Turkey

Church planting, Emergency aid and development projects, What's new, Theological education

Danish European Mission improvers and donors make a difference in Turkey 

By the editorial team

Danish European Mission improvers and donors make a difference in Turkey 

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Help for earthquake victims 

At least 50,000 died after the February 6, 2023 earthquake and aftershocks. Due to the support of the Danish European Mission's improvers and donors, 4,500 food parcels and 4,500 hygiene kits were distributed to families in need in the earthquake area, totaling 9,000 kits.  

Refuge for financially vulnerable Christians 

If Turks become Christians, they may face resistance in the family. In 2023, we saw two cases where two women even sought divorce from their husbands because they had become Christians. The divorced men were in a financially difficult situation, and with the support of the Danish European Mission, local Christians can provide housing where vulnerable Christians can live, find work and create a new life.  

Church planting 

In the following eight areas, work is underway to plant new churches. These are areas where there are either no ethnic Christian Turks or very few. 

Leadership training 

Since 2019, many missionaries have been expelled or denied entry into Turkey. Several have played a central role in the convert church, leaving a gap. That's why Danish European Mission improvers and donors ensure that local ethnic Turkish leaders can be trained to take on leadership responsibilities.  

  • Since 2020, seven Turkish Christians have been interning in a church where they have been involved in a variety of tasks to identify their gifts of grace, such as children and youth work, worship and preaching. In addition, the interns receive leadership training and theological training. After the earthquake in February 2023, the interns spent much of their time on relief work. 
  • In an online course, 91 potential and existing leaders of the Turkish church in 2023 received training in ministry, as well as opportunities for short-term internships in a church. A camp was also held where 65 adult participants were able to meet in person and receive training.  

Support Turkey: Church planting