Turkey

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Official name: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti (Republic of Turkey)
Area: land: 770,760 sq km
Government: Democracy
Official languages: Turkish
Monetary unit: Turkish Lira (YTL)
Cities:

DEMOGRAPHY
Population: 70,414,000 (mid-2006 est.)
Population density: 91/sqkm

ECONOMY
GDP (PPP):
per person:
</small>

LIFE & LIBERTY
HDI

Contents

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

  • Turkey is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in south west Asia and the Balkan region of south eastern Europe, that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe. Turkey borders eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest, Greece to the west, Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, Azerbaijan (the Nakhichevan exclave), and Iran to the east, Iraq and Syria to the southeast. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west, and the Black Sea to the north. Turkey also contains the Sea of Marmara, which is used by geographers to mark the border between Europe and Asia, which makes Turkey transcontinental.

[edit] Climate

  • Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior.

[edit] Natural Resources

  • Coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Peoples

Total People Groups: 59; Unreached People Groups: 38;

Turk

52120000

Kurd, Northern

8046000

Kurd, Turkish-Speaking

5823000

Arab, Lebanese

1310000

Zaza-Dimli

1114000

Persian

611000

Cherkess, Kabardian

594000

Azerbaijani, South

535000

Arab, Iraqi

504000

Balkan Gagauz Turkish

405000

Pomak

327000

Bulgarian

324000

Cherkess, Adyghe

304000

Zaza-Alevica

182000

Georgian

149000

Mingrelian, Laz

149000

Bosniak

99900

Tatar, Crimean

98700

Armenian, Ermeni

74800

Karakalpak

72800

Albanian, Tosk

65600

Romani, Balkan

65500

Abkhaz

42100

[1]

[edit] Provinces

[edit] Life

  • Turkey is a nation torn in opposite directions. It straddles Europe and Asia; some strive to bring the country into the EU, others to strengthen ties with Muslim states to the south and east. The constitution, judiciary and army are secular and uphold religious freedom, but many politicians, the police and the growing Islamist movement are hostile to anything Christian. Pray that all attempts to restrict religious freedom may be frustrated, and that ambiguities in the law may be clarified — it is the latter that open the way for mis-treatment of Christians.
  • Turks remembering their lost empire: Sociologists are noting a new trend in “Ottomania,” in which Turks are looking back with longing for the glory years of Turkish rule as a result of their frustration with the European Union, which is leaning against accepting Turkey as a member. As a result all things Ottoman have become popular, manifesting itself in everything from T-shirts to ashtrays to Burger King meals. Source: New York Times, [2].

[edit] Economy

[edit] Government

[edit] History

  • When Turkey’s victorious military leader Mustafa Kemal abolished the Ottoman Caliphate in 1924, Muslims around the world were devastated. As Caliph, the Sultan had been Islam’s primary spiritual and in a lesser way the political leader, similar to the Pope in medieval Catholicism. But now most of the Islamic world was under the dominance of Western Christian nations, and Muslim dreams of world conquest were dashed. It was viewed as a tremendous humiliation.
  • In the decades that followed, the Turkish Republic looked West and soon became the most open and prosperous Muslim country. It joined the NATO military alliance and eventually revised its laws in the hope of gaining acceptance in the European Union.
  • Even so, Turkey’s supposedly secular government has spent enormous sums building mosques and paying the salaries of Muslim clerics and propagandists at home and abroad. It has also attempted to prevent the spread of Christianity by intimidating converts and raising legal barriers to the planting of churches. Missionaries are said to be subversive agents of other nations.

[edit] Terrorism

  • Terrorist groups that operated in Turkey included Kurdish separatist, Marxist-Leninist, radical Islamist and pro-Chechen groups. Most prominent among terrorist groups in Turkey is the Kongra-Gel/Kurdistan Worker’s Party.
  • Other prominent terrorist groups in Turkey included the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front, a militant Marxist-Leninist group, and Turkish Hezballah (not affiliated with Lebanese Hezballah), an organization of Sunni Kurds with a violent history. The Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front is a decentralized Islamic revivalist group that was particularly active in the 1990s; it claimed ties with Al Qaeda.
  • The border crossing by 34 Kurds from Iraq to Turkey last monday (October 2009) might not seem much of an event, in a region plagued for decades by a conflict which has cost tens of thousands of lives. But it was an important symbolic gesture, which might yet give vital momentum to an as-yet undetailed government peace initiative launched in August. Pray for peace between Turkey and the Kurdish people.

[edit] Religion

  • Islam 99.6%, Christianity 0.3%, Jewish 0.1%. In the last century Turkey rejected Islam as the official national religion in favour of becoming a secular state. However, Turkey remains a country that identifies strongly with Islam and Christians face harassment and persecution.
  • Half of Turkey opposes non-Muslim religious meetings: More than half the population of Muslim-majority Turkey opposes members of other religions holding meetings or publishing materials to explain their faith, according to a recently issued survey. Fully 59 percent of those surveyed said non-Muslims either “should not” or “absolutely should not” be allowed to hold open meetings where they can discuss their ideas. Fifty-four percent said non-Muslims either “should not” or “absolutely should not” be allowed to publish literature that describes their faith. The survey also found that almost 40 percent of the population of Turkey said they had “very negative” or “negative” views of Christians. In the random survey, 60 percent of those polled said there is one true religion; over 90 percent of the population of Turkey is Sunni Muslim. Ali Çarkoglu, one of two professors at Sabanci University who conducted the study, said no non-Muslim religious gathering in Turkey is completely “risk free.” “Even in Istanbul, it can’t be easy to be an observant non-Muslim,” Çarkoglu said. Source: Compass Direct, [3]

[edit] Islam

[edit] Buddhism

[edit] Judaism

[edit] Christianity

  • Greetings from the church in Turkey – from the land of Noah, of Abraham, of Paul, of Ararat and Harran, of Antioch, Ephesus, Galatia, of the Seven Churches of Revelation……… Yet today, the body of Christians in our land is less than 0.1% of the population of 72 million.
  • We are writing to you on behalf of the leaders of the church in Turkey to ask for your prayers. Prayer is, of course, the essential need of all Christians everywhere, so why pray for Turkey at this time? For the ground is hard and the battle in the heavenlies is tough and in recent years we have felt an added urgency and burden for prayer for our nation and its churches. In 2009 we asked the world to join us each year for a 'Global Day of Prayer for Turkey' on April 18, the day in 2007 when 3 of our brothers were tortured and brutally murdered in the town of Malatya.
  • We greatly desire that you would join the small congregations of Turkey along with many churches worldwide to give 2-3 minutes to prayer for Turkey in your churches on Sunday April 18, 2010. To pray that the church in Turkey is anointed and strengthened in the Holy Spirit to live for the glory of God; pray that the outcome of this will bring hope and blessing to the land and people of Turkey as hearts and eyes are opened to Jesus Christ and to the Kingdom of God. In this brief time of prayer you will be joining millions all over the world.
  • You can find information on the church in Turkey including more prayer topics along with links for further information at http://www.prayforturkey.com. If you would like further information please write to prayforturkey@gmail.com .
  • Association of Protestant Churches (Turkey)

[edit] History

[edit] Churches

  • Small church growth: 1980 about 50 Christians from Muslim Background in a nation of 50 Million, 25 years later 3000 Christians in a nation of about 70 million.
  • The leaders of the churches need protection, discernment, and strength. They carry a high profile and many have received death threats. They carry heavy responsibilities. Most visitors and believers want to speak with the pastor, whether it is for genuine spiritual reasons (e.g. they have had a dream of Jesus) or because of material need.
  • Hasat is a theological training programme which seeks to provide easy access to biblically-based training for the small, scattered Turkish churches. There are currently about 50 students enrolled in a 12 course programme (2 years) of studies accredited by the International Christian College in Glasgow. Pray that God will use Hasat to build a well-taught church leadership; that teachers and students will persevere in a sometimes difficult environment; and for ongoing provision for the extensive translation programme to provide students with suitable study materials.

[edit] Persecution

  • Turkey is ranked No. 34 among nations that are the worst persecutors of Christians based on Open Doors 2008 World Watch List. Turkey is considered the largest unreached nation in the world.
  • Six months after the brutal killing of three evangelical Christians in Turkey a murder trial will open at the Heavy Penal Court in Malatya, Southeast Turkey in late October 2007. According to Turkish press reports the prosecution demands multiple life sentences for five defendants, accused of murdering the German Tilmann Geske and the Turkish Christians Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel.
  • Christians are represented in the media in a negative way. This has been so frequent and vicious over the year 2007 that many think that the murders of three Christians in April 2007 was justified because the Christians were assumed to be immoral and were undermining Islamic culture and the nation.
  • On 6 May 2008 three men, one of them carrying a gun, drove up to a church in Ankara. When they found the church locked, they approached a church member who was outside the church. The armed man pointed his gun at the Christian and asked where the pastor of the church was. The Christian replied that the pastor was not present. At this reply, the gunman said to the church member to tell the pastor that they “were determined to get rid of him”.
  • February 2009: One and a half years ago three brothers were murdered. Still a heavy spirit of fear hangs over the believers. Please pray for our men to be freed from fear and that their wives will come to faith. The court case continues on without progress but we trust the Lord. Pray for strength and growth for our little fellowship and boldness to reach out. 'Perfect love casts out fear.' 1 John 4:18

[edit] Church and State Relations

  • Freedom of religion and belief, including the freedom to manifest and to proselytize a religion or belief, are protected in Turkey by the Turkish Constitution and Turkish Criminal Law, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. These freedoms are further protected by binding international human rights treaties to which Turkey is a party. This includes the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923, the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. This is the point that really needs to be understood. In Turkey, constitutionally speaking, it is not a crime to be a Christian or to disseminate the Christian faith. However, in reality there have been problems, because missionary effort is regarded as insulting Turkishness. See: Two Christians to be tried for 'insulting Turkishness'. A cloud cast over the country's record of freedom of speech and religion [4].
  • Pray that the barriers and prejudices against Christianity can be broken down. To be a Turk is to be a Muslim, so people who decide to follow Jesus are threatened, intimidated and can be rejected by their families. There is a deep seated hostility towards Christians – who are identified with foreign invaders who invaded the Turkish empire during the crusades. Pray that these misconceptions would be shattered by the truth and love of Jesus.
  • However, this promising legal position is overshadowed by a long history of human rights abuses in Turkey, which has resulted in social and political pressure on today’s minority ethnic and religious communities, and has also contributed to the decline of these populations.
  • Turkey is officially a secular country, with equal rights given to all religions to practice their faith according to the constitution.
  • Until recently this was never contested in the courts, but since the advent of an indigenous Protestant church, each violation of individual freedom has been tested in the legal system. The usual outcome is a favourable decision with regard to the plaintiff (either individual or congregational).
  • The practice of religion is officially restricted to buildings that have been registered with the local Belydeseri (local government) or religious buildings the were in existence at the time the Constitution was enacted (at the formation of the Republic).
  • Mosques continue to function as relatively independent centres of religious practice and education, apparently free of reference to the authorities (in a religious sense).
  • It is illegal to teach a young person under the age of 18 without their parents express permission.
  • Recently public evangelism has been legalized in Turkey. Police in Istanbul are now protective of those who go out to share their faith (Wednesdays) in the city squares and (Saturdays) outside football stadiums. However, several martyrdoms and an increasingly Islamic society have left many would-be-evangelists (and those who are already getting out) in need of more courage. (February 2009)
  • Pray for Jubilee Ministry. They ask for wisdom as they work on setting up a legal association so they can legitimately and effectively evangelize through screening films, club activities like, guitar, drama, English, seminars and concerts.

[edit] Mission

  • Turkey remains the largest unreached nation in the world. Few of the 70 million Muslims have ever heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and not all of its 80 provinces have a Christian Church. Pray for Churches and believers who are seeking to reverse this and to ensure Jesus is preached and heard.
  • May the barriers and prejudices against Christianity in this nation be broken down. To be a Turk is to be a Muslim, so people who decide to follow Jesus are threatened, intimidated, and can be rejected by their families. There is a deep-seated hostility towards Christians, who are identified with foreign invaders who invaded the Turkish empire during the crusades. Pray that these misconceptions would be shattered by the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
  • The situation in the Kurdish area has been generally quiet. But in March 08 for the first time a bomb exploded in front of a hotel. It was a reminder that 'security' is in the Lord's hands. A number of local people have come to faith in Christ and small fellowships of believers are beginning to form.
  • Malatya is a Christian documentary in English about three martyrs slain in Turkey in April 2007 in the city of the same name. Believers who view the film will gain insight on how to pray for Turkey. They will also learn of the needs of our Turkish brothers and sisters in Christ. Additional information and an introduction to the film may be found at http://www.malatyafilm.com.

[edit] Church Planting

  • GOP is a district of Istanbul with a local population of 1.5 million and without a church. It is well-known for violence, drug dealers, minority groups and migrants. There are two solid local believers. Pray that this small shoot would grow, so the people in darkness will see and come to faith in Jesus.
  • There is concern about the slow growth of the church. Although there are many visitors to churches and even quite a few who profess faith, few really grow and a good number of them have drift away.
  • Christian workers among Turks report a dramatic increase in inquiries about the Gospel. For instance, a website which is advertised in Turkish Gospel Letters now receives over one thousand visitors a day! It seems many Turks feel threatened by the suffocating influence of radical Islam and are looking elsewhere for stability. [January 2010]

[edit] Broadcasting

  • The Gospel is gradually penetrating into Turkey via radio broadcast and Television. There is now FM broadcasts in three mayor cities and AM broadcasts from a powerful station in Russia.

[edit] Councils and Networks

[edit] Future Trends

[edit] For More Reading

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