NEW LIFE FROM DEATH


By Alex Pettett, World Witness Executive Director Foreword:Since Erik Meberg’


T urkey purpose amidst tragedy


, much has happened that is beginning to show God’ . Here is what God is doing there.


s article about the earthquake in southeastern s Kingdom


Though much of the world has forgotten about the cataclysmic earthquake occurring on Feb 4, 2023, in southeastern Turkey, it is still fresh in the memories of hundreds of thousands of people in that region.  50,000; locals estimate the death toll in the hundreds of thousands.


Turkish Christians delivering aid


The second hardest-hit area was in the city of Feliz (a pseudonym). Immediately following the earthquake, Feliz was largely ignored by government relief efforts. The bulk of relief was sent to a far wealthier city in the region. World Witness partner, Pastor Yusuf, International Ministry Associate, traveled to this area shortly after the quake and began organizing relief efforts by going from neighborhood to neighborhood, making lists of needs. He quickly organized the larger Protestant church in Turkey to begin bringing in food, clothes, and temporary housing. Yusuf slept in his  A few of us, including ARP pastors Todd Matocha and Erik Meberg, visited  Christian relief efforts.


Recently, we learned about a landowner who lost his wife and a child when his building collapsed. This landowner then witnessed the love and perseverance of God’s people when dozens of Turkish Protestant Christians  clothed in yellow and black uniforms on which were boldly written the words, “Turkish Protestant Church.” The few, yet courageous, believers sat nightly with these stricken Muslims, listened to them, and prayed for them. Moved by compassion, the grief-stricken landowner came to these believers and offered to sell his land to them at a fraction of the cost. World Witness helped with a third of the land purchase.





What will they do with this land? For the next two years, it will continue to be a base of operations for relief efforts. But more than that, these partners have declared their intention to start a Protestant church on the land in the city  in this city. God willing, we are beginning to see new life, from so much death, in the birth of this church.


Please continue to pray for the ongoing work, by the Turkish Protestant Church, in providing shelter, food, and clothes in the 100-plus-degree heat of summer. Also, pray as the Turkish Church begins its own search for a church planter to head up this new and exciting venture in a place desperate for the light of Christ.


worldwitness.org 


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