“Hear, O Türkiye, the Lord our God, the Lord is one!”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Mark 12:29,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Middle East
Population | 83.04 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 $28,400.
》 Scripture Focus
| Mark 12:27-34(NIV) 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken! 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. |
》 Prayer Points
1. The Republic of Turkey, established in 1923, adopted a secularist policy separating religion from politics. However, this led to a reactionary rise in fundamentalist Islam and sparked an Islamic revival movement. After winning the general election as Prime Minister in 2003, President Erdoğan led the government in shifting from a secular to an Islamic state. Through this revival, he aims to unify Turkey’s fractured political landscape. In 2016, following a failed military coup by secularist forces, Erdoğan purged around 60,000 soldiers, civil servants, and teachers who supported secularism, and seized the assets of related individuals and companies. Let us pray that the Erdoğan regime’s efforts to entrench Islamic rule will be brought to nothing. May we declare that God alone is the sovereign Lord over this nation. Let us ask for the light of truth to shine brightly so that the people may believe that the Lord is one and there is no other.
2. In middle and high school textbooks on “Religion and Morality,” students are taught that the Bible is a human invention, Jesus did not die on the cross, He is not the Son of God but merely Mary’s son, and He is one prophet among many. Due to the Crusades and past wars with Christian nations, converting to Christianity is still seen as a betrayal in Turkish society. Since the Byzantine era, both the Catholic and Orthodox churches have been regarded as idolaters. The media often spreads biased, inflammatory, and false portrayals of evangelical Christianity, deepening mistrust and hostility. Despite these deep-rooted misunderstandings and prejudices, let us pray that the church—the body of Christ in Turkey—will love the Lord God and their neighbors, becoming a channel of light that reveals the living God. Let us pray that Turkish souls, once dead to God, will encounter the grace of the gospel, break free from prejudice, and be spiritually reborn to live in Him.
3. Many people groups and regions in Turkey remain unreached by the gospel. Ministry among 19 million college students across 118 universities and over 1,000 colleges is urgently needed. Let us pray that the youth, raised in secular education, will recognize the falsehoods about Islam and open their hearts to the truth of the gospel. Turkey also hosts about 4 million refugees—including 3.6 million Syrians—many of whom live in camps. Following the Taliban’s rise to power, a wave of Afghan refugees has arrived, now numbering approximately 130,000 in Turkey. However, Turkey has responded by erecting a 241 km border wall and building 200 watchtowers to block further entry. Let us pray for the Lord’s mercy to bring both humanitarian aid and gospel outreach to these vulnerable people. Among Turkey’s 81 provinces, the Black Sea coast and the Central Anatolian Plateau are especially challenging regions to evangelize. The Turkish people—the country’s largest unreached group—requires earnest prayer. There are about 30 million Kurds globally, with roughly 15 million in Turkey. Kurdish conflict and terrorism have fueled fear, hatred, and division nationwide. Let us pray for protection over churches planted among the Kurds and for the continued advance of the gospel among them. May entire generations and ethnic groups that have not yet heard the gospel encounter the living God, confess their sins, and be transformed into obedient followers of His Word.
》 Urgent prayer requests around the world need your prayer!
