After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey was united in 1923 under Ataturk. Its location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia makes it an influential player in European and Middle Eastern politics and economy. Although there is no official religion, more than 99% of the Turkish people are Muslim. Istanbul has long been the headquarters of the Eastern Orthodox Church, but Christians still make up less than 0.2% of the population. The potential for outreach in this country is enormous. We are going to bring the light to this beautiful nation of people who desperately need to personally experience the love of Jesus.
Type of Government: Republic
Official Name: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
Religion: Does not claim a religion but is mostly Muslim. Sunni Islam 67.5%, Alevi Shia Islam 24.1%, Ja’fari Shia Islam 3.9%, Alawi Shia Islam 1.0%, Atheism 1.0% and Christianity and Other Beliefs 2.5%
Language: Turkish
Currency: Turkish New Lira
Population: 79,270,000
Climate: Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters.
Fun Facts
1. You might find chicken in your dessert. Chicken breast pudding is common in Turkey.
2. Turkish Delight, or lokum, is one of the oldest sweets in world history, dating back 500 years.
3. The first ever Christian church to be built by man was in Antioch, Turkey.
4. Turkey is responsible for 80% of the world’s hazelnut exports.
5. Santa Claus (St Nicholas) was born in Patara, Turkey.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for protection over my team while we are there.
2. Pray with me for God’s direction and purpose for Turkey to be evident to my team and I while we are there.
3. Pray that God’s heart and purpose for sending us there will be what leads us.
4. Pray for God ordained meetings/divine appointments with the people who cross our paths.
5. Pray for the missionaries we will be working with. That we can be a breath of fresh air to them, but also for God to align our team under the right leadership.
