for ourIt Sin.
Yes, probably Hagia Sophia has been a mosque - at least for a time - but we must pray for Turkey, that more people will seek Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life, and experience God's unconditional love.
Thank you to everyone who Pray for and support thepersecuted, but bold Turkish Christians and enable them to effectively share God's love with their fellow countrymen through social media, radio and TV in Turkey. It is my prayer that we in heaven vil could worship Lbreastfed together with thousands, yes, Millions of Turks.
