Turkish Christians on the frontlines of quake relief

Turkiye (MNN) — It has been three weeks since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 50,000 people in Turkiye and Syria. Another 5.6-magnitude aftershock hit Turkiye’s Malatya province yesterday, leveling more buildings and injuring over 120 people.

(Photo courtesy of FMI)

Turkish Christians are there now on the frontlines of quake relief. As a despised minority, there are only around 10,000 Christians in Turkiye — a country of 84 million.

Bruce Allen with FMI says, “The majority population has treated them as enemies of the state. But now, the majority population is embracing the Christians because of the excellence in care that is being shown by the Christians for their neighbors – whoever their neighbors are.

“They’re taking turns — the church members — to head out to the stricken areas for five or 10-day shifts to volunteer on the frontlines in the eastern cities like Diyarbakir or Malatya.

“They’ve actually helped gather 40 tons of goods like shoes, clothing, blankets, food, baby formula, [and] hygiene items. Even today, two more people from their small church just departed to volunteer on the frontlines.”

Their ministry is having an eternal impact as it opens Gospel conversations.

(Photo courtesy of FMI)

Allen says an FMI-supported pastor told him the story of a 60-year-old atheist woman. “Previously, she says, ‘I was feeling very self-sufficient. I could handle anything. I didn’t need God.’ But because of the crisis of the earthquake, she realized a desperate need and that need opened her heart to the hope found only in the Gospel of Christ. So she’s also been attending his church and she recently placed her faith in Jesus Christ.”

Pray for the Turkish people to find comfort and hope in Jesus.

Click here to learn more about FMI.

Header photo courtesy of FMI.