Turkiye (MNN) — Turkiye’s small Christian population knew they lost many believers in the earthquake. After all, over 45,000 people were killed across southern Turkiye when the 7.8-magnitude quake hit in early February. But the devastation to the already small Turkish Christian population is worse than many realized.

Bruce Allen with FMI recently visited Christians they work with in Turkiye. He shares, “In the past, we’ve been saying that out of a population of 85 million people, it was estimated that perhaps there were 10,000 Evangelical Christians in the country.

“Now, I’ve been told that number is probably only 8,000, perhaps due to the number of Christians who’ve died in the earthquake because the province that was hardest hit – the Hatay province – was a nucleus of Christian activity.”

This means roughly one-fifth of Turkiye’s Christian population was killed in the February earthquake.

Pastor Hakan Konur, his wife, and their son, Yoel. Pastor Konur and his wife were killed in the February 2023 earthquake in Turkiye. (Photo courtesy of FMI)

“In fact, one of the major cities Antakya [modern day Antioch] has just been decimated. This was where in the first century, the Christ-followers were first of all Christians. There had been a vibrant community still in Antakya up until the earthquakes, so a lot of Christians also died in the earthquakes.”

In their grief, the Church in Turkiye is still supporting one another — and reaching out to their Muslim neighbors.

Allen reports, “People from Muslim backgrounds are hearing about Jesus Christ for the first time and they’re placing their faith in Him!”

Already, a new church in the Hatay province now has about 15 people — and is growing with new believers!

Meanwhile, Turkish Christians with FMI are traveling from all over the country to quake-hit areas with aid.

“There is no hotel where they can stay, so they sleep in their car for the week. There is no restaurant where they can go eat, so they’re eating the same food that they’re sharing with the earthquake survivors. So they’re really living in the same environment as the survivors are, and they’re doing it willingly and repeatedly,” says Allen.

“I just think that’s just such a great testimony to the love of Christ that compels them to serve other people.”

Earthquake relief, water and food distribution in Turkiye. (Photo courtesy of FMI)

Churches across southern Turkiye have lost pastors, elders, teachers, mission workers, and loved ones. It stands as a call to the next generation of Christians as well as new believers to take up the mantle of leadership in the Turkish Church for the sake of the Gospel.

Pray for this to spark growth in the Turkish Church as they share Christ with the hurting. Ask God to be the God of all comfort to grieving believers.

Click here to support quake relief in Turkiye with FMI.

 

Header photo courtesy of Igor Sporynin/Unsplash.