Divine Turn Around

A Powerful witness in the funeral of the Turkish Martyrs

On Wednesday April 18, 2007, the fledgling Christian community in this nation of 70 million Muslims, suffered a devastating blow, when three of its finest, were brutally murdered for their faith. One German and two other Turkish brothers were found in the print shop, in south central Turkey, where they published and sold Bibles. They had been tortured, stabbed repeatedly, and bound with their throats slit.
Sadly, it was at the hands of five trusted young men, who had claimed to be seekers of our LORD. The murder was skillfully pre-meditated and ruthlessly carried out.
Needless to say, as members of the Body, we have been deeply grieved by this terrible tragedy. Yet, what appeared to be a victory for the enemy has since resulted in the most OPEN DECLARATION of the GOSPEL this nation has seen since the Apostle Paul! Therefore, we rejoice that not one drop of blood shed by these dear saints has fallen to the ground in vain.
Last Saturday, approximately 500 believers gathered in a demonstration of solidarity, to honor the lives of these colleagues. Despite the heavy police and media coverage in a country that is 99.9% Muslim, each of us had determined that is worth the risk and exposure, to stand together for our LORD.
After all, it seemed a small sacrifice, compared to the loss experienced by the wives, children and fiancé of the deceased.
What we witnessed has FOREVER changed our lives! As the body was carried into the courtyard, high upon the shoulders of our Turkish brothers, spontaneous applause burst forth! I leaned over to my national friend and queried, "Is this normal for funerals, in your culture?" "No," he asserted, "it's because he's a martyr!" As the casket continued its journey toward the front, ethereally beautiful worship music erupted—somewhat reminiscent of a Gregorian chant.
Then everyone joined together in the singing of Turkish praise songs.
However, what followed nearly took our breath away!
Approximately 10 Turkish leaders proclaimed openly the GOSPEL in front of television cameras, newspaper reporters, police officials, the Deputy Governor of Izmir and several other important officials.
FEARLESSLY, yet with GENTLE STRENGTH each shared his faith in CHRIST, and HIS FORGIVENESS of those who had committed the heinous murders!
Additionally, they shared that CHRIST had won the VICTORY, and at this very hour the
martyrs were standing before the very throne of GOD! Several mentioned that the lives of these men were perhaps the seeds that must be planted in order for a harvest to come forth. One pastor passionately explained, "We will spread this message, God's Word, because we are children of the Word! You may kill us all, but we will spread this message, because we love you and because Jesus loves you! We forgive the attackers, because we too, have been forgiven. "Powerful applause, "Amens" and "Hallelujahs" erupted from among the scores of nationalities represented there! It was awesome!
However, what happened next..... Can ONLY be explained by the SUPERNATURAL LOVE and STRENGTH that GOD ALONE can give. Spontaneously, in an unplanned moment-- Necati's wife asked if she could speak. "Amid her tears she spoke of her forgiveness of the very men who had tortured and killed her precious husband, and the father of her children! In an emotion filled voice, she asserted: "I know my Necati was praying for them, even while he was being tortured." She also spoke of the wonderful love they shared as a family and their joy in serving the LORD together. Lastly, she stated "I loved my husband very, very much---but, I love my Jesus even more. And that is how I can face tomorrow." Again thunderous applause burst forth! We were spell bound! In the closing moments of this incredible service, one of the pastors shouted "Afferin Necati!!! Afferin Tilman!!! Afferin Ugur!!! ---Which translated means--- "Well done Necati!! Well-done Tilman!! Well done Ugur!! We are certain
the LORD echoed those same sentiments, as he received those precious men into HIS heavenly kingdom!!! Then, as Necati's body was lovingly ushered onward to its final resting place, applause and praise resonated throughout the garden!
As we looked up, we noticed that the media stood utterly dumbfounded! We were quite certain they had NEVER witnessed anything like this before. Yet, as believers we knew we had been in the very presence of the LORD! It seemed as if we had observed church history in the very making. Most importantly,
we believe that the precious blood of these saints was NOT shed in vain, but will be used to further GOD'S KINGDOM in a manner that has not occurred since the time of the apostles! So let it be written--- so let it be done!!!!!!

Doug Epp
Director of Service Learning
Columbia Bible College
Phone: 604-853-3567 ext 317
Toll Free: 1-800-283-0881
Fax: 604-853-3063
Doug.Epp@columbiabc.edu

PRAYER MEETING

Hey! We meet on monday nights at P. Jozsef and Zoumrad's apartment for a fun time of fellowship and PRAYER for the country of Turkey. It's also a time to be updated with the LATEST NEWS about Team Istanbul, laugh with little Jozsi and Rebecca and enjoy some snacks. It was great to pray with the Villeneuves last time. Join us, if you so wish, for a great edifying time!
Details
-> Time: 7:30 PM
-> Where: accross from the church, building 6002, top floor, apt. C1.
-> Contact: 443-839-9203

Building yourself up in the most holy Faith!

"Insecurity is realy a person believing a lie about themselves. The things that God thinks about us are so amazing. If we will just speak to ourselves more often the things He thinks about us we will be such confident people." P. Matti July 06

Speaking to ourselves is an important aspect of the faith life.

... Two will put ten-thousand to flight!

What a beautiful couple! Nyazi and Irada married April 28th. Marriage is team life! We are so happy for these two newlyweds and can imagine how great a blessing they will be to the church in Istanbul! 2 are better than one! "1 will chase a thousand, 2 will put 10,000 to flight!"

Waiting to be found

At the EuroCon P. Matti spoke about how well organized the dogs in Istanbul are. Here is a perfect example. He also told a story something like this- a man once told him he envied the dogs there who had food from the buchers every day, and he thought, if people can envy a dogs life how much more would people envy us as believers having a heavenly father who provides all our need.

Begining the Story

With P. Matti - Summer 2006

Annual Convention in Baltimore 06 - Sarah and I were praying with all our hearts desiring to draw near and be sent out. We had our hearts directed towards Africa missions, During the missions night message by P. Matti, God spoke to our hearts that we needed to go with 'this' man. I was fearful of the thought to be in a Muslim country, but excited to know God had gotten our attention. I had to quit my comfy job at Johns Hopkins in order to go, but I could sense God's momentum, so I bought a ticket to visit Turkey a week later. While I was there, I had many objections in my heart to the idea of us moving there, and even on being ready for the mission field. With two days left in my stay I condensed all my objections into just three words. "There you have it God, I cannot go because of those things." I was not expecting what came next. Without speaking a word to anyone about this conversation in my heart, P. Matti spoke three specific messages on these three specific words and ways to conquer them through the Spirit. God rejected all my objections and then and there I knew it was His deep calling unto the deep... I'll never forget this last one "Selfishness will be dealt with on team life." On my plane ride home the words of Jesus on the cross came to me as I had never understood them before and I agreed with God in the prayer "Father, Into Thy hands I commit my spirit."

Jed

Come to Me, all you who labor

Photo from Afghanistan by Joseph Marion

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

It is not that we cease from labor but that we are occupied in a new kind of labor and we find rest for our souls in Jesus. Come unto the savior. He calls us to learn of him. And yes to do so means to cease from labor, from laboring for self interest. We begin to be followers, surrending our own pursuits to the pursuer of our heart. Like David we say "His gentleness has made me great" for His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

jed

Departure July 07

"It is of faith that it may be according to grace..." Rom 4:16

We cannot deny that God has been tugging on our hearts for some time now to move by faith to Istanbul, mostly for the sake of learning and serving under P. Matti, but more completely because we sense a deep call of God moving us onward in this specific place. We have a story to tell, it will have to wait for now, but please keep in touch. We are planning and praying, working and resting with our eyes on the wonderful goal of moving to Istanbul in July 07. It is all a wonderful experience of Grace!

Victory over bureaucracy!

jed&sarah....November 2006
Update on papers and others...Today we're experiencing Thanksgiving hangover... only in America i tell you! But what a fun time we had. Did you know that the Pilgrims celbrated Thanksgiving in 1621 for the first time?Pete J. Ellis was our official reader for the event! T'was great having you with us Pete! We also laughed a lot. Laughter sure is good medicin and it helps with digestion too. On the 24th of last month, we had our official marriage interview. It was quite the experience... Our lawyer was there with us and told us that the officer that was appointed to review our case was the toughest one in the whole office... 99% of the complaints (from lawyers and others) are about this particular officer. But God's great grace was upon us, she was extremely polite with us, though she tried to intimidate us from the start. Jediah was great, he was telling her all about us, well, just about, at least... Our case was approved. We celebrated at a little french pastry place ('Patisserie Poupon' is on Baltimore Street, in case anyone is interested in feeling like they are in France for a few minutes) and we found out that the lady working there is from Istanbul!! We practiced our one Turkish word with Nurgul: "Teþekkür ederim"We also just bought our plane tickets to visit AFRICA in January, if the Lord wills. It will be very sweet to see everyone. How crazy that Jediah and I met there when we were 15 and 17??!! and got married 10 years later/ From there we'll see where God will lead us. Though out of the next 3 years, we have to be at least 1 yr 1/2 in the country, we have no intentions of growing too long roots around here (except for spiritual ones) and definitely plan to spread our wings...
6:51 AM

Moving in Faith

"Show me there's more than what this world is living for, 'cause i'm movin' in faith!"
Jadon Lavik

Living in the new man, knowing that all things are mine, not living in the 'older son' syndrome... The prodigal -maybe his name was Jacob?- experienced personified Grace. Levi (??) shows up and judges from the outside, not knowing he belonged inside!! Shifting into a grace experience, moving in faith, join the party of forgiveness and forgetfulness!

We are travailing in prayer for the leading of God in the coming months. Tuesday, October 24, 2006 is our official marriage interview!! Our license to travel as missionaries. The rest is yet to be told.