Recently I heard a Turkish believer in Christ speak about the challenges of life for Christians in modern Turkey. While he was speaking I reflected on the origins of Christianity, I was reminded of the fact that Israel was the birthplace of Christianity and Turkey was the Cradle of Christianity. (see ruins of the Theater in Ephesus above)
Today both Countries are governed by systems that are less than friendly to Christianity. It seems that the words of Christ are still applicable today:
John 15:20 “… A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me,
they will also persecute you …”
Turkey is a tapestry of cultures and civilizations; it is the undiscovered jewel of Biblical history. Ancient civilizations existed in the fertile land of Anatolia for millennia. From the ancient Hittites to the Ottomans, Turkey has been not only the Cradle of Christianity, but also the Cradle of Western Civilization.
Old Testament patriarchs Noah, Abraham and Job all spent considerable time in this land. In the first century leading churches were located in Antioch, Ephesus, and the other seven churches of Revelation.
I am writing all this in order to motivate you to pray for Israel, Turkey and all the Middle East. I believe that the Lord has not forgotten this part of the world, and perhaps this is the time that God will pour out his Grace upon this Region so that many will be saved.
Paul Weresch
(For information on Biblical Sites in Turkey, see link below)
Troy - Biblical Sites in Turkey
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