100 People Network

[from Transforming Eden]

The latest world value survey reveals many values of Turkey today.

Importance of Religion

92% Religion Important

81% Devout

Meaning of Religion

64% follow the rules and traditions

36% do good to others

This life or the next?

79% more meaningful after death

21% more meaningful in this life

Religious Practice and Beliefs

87% keep the Ramadan fast

70% pray

57% sacrificed an animal in the last Feast of the Sacrifice

97% believe in Hell

77% believe religion over science if there is a disagreement between the two

79% belive theirs it the only true religion

63% think books that attack religion or religious values should be banned.

58% think Alevi Cemevis should be allowed

Sin

61% Woman wearing a bathing suit

44% Keepoing a restaurant open during Ramadan

Male Female Roles

74% Man head of household

23% Say a man can have more than one wife (double 2009 survey, 19% of women agree)

71% Men make better political leaders (up 7% from 2009)

30% Some women deserve to be beaten (27% women agree)

62% Wifes should always obey their husbands (67% men, 57% women agree)

7%  Approve a woman having a baby out of wedlock (compared to 47% in Europe)

Other

57% thought that older people had too much political power

17% do not feel safe in their own neighborhood

8% carry a gun or knife for self-protection

68% have anxietiesa about getting a new job if they lost their present job

15% did not have enough food in the past year

Source: Translated from http://www.bahcesehir.edu.tr/habergoster/index/hid/658

On April 18, 2007, five young Muslim men tortured and killed three leaders of the small church of Malatya, Turkey inside their Bible distribution office. Turkey is the land of the Early Church – the land of Abraham, Ephesus and the Seven Churches of Revelation. Now it is a land of modern martyrs.

The murders sent shockwaves throughout Turkey, devastating a remnant of Turkish Christians who live among millions who oppose their very existence. And yet, in the midst of all this chaos, the martyred men’s widows made a brave decision that revealed the mercy of God as never before to an awestruck nation.

The result of their journey is now a feature-length documentary called Malatya.

Re-releasing this week on the fourth anniversary of the martyrs' deaths, the film is a powerful picture of the advance of the Gospel in the face of persecution. 

Sharing reflections of his journey into these stories, producer Steve Hussman writes about the film's creation on the official Malatya blog. Be sure to check it out this week as we approach the Global Day of Prayer for Turkey.

To purchase the film, please go to www.malatyafilm.com.

Malatya Excerpt: State of Relations from Nolan Dean on Vimeo.

April 18th will mark the 4th anniversary of the deaths of three martyrs in Malatya, Turkey.

Our Turkish brothers and sisters have invited us to honor this day with a Global Day of Prayer for Turkey. Austin churches will gather at Hope Chapel on Monday evening. There will not be childcare, but children are welcome to join the service.

Come take your place in finishing the story by praying!

Where: Hope Chapel (6701 Arroyo Seco)

When: Monday, April 18 from 7 - 8:30 pm

More Info: www.prayforturkey.com

From a partner of the 100 People Network and Turkey Advocate:

From the early churches in Paul’s letters to Constantinople, Turkey has a rich Christian history. Most of what is left of that thriving community of believers is ancient, ruined buildings covered in graffiti. But I have spent a good deal of time in Turkey, and it’s not the broken down buildings that bother me, but what they symbolize—a broken people.

I love Turks. They are some of the most hospitable people I’ve ever met. If you travel to Turkey, you’ll quickly notice how different it is from America’s individualistic culture. We love to get things done, to achieve our goals; they love to interact with each other, whether they achieve a task or not. Turks love meeting new people and discussing everything under the sun. If a Turk invites you to dinner, make sure to show up a little late, and be prepared to stay ‘til the early morning. The idiom, “Don’t overstay your welcome” doesn’t apply in Turkey—in my experience, that would be impossible to do.

Turkey is a Muslim country. The government is secular, but if you are a Turk, you are born a Muslim. Just as most Americans claim Christianity, most Turks claim Islam. But ask either group to outline the basic principles of their faith, and a regular Joe (or Ahmet) might have some trouble.

Fifty-two million Turks live in Turkey. The Turkish church is made up of around 4,000 believers. God is working, slowly. Two decades ago there were few, if any, workers in Turkey and the numbers have been slowly growing. In the States, you can turn on the radio and hear the Gospel. Chances are, you know some Christians and interact with them every day. For people in Turkey, access to the Gospel is extremely limited and the presence of Christians is small.

My hope is that God would raise up workers to go into His harvest. Pray earnestly for this! May He compel us to leave the good things we enjoy—friends, family, jobs, church bodies—to go and proclaim the gospel to the dying. Jesus left the comfort of heaven to come to us, and He is our example. He says, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). The good news that Jesus absorbed our wrath, gave us His perfect life, rose from the grave in victory, and is the King! This compels us to pray and to go.

He is worthy of every Turk’s praise.