Turkey March 2020
After my trip to Lesvos, Isa and I flew to Turkey to meet Shapoor and a team of people from England, the US, and even Mozambique! Shapoor organized the trip and coordinated with Iranian refugee pastors and churches. We had powerful times of worship, sharing testimonies, preaching and praying together. We shared meals and shared hearts.
The Iranian refugees living in Turkey face challenging conditions. They are persecuted for their refugee status, their ethnicity, and their Christian faith. Employers take advantage of them, making them work long hours, and sometimes withhold their pay. The government doesn’t do anything to stop this. Their children are made fun of in school. Many work long hours six days a week just to survive. They are not allowed to leave Turkey and even to travel within the country, they need police permission. Their is very little possibility to move on. These conditions cause emotional pain. Many also fled from trauma in their own countries. Nevertheless, no matter what we face, Jesus is our Healer, our Deliverer and our Redeemer. Receiving prayer and ministry brought deep healing to hearts. Jesus encountered all of us with His great love.
One day, we had the great privilege to hear from an Iranian pastor leading several Iranian churches in Turkey. He met Jesus while he was still in Iran. He was heavily addicted to drugs and his life was a mess. His family was Muslim, and he had never heard the Gospel. He also had a lot of physical pain in his back and trouble sleeping. One night, he was standing on his roof wondering if God was real. He went downstairs and flipped on the TV to find an evangelist sharing the Gospel. It felt like the program was speaking right to him and answering all of his questions. His back was instantly healed as the speaker prayed for healing in Jesus’s name. After that, he gave his life to Jesus. He began to share the Gospel with his neighbors, but they just thought he was crazy because of all the drugs he had taken. Then, he started to share the Gospel with strangers, and many received the Lord. He went to prison in Iran for sharing his faith, but he would not stop. He prayed for people in prison and had incredible testimonies. Finally, when his life was being threatened, he escaped to Turkey. Now, he pastors refugee churches in Turkey and continues to live passionately for Jesus.
During our trip, the Covid pandemic began to escalate. We got into Turkey right before the borders closed. That felt like a complete miracle. Part way through our trip, we were flying to another city to continue ministering. We had to decide whether to continue on or leave early. All of us trusted we were in God’s will and His timing, so we decided to stay. It was the right decision because God moved powerfully in the next city. We all made it home safely, despite a few flight cancellations! The best place to be is in the center of God’s will for you!