“May the word of the Lord spread widely and grow in power in Türkiye!”
In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.(Acts 19:20,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Middle East
Population | 87.68 million
Area | 783,562㎢, Located on the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts connecting Europe and Asia.
Capital City | Ankara (5.31 million), Major city: Istanbul (15.63 million)
People Groups | Total 68 Groups, Turks 70.3%, Kurds 18.1%, Jazidi 2%, Kabardians 1.4%
Unreached People Groups | 45 (99.1% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Turkish
Total Languages | 56
Bible Translations | Completed 34, New Testament 11, Partial 7
Religion | Christianity 0.6% (Protestant 0.02%, Orthodox 0.4%), Islam 96.2%, Non- religious 3.1%
Evangelicals | 0.04%(34,000 people)
》 About Türkiye
Türkiye (Turkey) began as the Ottoman Empire, founded in 1281. By 1354, it had expanded into Europe, and by the 16th century, it ruled both the Aegean and Black Seas. Its territory stretched to Ethiopia and Central Africa, Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and as far as Crimea and Vienna in Europe. However, it started to decline in the 17th century. In 1923, after the War of Independence led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Türkiye regained much of the Anatolian Peninsula, abolished the monarchy, and declared itself the Republic of Turkey. He was given the title “Atatürk,” meaning “Father of the Turks,” and as the first president, he implemented Western-style reforms such as republicanism, democracy, and pluralism, breaking significantly from Islamic tradition.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan served three terms as prime minister from 2003 to 2014 and became the first directly elected president in 2014. In 2017, he led a constitutional amendment that changed the parliamentary system to a presidential one. He was re-elected in both the 2018 and 2023 presidential elections, solidifying long-term power.
The economy still relies heavily on traditional agriculture, which accounts for about 18.4% of all jobs. The free-market economy has grown in the industrial and tourism service sectors. Industries like automotive, petrochemicals, and electronics have become more important, surpassing the traditional dominance of textiles and clothing in exports. The combination of modern industry and traditional agriculture has made Türkiye the 16th largest economy in the world. However, it faces a large trade deficit, and unemployment is high—about 14% of the total population is unemployed, and the youth unemployment rate exceeds 25%. Ongoing instability from events like coups, worsening foreign relations, military involvement in conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused the Turkish lira to weaken against the dollar and euro, and inflation continues to rise.
Türkiye’s GDP per capita is approximately $15,665.
》 Scripture Focus
| Acts 19:8-10, 17-20(NIV) 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. |
》 Prayer Points
1. The Republic of Türkiye, established in 1923, adopted a secular policy separating religion from politics. However, this led to a strong reaction from fundamentalist Islam and gave rise to an Islamic revival movement. After winning the general election in 2003 as prime minister, President Erdoğan steered the government toward transforming Türkiye from a secular state into an Islamic one. Through this revival movement, he has sought to unify Türkiye’s deeply divided political landscape. In 2016, after suppressing a military coup attempt led by forces seeking to defend secularism, Erdoğan purged approximately 60,000 soldiers, civil servants, and teachers and confiscated the assets of related individuals and organizations. Let us pray that the rule of the Erdoğan government, which is strengthening Türkiye’s identity as an Islamic state despite its early church history, will lose its power. May the Word of the Lord be heard even by Muslims who resist the gospel with hardened hearts, leading them to repent, turn back, and praise the name of Jesus in a true revival.
2. In middle and high school textbooks titled Religion and Morality, students are taught that the Bible is a human-made work, that Jesus did not die on the cross, that He is not the Son of God but the son of Mary, and that He is merely one prophet among many. Because of the Crusades and past wars with European Christian nations, conversion to Christianity is often regarded as an act of betrayal in Türkiye. From the Byzantine era to the present, Catholic and Orthodox churches have been viewed as idolatrous, while the media spreads distorted and inflammatory misinformation about evangelical Christianity, fueling public hostility. Despite these deep-seated misunderstandings and entrenched prejudices, let us pray that the church in Türkiye, the body of Christ, will become a channel of light that reveals God. May Turkish souls, once dead toward God, stand before the grace of the gospel, abandon false knowledge and beliefs, and come to know that all Scripture is God-breathed truth.
3. The massive earthquake that struck in February 2023 caused widespread devastation, with an estimated 20 million people affected. Rebuilding homes and infrastructure will require enormous resources. Residents—especially children—face urgent needs for housing, jobs, healthcare, and education. Let us pray that the global community continues to support Türkiye in this time of recovery. May this crisis open hearts that were hardened towards God. Let this be the moment when many encounter the Savior. Let us ask for grace so that all who live in this land may come to know that the living Word of God is powerful, and that it alone has the power to restore broken souls and rebuild shattered lives.
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