“I had to drive 15 hours one-way to conduct a baptism because I was the closest Adventist pastor.”
“Are you sure there’s not a church closer than a nine-hour drive from where I will be on holiday?” Conversations like these are all too common for our AFM missionaries in Turkey
Home to the largest unreached people group on earth, Turkey is a massive harvest field greatly in need of more laborers. The General Conference is focused on taking the Gospel to the major cities of the world in its Mission to the Cities initiative, and AFM is playing its part, too. We have identified four cities in Turkey with a population of between 2 and 4.5 million people who need to hear the Good News.
“What could I possibly do to help with such an enormous task?” you ask? Well, our team in Turkey has been very busy during the last few years writing culturally appropriate Bible lessons that resonate with Turkish people. After reading them, one Muslim student exclaimed, “Whoever prepared these lessons certainly understands Turkish culture and people!” When our worker explained that our team had developed all the studies, the student found it difficult to believe! What we now need are people on the ground willing to learn Turkish language and culture and be trained to use these lessons.
At a retreat organized by the Middle East North Africa Union (MENA) last October, Graham had the privilege, along with our AFM president, of hearing our Turkish Project team share with those in attendance what they had accomplished since arriving in Turkey:
• Setting up the first Adventist Turkish publishing house
• Translating and publishing several books, including E.G. White books and other biographical and devotional literature
• Writing two series of lessons—“Fate Changer” and “Life Changer”— that introduce Turkish people to the Gospel
• Setting up a church in their city
• Several baptisms
• Website development
Present at the retreat were administrators of the Turkey field, a pastor from Turkey, a family serving among Turks in Northern Cyprus, a lay worker from another city in Turkey and representatives from the General Conference Institute of World Mission. They were very grateful for what our team shared, and they commended their hard work and commitment to the Turkish people. At the request of MENA, individuals from our AFM team will be visiting other workers in Turkey to share how our materials and studies can be utilized. What a great opportunity for the Good News to be spread throughout Turkey! All we need now are more workers willing to go and serve in the Turkey harvest field. Will you go?
