A Mission to Turkey
May 28-30, 2010
In late April, the Church of England established the first Turkish language
Anglican parish in Istanbul, Turkey. Led by a convert from Islam, now an
ordained Anglican priest, and designed to serve and reach out to other
Turkish nationals, The Church of the Resurrection is a mark of the Church of
England's determination to extend the gospel to unreached people groups around the world.
At the end of May, a team of eight Christians (six from the Diocese of South Carolina and two from the UK) traveled to Istanbul. The team came to lead a conference entitled Building The Kingdom of God. The Church of the Resurrection, one of two Anglican parishes in Istanbul, hosted the three day conference while inviting a number of other local Turkish language Christian churches.
Main talks on "Jesus and the Kingdom", "The Father's Kingdom", "The Kingdom and the Spirit of God", and "The Kingdom and Holy Living" were broken by workshops on Healing, Prophecy and Outreach. On the Thursday before the conference the visiting team was introduced to the Vestry of the Church of the Resurrection as well as some of the other Turkish leaders of the church. Those from abroad heard a vision for a vibrant Turkish church that could grow to reach out to other nations of Turkish ethnic background.
The Anglican presence in Istanbul goes back over 400 years. Christ Church with St Helena's Istanbul, with its chaplain the Revd. Canon Ian Sherwood, continues to serve the English-speaking community, and has itself an impressive ministry with refugees. In Turkey there are also Anglican congregations in Ankara and in Izmir.
The local leadership team had been praying that this time would greatly
encourage the congregation and themselves. They were all quite tired and
needing a genuine, refreshing touch of His Spirit. So the timing of the
visit could not have been better. You cannot underestimate how important it
was for each one of them to be able to share the joy of hosting the team and
the blessing it was for them in the times of interaction and sharing in their homes.
It was a wonderful upfront and personal time.
The first session taught by Mike on Friday evening, introduced the weekend.
That evening they started to soak in the theme of the Kingdom of God.
The teaching was simple, yet powerful. So many needed to be reminded about
the power available to us in His Kingdom. And the Holy Spirit did not
disappoint, as the first evening ministry time was exceptional.
It was a taste of what we were going to experience the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday morning the message from Chris on the Father's heart was so anointed! There was not a single person in the room whose heart was not pierced through by this message. The fatherlessness that is experienced in this culture is huge. There are so many hearts full of holes from the lack of a father's love. Because there is such a void from earthly fathers, it is hard to trust and to know how to receive the love of the heavenly Father.
Frazer shared next and did an excellent job describing the power of the
Holy Spirit available to us in the Kingdom of God.
It was in God's order that Chris shared first about the love of the Father,
because it opened everyone and it tenderized our hearts to be prepared to
soak in the truth about the Holy Spirit and His powerful gifts.
The last session that was taught by Mike was a powerful way to close the seminar on the Kingdom of God. The personal stories endeared Mike to everyone. Even though people were tired, they desired more and more of what the Holy Spirit had available for them. Everyone was drinking in every last drop.
Heartfelt thanks to each member of the team. They remind us that we are one in The Spirit, and that geographic boundaries are not an impediment to Ministry.
Reflections from Nora, Susie, and Louise
One of the more compelling reasons to go on a mission trip is that it makes a significant difference in the life of the person who goes. Here are some reflections from three of the participants.
Susie Keefe
About 10 years ago God put the Muslim people on my heart and gave me such a tremendous love for them. I knew back then that God wanted me to pray for the Muslims and over the years I have spent much time in prayer for them. I recall spending entire nights in intercession for these people.
It was such a blessing to meet Rev. Engin Yildirim during his visit to Church of Our Saviour last year. Engin's testimony about his conversion to Christianity was very moving and I was delighted to hear about the birth of his Christian church in Turkey. It never occurred to me that someday I might see some of the fruits of my prayers for the Muslims. My time with these brave and faithful Turkish Christians was such a gracious gift from God.
Louise Devlin
I was surprised to hear God ask me to draw. I can't draw and so told Him; yikes what was I thinking? I kept hearing draw, so finally I sketched a miserable picture of three birds in their nest, beaks open wide. The moment I finished I heard a loud squawking of crow-like birds from outside the church. I also saw chains breaking, and was called to draw books.
Later during the conference Mike began a teaching by telling us he would draw verbal pictures. Chris Warner stirred the congregation with his personal experience of breaking chains and living free in Christ through a lifestyle of holy forgiveness. During Frazer's talk we were asked to open ourselves and receive the Holy Spirit. There in front of me stood three people; their arms were lifted high. Their profile was that of the birds I had drawn in my childlike sketching. God is so good.
Nora Clark
In the CONNECTIONS workshop offered at COOS throughout the year, we talk about Spiritual Gifts and how God uses people to further His Kingdom. One point we make is that "God can use any of us at any time for any purpose". We just have to be open and willing. How awesome that God loves us so much that He empowers us to help each other.
At the end of May, a team of eight Christians (six from the Diocese of South Carolina and two from the UK) traveled to Istanbul. The team came to lead a conference entitled Building The Kingdom of God. The Church of the Resurrection, one of two Anglican parishes in Istanbul, hosted the three day conference while inviting a number of other local Turkish language Christian churches.
Main talks on "Jesus and the Kingdom", "The Father's Kingdom", "The Kingdom and the Spirit of God", and "The Kingdom and Holy Living" were broken by workshops on Healing, Prophecy and Outreach. On the Thursday before the conference the visiting team was introduced to the Vestry of the Church of the Resurrection as well as some of the other Turkish leaders of the church. Those from abroad heard a vision for a vibrant Turkish church that could grow to reach out to other nations of Turkish ethnic background.
The Anglican presence in Istanbul goes back over 400 years. Christ Church with St Helena's Istanbul, with its chaplain the Revd. Canon Ian Sherwood, continues to serve the English-speaking community, and has itself an impressive ministry with refugees. In Turkey there are also Anglican congregations in Ankara and in Izmir.
The local leadership team had been praying that this time would greatly
encourage the congregation and themselves. They were all quite tired and
needing a genuine, refreshing touch of His Spirit. So the timing of the
visit could not have been better. You cannot underestimate how important it
was for each one of them to be able to share the joy of hosting the team and
the blessing it was for them in the times of interaction and sharing in their homes.
It was a wonderful upfront and personal time.
The first session taught by Mike on Friday evening, introduced the weekend.
That evening they started to soak in the theme of the Kingdom of God.
The teaching was simple, yet powerful. So many needed to be reminded about
the power available to us in His Kingdom. And the Holy Spirit did not
disappoint, as the first evening ministry time was exceptional.
It was a taste of what we were going to experience the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday morning the message from Chris on the Father's heart was so anointed! There was not a single person in the room whose heart was not pierced through by this message. The fatherlessness that is experienced in this culture is huge. There are so many hearts full of holes from the lack of a father's love. Because there is such a void from earthly fathers, it is hard to trust and to know how to receive the love of the heavenly Father.
Frazer shared next and did an excellent job describing the power of the
Holy Spirit available to us in the Kingdom of God.
It was in God's order that Chris shared first about the love of the Father,
because it opened everyone and it tenderized our hearts to be prepared to
soak in the truth about the Holy Spirit and His powerful gifts.
The last session that was taught by Mike was a powerful way to close the seminar on the Kingdom of God. The personal stories endeared Mike to everyone. Even though people were tired, they desired more and more of what the Holy Spirit had available for them. Everyone was drinking in every last drop.
Heartfelt thanks to each member of the team. They remind us that we are one in The Spirit, and that geographic boundaries are not an impediment to Ministry.
Reflections from Nora, Susie, and Louise
One of the more compelling reasons to go on a mission trip is that it makes a significant difference in the life of the person who goes. Here are some reflections from three of the participants.
Susie Keefe
About 10 years ago God put the Muslim people on my heart and gave me such a tremendous love for them. I knew back then that God wanted me to pray for the Muslims and over the years I have spent much time in prayer for them. I recall spending entire nights in intercession for these people.
It was such a blessing to meet Rev. Engin Yildirim during his visit to Church of Our Saviour last year. Engin's testimony about his conversion to Christianity was very moving and I was delighted to hear about the birth of his Christian church in Turkey. It never occurred to me that someday I might see some of the fruits of my prayers for the Muslims. My time with these brave and faithful Turkish Christians was such a gracious gift from God.
Louise Devlin
I was surprised to hear God ask me to draw. I can't draw and so told Him; yikes what was I thinking? I kept hearing draw, so finally I sketched a miserable picture of three birds in their nest, beaks open wide. The moment I finished I heard a loud squawking of crow-like birds from outside the church. I also saw chains breaking, and was called to draw books.
Later during the conference Mike began a teaching by telling us he would draw verbal pictures. Chris Warner stirred the congregation with his personal experience of breaking chains and living free in Christ through a lifestyle of holy forgiveness. During Frazer's talk we were asked to open ourselves and receive the Holy Spirit. There in front of me stood three people; their arms were lifted high. Their profile was that of the birds I had drawn in my childlike sketching. God is so good.
Nora Clark
In the CONNECTIONS workshop offered at COOS throughout the year, we talk about Spiritual Gifts and how God uses people to further His Kingdom. One point we make is that "God can use any of us at any time for any purpose". We just have to be open and willing. How awesome that God loves us so much that He empowers us to help each other.