Your Prayers Matter
Brook Hills
A few months ago I sat in a room with a believer in Turkey who told me the story of how Christ had saved him. He grew up as a very devout follower of Islam, yet when he was young he began to pray that God would show him who He really was. In time he became disillusioned with Islam and felt unsatisfied…all the while asking God to reveal who He truly was. One evening my friend had a dream of a man saying, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me”. But my friend did not know who this man was.
Fifteen years later, my friend was completely lost. He did not believe any religion could satisfy his greatest desire to know who God really was. Then one day he was in a restaurant and saw a brochure lying on the table. He recognized these words printed on the front. ‘“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”’ – John 14:6. The very words he had heard spoken in his dream. The brochure said that these were Jesus’ words. But who is this Jesus? A contact name was on the brochure to find out.
Through local believers and a local church, my friend heard the gospel, repented and believed. Immediately he faced severe persecution from his family. His mother and family tried to kill him. His wife divorced him, taking most of their children. But God sustained him. He has remained faithful and God is using this brother to spread the gospel among the peoples of Turkey.
I tell you this story because this is what we have been part of as a church. During Secret Church we highlighted the peoples of Turkey and asked you and other local churches to pray for Turkey throughout the month of May. Thousands have been praying for God to move in the hearts of men and women, like my friend living in Turkey. Thousands have been praying that the gospel would spread to unreached peoples in Turkey. Thousands have been praying for the church in Turkey to be strengthened even as it faces persecution. What a joy it is to join together and pray for the glory of God to be known in Turkey.
Below are comments we received from our partners who are making disciples among the unreached peoples of Turkey.
Although we may not see the results of our prayers, we walk in confidence that God has heard us and we rejoice with those who are seeing the fruit of these prayers.
Be encouraged Brook Hills that your prayers matter.
Jonathan B. is our Pastor of Global Disciple-Making here at The Church at Brook Hills. He and his wife, Karla, have been members of our faith family since 2009. They have three children: Joanna, Daniel, and David. For more information as to how you can continue to pray for the people of turkey visit hopeforturkey.com.
Fifteen years later, my friend was completely lost. He did not believe any religion could satisfy his greatest desire to know who God really was. Then one day he was in a restaurant and saw a brochure lying on the table. He recognized these words printed on the front. ‘“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”’ – John 14:6. The very words he had heard spoken in his dream. The brochure said that these were Jesus’ words. But who is this Jesus? A contact name was on the brochure to find out.
Through local believers and a local church, my friend heard the gospel, repented and believed. Immediately he faced severe persecution from his family. His mother and family tried to kill him. His wife divorced him, taking most of their children. But God sustained him. He has remained faithful and God is using this brother to spread the gospel among the peoples of Turkey.
I tell you this story because this is what we have been part of as a church. During Secret Church we highlighted the peoples of Turkey and asked you and other local churches to pray for Turkey throughout the month of May. Thousands have been praying for God to move in the hearts of men and women, like my friend living in Turkey. Thousands have been praying that the gospel would spread to unreached peoples in Turkey. Thousands have been praying for the church in Turkey to be strengthened even as it faces persecution. What a joy it is to join together and pray for the glory of God to be known in Turkey.
Below are comments we received from our partners who are making disciples among the unreached peoples of Turkey.
- “I wanted to let you know from the bottom of my heart how honored our team was to have you highlight the people we love so dearly this year for SC14. We were humbled and blessed beyond measure to have people literally all over the entire world praying specifically for our friends and work here. I don’t need to tell you that there is probably nothing more valuable that you could have given us, than sincere and committed prayer support. We are deeply thankful.”
- “I would like to express our gratefulness for your advocacy of our people group during SC14. We are convinced that prayer must undergird our ministries and are therefore very thankful whenever saints intercede for our people. The effort and time you spent to organize and promote prayer for us and for the Kurds is much appreciated.”
- “Thank you for focusing on the peoples of Turkey during Secret Church. We will only know in Heaven the impact of your prayers towards these peoples. I am very, very grateful for your careful attention to the ends of the world.”
Although we may not see the results of our prayers, we walk in confidence that God has heard us and we rejoice with those who are seeing the fruit of these prayers.
Be encouraged Brook Hills that your prayers matter.
Jonathan B. is our Pastor of Global Disciple-Making here at The Church at Brook Hills. He and his wife, Karla, have been members of our faith family since 2009. They have three children: Joanna, Daniel, and David. For more information as to how you can continue to pray for the people of turkey visit hopeforturkey.com.
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