Talking Turkey

Thankful for God's Protection for a Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:25:00 +0000

Today I was able to chat with one of my friends back in Turkey. He was on his way to a city in the southeast part of the country when the bus he was riding on crashed. Because he bought his tickets late, he was in the back of the bus. I was really thankful because some people were injured and there might have been 1 or 2 deaths. All of these people were sitting near the front. I started our conversation with this line, "I saw the picture of the bus crash. I'm glad you're ok. God's hand was on you." He then said that he was not afraid to die. I told him maybe he should be afraid to die. From there we talked about how death was separation from God. I was able to chat with him over Romans 2:14&15. Then he moved on to the fact that he actually wished he would have died. He said he was tired of life. We then talked about the life that we can have when we know the Creator God. It was really an opportunity from God. I have shared the Gospel with him before, but I often wondered if he was listening. He was this time. I wanted him to think about how good God is in providing a way of salvation for mankind, and also for protecting him. I do pray that God would let my lost friends live long enough to trust Christ. Pray that God would use the bus crash to cause my friend to think about eternity.

The Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:42:00 +0000

This June will be 8yrs. since the Lord worked in our hearts to be involved in world evangelism and take the Gospel to another country. It was a Baptist Camp for world evangelism put on by bcwe.org that God used to convict our hearts. This year we had our first opportunity to attend the Summit, put on by the same organization, in Pigeon Forge, TN. It was such an encouragement to see how God is using men and women in Peru, Chile, Argentina, North Africa, China, etc... It was just as encouraging to see the young men and women who are preparing to go into all the world. It was a conference that focused my mind on the heart of God to begin the new year. Let me encourage you to take some time visit www.bcwe.org, subscribe to the blogs of God's servants around the world, and get excited about what God is doing.

Earthquake Relief Efforts

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Here is a letter from some of the Christians who have helped in the earthquake relief effort. Continue to pray for the needs in this area.

It was decided that they would focus efforts in Van and the nearby villages that have not seem significant help.
A group of local believers, Iranian UN refugees, and others from Ankara and Istanbul have been providing food service every day for up to 700 people since October 29th. Money from gifts has been used to partially fund that(amount N/A currently).
A team of 6 from the Diyarbakir Church made repairs to the Van church and some houses, provided more tents to some needy and served wholeheartedly where needed.
Over the last week 3 doctors from Antalya(Dr. K.), Ankara and Duzce(Dr. K.) and other medically trained persons were in Van distributing medicines, and seeing patients--350 people received medical treatment.
One group from India is planning to partner with in-country workers/locals to put together up to 100 winterized living shelters. Additional funds for this project will be needed.
Even though the main purpose of these relief efforts has not been evangelism, six people came to faith in Christ in the last 10 days

Beside those;
50 Tents were set up for homeless
70 sleeping bags were given out,
100 people received warm blankets,
250 people received clothing help.
4 believers who have served non-stop since the first earthquake have been given 800TL each to help with their needs.
A van has been purchased with relief funds(approx $10,000) for use in food and supply delivery.
2 insulated container-type living units(3mt x 7mt) have been purchased since the second earthquake(Nov.9th) left the houses of believers in Van unlivable. Their price was 14,250 TL(about $9000) including shipment and they are expected to arrive on Wednesday, Nov. 16th.

Meeting with a College Student

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:19:00 +0000

About a month ago I mentioned a college age girl that had contacted us and wanted to meet. Below is what my teammate wrote about the meeting. Please pray for this young girl.

My family and I traveled to a nearby city to meet with a university student there who wanted to learn more about Christianity. She said that she has been interested in Christianity for several years. When I asked her about what she believed, she told me that she was believing in Jesus Christ as her Savior. However, she was a little confused about doctrinal beliefs because her first contact with Christianity was through the Catholic Church. Since that time, she has done her own research on the internet. I explained the difference between salvation by faith and salvation by works and also talked about how Baptists and Catholics have important differences in belief concerning the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. She had brought her roommate with her to the meeting, and her roommate listened closely to what we talked about, especially the fact that Christians do good works because they are saved not to become saved. I gave the girl I met with a Bible, the New Testament on MP3, and a few Turkish hymns on MP3. She later said that she was very encouraged by the meeting.

Back in the States

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Just over a week ago we made it make safely back to the states. It was a little crazy once we got to Chicago. We went through Customs and for the second year in a row I was randomly chosen to be questioned. I have no problem with this, but it caused us to miss our flight. I waited 40 minutes so I could be asked 5 questions. The whole time my wife was stuck with our three kids. One was yelling, "My stomach hurts!" for a solid 30 minutes. The other didn't want to walk and the baby was crying. It was not good for my wife. When I finally came out she cried. Thankfully there was a flight 1:30 minutes later. So we finally made it home at about 9:00 p.m. We'll be keeping you up to date on our time in the states. Right now, we are visiting a church that we feel God is leading us to. We would appreciate your continued prayers.

I'll be talking in some public schools next week in Mississippi. Pray that God would give me some creativity to think of how to weave the Gospel in to my time in the classes.

Update On College Student

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:27:00 +0000

Well we were not able to meet with the college student I mentioned in the previous blog. She said it seemed like her mom knew something was up so her mother made her go to another city where they had some things to do. We have chatted over the internet with her. She is definitely different from the others that we are working with. She said she believes that Jesus died for her sins. She said that she had a fear of Hell. I asked if she still had one. She said no because Jesus suffered for our sins on the cross and when we believe in Him we don't have to fear Hell. It is hard to know someone's heart without meeting them but from the way she talks she has a testimony of belief. She has a lot of questions but they don't come from a skeptical heart. I did ask her about how she fell in love with a Catholic priest without meeting him. She said since she was 12 she has been researching Christianity. It sounds like most of the information she has is from Catholic sources. She wrote to this priest for years not sure if this was before or after she ran away from home. Thankfully this priest was not in love with her. Trust me I was getting scared as she was writing me her story. I thought, "Oh no what kind of crazy mess is this." It appears that we will wait to meet with her until she goes to school, which is next week. We pray that we can discern what her relationship with God is and how to best help her.

Interesting Contact

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:24:00 +0000

Recently, we received an email from a college age girl. It said, "I want to be a Christian. Can you help me?" So we told her that we could help her and that we would like to talk more. It appears that her family is religious or very possessive, because she said once she goes to university she would be available to meet. Well a couple nights ago we get a message on our cell phone. It was the same girl. She wanted to know how to become a Christian. If you are a text message guru then you do know it still takes quite a bit of time to text long messages. Anyway I typed 1. Corinthians 15 where Paul tells us what the Gospel is. Then I typed out John 3:16. We messaged back and forth for an hour and a half. Anyway long story short she worked it out where she will be able to meet with us sooner than later. Please pray that nothing will hinder this meeting. Pray that she is being honest in her desire to know more. She said she will come secretly. She wants us to bring a N.T. Pray that she would be protected and that she would clearly understand how she can be saved. She said at the age of 12 she ran away from home and went to a Catholic church in the south of our country. She went here because she said she was interested in Christianity. She has been researching Christianity for some years. What's great is that she is from our city and studies in a university in a city near us. A city that we've been praying for opportunities to minister in.

Singing Away

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:42:00 +0000

The end of this week we had a couple different meetings. One meeting was the study that we're doing through the book The Stranger on the Emmaus Road and the other with some friends of mine. I took my guitar because the one group of guys wanted me to play the song Man of Constant Sorrow. Go figure! What are the chances that Turkish guys want to hear blue grass? They love it, though. I still have to learn it. We played hymns instead, English and Turkish. It was a great opportunity for them to see the songs we sing in worship. I also did the same at my other friends who are teaching me the baglama. It is such a privilege just to be able to do this with people. In America people would be like, "Big deal!" Here, they are like, "You sing in your worship." They want to hear it. We had the opportunity to sing songs talking about our redemption, God's love, Jesus being our Savior, etc... Sometimes when they won't listen to you talk they might listen to you sing.

An Understanding Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:29:00 +0000

And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9.Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 1 Kings 3:7-9

These days I'm really thinking about Solomon's desire for wisdom so that he could make the right decisions. His main purpose was of course he was the leader of God's people. My main purpose is because of the people that God has given us to work with. They have so many questions. There are so many rocks to move and so much dirt to remove while laying a foundation. "Why is the male pronoun used for God? Is it a contradiction to God's mercy when God says he will judge the father's iniquity on the children to the fourth generation?" (Exodus 34:7) God blessed Solomon with wisdom and He has also sent us a Comforter and Guide. May the Holy Spirit guide us all in the relationships that God has given us.

Living the Gospel

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Today I had a good conversation with a friend of mine here. He is teaching me the bağlama. It is a Turkish instrument used to play traditional Turkish music. He is a materialist. He asked me some good questions. He asked, "Why am I so joyful?" He also asked why I didn't take a pastorate in the states. It was a great opportunity to explain to him what God has done for me and the honor I have to live overseas and tell people about the Gospel. I must say I was convicted to really stop and ask God to help me live the Gospel. We discussed in depth what made him believe in materialism. There were a lot of things. One of the major things was all the injustice in the world. He doesn't understand if there is a God, why does he allow all these injustices? I thought about many times how I don't think about the poor in my city. I don't pray like I should for those starving to death in Somalia. So many areas that if I stop and think, I notice I'm missing some of the things in my life that Jesus regularly touched on. The early N.T. church was instructed to make provision for the poor and take care of the widows. It is so important that we shine as the lights we are supposed to be. Everywhere I go and everyone I meet has their own view of the Bible and Christianity. Only when they meet us and talk with us, do they realize most of what they know is wrong.

Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 05:16:00 +0000

Today we'll be praying especially for more laborers. John 4:35 says, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." Luke writes, "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest." (Luke 10:2) Turkey like other nations needs more laborers or maybe more of a certain kind of laborer. Jesus said this, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26) Be it Turkey, Peru, China, India, or America; we need biblical disciples. I assure you that there is nothing harder than moving to a new country and learning their culture and language. There is also nothing greater than being able to share the Gospel with those who have never heard. I mean never. They don't even have a foundation to build on. In this work, you'll recognize how insignificant you are and how great God is. Pray with us that God would send more laborers into His harvest fields.

God's Timing

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:46:00 +0000

If you were waiting on God's deliverance or guidance in a certain situation and what seemed to be a wide open door appeared not once but twice; you would probably walk through that door. I would. David didn't.

David was fleeing for his life from Saul. On two opportunities (1Samuel 24 & 26) he could have killed Saul and taken his rightful place as king. The men by his side actually said that this was God delivering Saul into David's hand. I would have said the same thing. "Kill him! This is your chance." Well David obviously had such a close relationship with God that he knew this is not what God wanted. This is another good point for why God gives us spiritual leaders. He didn't want to hurt the anointed man of God even though this man was trying to kill him. After these incidents, David would wait even longer to see God's will take place in his life.

What looks like an opportunity might not be God's perfect timing. These incidents in David's life reminded me of this.

Ramadan

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:16:00 +0000

Well the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan has begun. This means drummers coming down the street at 3:30 in the morning banging their drums. It is an annoying tradition. They definitely do their job. I don't know how anyone can sleep while they're banging their drums. I would like to point out for the record that these days we do have things called alarm clocks.
Along with the drummers comes moody people. As their bodies get used to fasting, naturally, people get moody. I went to the store yesterday and was waiting to check out. A man and his children came up behind me and put all their groceries in the checkout lane. I thought, "Ah, no big deal. I'm sure they see me." Well when the man in front of me was finished, I told the cashier that I was here first and gave her my stuff. The man was shocked. As is the Turkish style, he did not talk directly to me. He talked to the cashier and his young daughter about what I did. I simply looked at him and told him that I was there first and that was the truth. I thought there was going to be an incident.
I felt like I needed justify myself even though I was in the right. I was reminded how many times Jesus was falsely accused. I was just at the grocery store. Jesus was healing the sick and setting the captives free. Still, people continually accused him of being a liar, of being crazy, or filled with demons. It was just my pride that wanted to prove that I was right.

Ramadan article

Asking Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:56:00 +0000

Asking questions can sometimes get you in trouble. In Turkey, when talking about religion you don't ask questions. If you do ask questions then people start to wonder why you don't just accept what the teacher at the mosque is telling you. In some ways that sounds a lot like churches in the U.S. You ask, "Why do we believe this way? What is our church doing for the world?" Questions like this can begin to make some people feel uncomfortable. David asked a question in 1. Samuel 17 that made people uncomfortable. He simply wanted to know what would be done to the man that killed the giant. The giant was disgracing the Israelites and defying God. David only had to hear the giants challenge once to say, "Enough is enough!"
His brother and the other soldiers didn't like his question. His brother belittled him and basically told him he was proud and seeking glory. The cowards in the Israeli army didn't appreciate David's question because it made them feel guilty and showed them up. Although, that wasn't David's intention.

I asked the following questions 6 years ago, "Why should I stay and minister in America, when there are so many that have not heard the Gospel? Why shouldn't people in another country have the same opportunity to hear the Gospel as I did?" After I answered these and more of my own questions, I and my wife moved to Turkey. My decision wasn't a hit with everyone.

You also have to remember that when you ask a question and you receive an answer.You are responsible for what you have heard? Nehemiah asked questions about his hometown Jerusalem and about the remaining Jews that lived there. He asked because he cared. When he got the answers to his questions he was so burdened to do something, that he himself left the comfort of a secure job and went to repair the walls of Jerusalem.

Some emails we have received

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:15:00 +0000

I wanted to share some emails that our website has received. We have been getting regular requests for N.T., these are just some people who wanted to give us their opinions. This is my dynamic equivalent translation.

Hello. Do you believe in the last book? Do you believe in the last prophet? Do you know the contents of the Koran? We believe in Jesus and the last prophet (peace be upon him). We also believe that everyone will raise again. Why don't you talk about the Koran?

Why do you always talk about the N.T.? Aren't there more things to discuss than this?
Why are you doing this in this city?

Look brother, I don't know what you're advertising but the only valid religion is Islam. The other religions were annulled. Also Jesus (peace be upon him) will descend on the last day and be a Muslim. Know this! This is how it is. Salvation is in the Koran.

I'm glad that we are able to discuss things with people who have these types of opinions and questions. How shall they here without a preacher?

Stages in Moses' Life

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:30:00 +0000

I was reading through the life of Moses and I saw some stages in Moses' life that unless I'm abnormal, (no comment please) I think most full-time Christian workers go through. Especially those overseas. First let's look at what happened in Moses' life.

1. Moses kills and Egyptian who is treating one of his fellow countrymen very wrongly. In Acts it tell us that Moses thought the Hebrews would understand that God wanted him to be their leader.
2. God calls him at the burning bush. He makes excuses why he can't be the one God wants.
3. Moses trusts God and follows His leadership. It is said in the Bible that there was not a meeker man on the earth than Moses.

Let me tell you how this applies to me. Maybe it applies this way to you also.

1. We come into a country naively believing that some people will appreciate what we're doing. After all we coming to rescue them from their false religion. We have done many types of ministry in the states. Many times we haven't been out of our comfort zone while serving God so we don't see our superficial ministering to the Lord. It transfers over to the new country your in and you realize what Moses did in stage 2. You become fearful that you're not cut-out for the job.
2. You know God called you, but now you feel ineffective. As Moses made excuses you do too. "I can't speak. Even if I learn this language I'll still have this foreign accent. So I know the language, but the people won't change. They won't listen to me. What's the use? I'm an ineffective servant." we say.
Now in the first stage there was pride and a lack of waiting for God's timing.(This means we need to trust God)
In stage 2, we have the right opinion of ourselves. We are unimportant and ineffective...If you take God out of the equation. In this stage we have forgotten who it is that made the tongue and the mighty works He's done in our lives. We have forgotten the power of the Gospel. We are questioning why God wants to use us?
3. In stage three, we are praising God for his mercy and we don't want to go anywhere without him. We want to get to know Him more and more. We are standing up for and begging God to save the very people that hate us. This is the work of God. This is where God brought Moses. These are some of the things that I've been through. Maybe they'll be a help to you. I'd love your comments.

More laborers!

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:43:00 +0000

This is an article worth your reading and a topic worth praying about it. I can't speak for the rest of Europe but I try to follow Germany closely because of the abundance of Turks. This is really a big problem. What Merkel is talking about is really a dream, but it could be a dream being worked towards if all the supposed Christians in her country were actually doing their job. The laborers are few!

Read this article

Change in Turkey

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:50:00 +0000

I don't know whether it is because I live here or not, but since we've been in Turkey it seems that they have been in the news more often than not. Today there was a vote on a referendum to amend the Constitution. There were 26 amendments that they want to add. To me it seems that 22 of the 26 most people would say yes to. The others put some questions in some people's minds. Today it past. We're not so concerned with the results. We know that God will use it to bring glory to His name. Rather, with all the attention Turkey is getting, I'm hoping that God is bringing it to your mind to pray for us and the nation of Turkey. By the way, the U.S.A. and Turkey play tonight at 9:30 p.m. (2:30p.m. eastern) for the Basketball World Championship.

A good welcome home!

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:29:00 +0000

We are back in Turkey! On our third day back I was sending out some N.T.s that people had requested from the website. So it was a large number of books. One guy who didn't even work there said, "I think you're a missionary." I said, "Oh you do?" I told him that those were religious books that I was sending but if he meant that I was an agent or I was trying to divide the country then he was wrong. He said he thought that using religion for political purposes was wrong. I agreed to that, and explained that I don't like religion either. I told him that a relationship with Jesus is different than religion. He said some stuff about different wars and then he said that the American government supports you because they give money to the churches (this is what the majority of people in this part of the world think). So I told him that our government is not like the Turkish government. They don't send people to Germany or other countries to make sure their people are taught their religion. I explained that we are sent by churches and are supported by them and by friends and family. This was a shock to him. The conversation went on nicely. I hope he was actually listening because then maybe he'll understand a little better then he did before. The great thing was that everyone else in the cargo company heard the same thing. I'm grateful for the opportunity.

Reluctant about going into missions

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:02:00 +0000

This is an article that I read from John Piper. Maybe it will help you with some questions or doubts that you've had.

Why Are People Reluctant to Go into Missions?
John Piper

When I spoke at Missions in the Main Hall Sunday night, I tried to give a biblical response to possible obstacles that are in the way for some people that may keep them from moving forward toward missions. My prayer is that God would use these responses to call more of you to go. Here are eight objections and a biblical response.

1. "I am not smart enough."

"Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe." (1 Corinthians 1:20-21)

"Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise." (1 Corinthians 1:26-27)

2. "My body and my personality are not strong enough."

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

"[Christ] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

3. "I am not a good speaker."

"Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (1 Corinthians 1:17)

"Moses said to the Lord, 'Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.' Then the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." (Exodus 4:10-12)

4. "I am afraid of the horrors I read about in the newspapers."

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore (katartisei—"mend" or "repair" your horribly disfigured body when the lions in the coliseum are through with you), confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:8-10)

5. "I am afraid I won't be fruitful"

Your responsibility is not to be fruitful but to be faithful. "And said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." (Mark 4:26-29)

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

6. "There is plenty to do here."

True, but there is a division of labor and God calls some to MISSIONS, not just evangelism. The difference is seen in Romans 15:19-24: "So that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I [Christ] have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named. . . Now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions . . . I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain."

How could Paul say there was no room for work when there were millions in that region to be evangelized? Because evangelism is not missions.

7. "I am not married."

The best spouse is found on the path of obedience. "An excellent wife [or husband!] who can find? She [and he!] is far more precious than jewels" (Proverbs 31:10). The finding is exceedingly hard. It will happen on the road of obedience.

8. "I fear that when I get there it might turn out I made a mistake and will come home with shame."

Which is worse, shame for having endeavored to follow Christ in missions, or fear to venture? Shame before others for making a mistake will not hurt you; it will humble you and can make you more useful in a new situation. But fear will make you useless everywhere.

Consider Ecclesiastes 11:4 and what it says about risk: "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap." Meaning: without taking the risk of sowing when the seed might be blown away and reaping when the rain might ruin the harvest, you will starve.

Oh, how precious is the freeing word of God,

Pastor John

He is Risen!

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:55:00 +0000

Happy Easter to all of you! This morning I was excited because we were celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. At the same time, when I left my house, I felt a bit of sadness. Sadness because everyone around me knows nothing of what we celebrate today.
God blessed in the services at the church where we are training. There were eight visitors all of which were not believers. I had a chance to talk with two young men who came. They had questions about the forgiveness of sin. It was a great opportunity to explain Jesus' death on the cross and then of course his resurrection. I'm always so amazed to see sincere seeker's reaction when we explain the Scriptures to them. The great thing is the day is not over. We will get together tonight and have a big dinner. There will be visitors there also. May God bless our conversations!

Correction

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:43:00 +0000

I had a typo that I've since corrected. I wrote the Great Commission does end with converts. I meant to write The Great Commission does not end with converts.

Committment

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:49:00 +0000

LeRoy Eims, author of The Lost Art of Disciple Making, gave his opinion on time frames for discipleship. He himself says that the times vary according to people. Here is what he says:
Convert to disciple-2 years
Disciple-worker-2 years
Worker-leader- 3 year
Here is a quote from him. "Let's say Jesus spent 12 hours a day with his men for three years. That's 4380 hours a year, and 13,140 hours in those 3 years. If we are able to spend seven hours per week with a person (four in church and three elsewhere)-and that's a high figure-it would mean that we would spend 365 hours a year with that man. At that rate it would take us 36 years to match the time frame used by Jesus..."
The point is that we need Christian workers who are willing to stick it out. In what are called closed countries the turn around time is very short. In our time here in this country we've known 10 families that have left the country. If it takes 5-7 years to train a leader, it is no wonder there are so many immature believers in this country. There is always a need for what we call short-termers. If you feel called has called you somewhere, be committed if necessary to stay a lifetime. The great commission does not end with converts.

Interesting Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:44:00 +0000

It seems like every time the Turkish pastor leaves something interesting happens. We had 8 students come in this morning. They were doing a report for the sociology class and wanted to video our services. So I said sure go for it. After the service they wanted to ask us questions. So myself and some of the young people answered their questions. I was very pleased with the way our young people handled themselves and answered questions. They were talking with students from their same university. Some of the questions were: As a Christian can you do all that you want in Turkey? Are their similarities in the Koran and the Bible? Have you been harassed for being a Christian? What do you think about missionary work? In all we talked with them for about an hour and a half. What was really nice is that after they stopped filming they asked more questions. Throughout the entire conversation the young people explained the gospel. God gave us a great opportunity to speak the truth to these students. What is even better is their university class is going to watch the videos. Thank God for this opportunity!

Mother-In-Law

noreply@blogger.com (Mujde) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:08:00 +0000

Some people have a hard time getting along with their mother-in-law's. Others have no problem. Being 6,000 miles away from my mother-in-law, I definitely don't have a problem. Here many women live with their mother-in-law. Of course in the matriarchal hierarchy she's the ruler. My wife has made friends with a lady. So she came over to visit with Angie. Along with her came her mother-in-law. According to Angie it was constantly telling her daughter-in-law what to do. The subject turned to Jesus and the Bible. Angie's friend was asking normal questions. The mother-in-law definitely wanting to put an end to these questions spoke up as an authority about the Koran and the Bible. This is where you see a huge different in cultures. Angie, the American, has respect for elders, but if they are wrong she will say something. Which she politely told the woman what the Bible says about itself and Jesus. A Turkish woman on the other hand would not dare say anything against the mother-in-law. Even if she's wrong. So hopefully as Angie builds this friendship, the mother-in-law will not always tag along.