Report from Turkey from P.

Dear coworkers.

I want to glorify God for his amazing blessing which he poured out upon our seminar and our ministry. I thank you all for your prayers and manifold support. I specifically thank Kiev-Kharkov's support in sending David to serve this seminar.

1. Word of God

We held our Resurrection seminar on Apr.24-26 not too far from Istanbul. God really blessed us this time to focus on God's word. There were 4 full-time messages and 2 QT passages prepared for our morning meetings. God blessed the messengers: Doğan, Maria, David and James to deliver powerful messages.

That the word of God was active became visible on our testimony meetings. Even new comers confessed their sins and were touched. One of them, brother R., decided to study the B. He is a Bosporus student (Educ. Department). I pray to start the B. study with him next week.

2. Attendants

We had 17 adult attendants (including 8 native students) plus 5 children. We could see that God accepted our prayers for invitation. I want to specifically acknowledge M. J.'s and Ch.'s contribution to the invitation. They managed to invite 1 native sheep each. We actually had 18 adults but one of the students left after the first message. Satan was trying to work there but he could not because G.'s powerful hand was protecting us.

3. Co-working

These days G. has been doing something new with us. One shepherd from another church, Doğan, decided to co-work with us. His wife is pregnant now with their third child (his two daughters age 2 and 4). This week (10 days after the seminar) we finally found a way to organize our groups and B. studies so that we can have a sound teaching and can grow as a church. Please pray for our co-working so we can cooperate in G. and only for his glory, putting our personal preferences aside. Shepherd Doğan is a devoted man and loves J. and his word. He has experience in organizing churches and shepherding. I pray to leave the church organization mostly to him and I myself want to focus more on G. word now. Please pray for us.

4. Teaching

We have started John B. study. Today we had our first lesson (John 1:1-18) for leaders (leaders' group – 4 people). It was interesting because we came from different backgrounds and sometimes we don't understand each other which is normal. But at the same time we can greatly benefit from this cooperation, learning from each other. We will take turns in presiding. Please pray that we can stick to the Bible, submitting our thoughts to G.

These days I often catch myself thinking about Dr. Samuel Lee who gave his life for teaching the B. to young people. Even thinking about him gives me strength and comfort. I know that there are so many servants of G. who struggle every day to bring fruit of raising disciples. I know I am not alone. I also think about Paul who taught the B. to people and was left alone at the end of his journey. I can clearly see that this is the only way to go: raising disciples of J. by teaching them the B. as it is. People think it is a waste of time to study the B. Even Christians think like this. May G. help us here to always stick to the B. and pour out our lives for his calling.

Our prayer topics:

1. Sound B. teaching (John)
2. Co-working
3. Raising 12 disciples

We pray for you as well. May our G. of glory help all of us to listen to J.'s final commandment to go to all nations and teach them whatever J. taught his disciples.