One Year Ago

It’s difficult to believe that an entire year has passed since the tragic earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official records, the death toll stands at a little over 50,000, but anecdotal evidence suggests the loss of life is somewhat higher.

On the day the earthquakes hit, the Church in Turkey immediately sprang into action, responding to this heartbreaking natural disaster by reaching out to their hurting neighbors in love by starting up food stations, distributing supplies, and building shelters. In a beautiful display of partnership, the Global Church quickly joined in, coming alongside the Church in Turkey to serve with her and support her as she endeavored to be a source of hope and blessing to the broken.

Current Situation

There are many challenges to rebuilding lives in the earthquake zone. Restoration and building construction in the region continue slowly, and research from the earthquake zone has identified that long-term, sustainable shelter is still an essential need. Both secular NGOs and the government have built container cities in many locations, however some remain vacant. While many earthquake victims have chosen to relocate to these types of shelters, others have been reluctant to leave their homes and lands.

Other issues impacting those living in the region devasted by the earthquakes include unemployment, economic challenges, which are exacerbated by Turkey’s failing economy, and the inability to continue education. Schools have re-opened as much as they can, either in undamaged buildings or in containers. Many local entrepreneurs have been able to try reviving their businesses by working out of container units provided by the government. However, progress is slow, not to mention the time it takes to recover emotionally from such large-scale trauma, both individually and as a society. The grief drags on as people continually receive official death confirmations of their friends, neighbors, and loved ones.

Ministry Efforts Continue

There is a huge need for ministries to keep on serving in the region, and this will likely continue for several years. While many relief efforts have naturally come to an end and some ministries have slowed down their efforts, local churches and several nationwide ministries continue to serve faithfully in the region. Some of the ways they continue to serve include:

• First Hope (İlk Umut) is still serving in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Malatya, and Adıyaman by delivering food supplies, hygiene products, baby kits, and water. They have placed a special emphasis on providing winter essentials during the colder months.
• The soup kitchen station that was started in the center of Antakya has purchased land in order to expand its ministry center and have a long-term presence in the city.
• Across the region, several churches and groups organized Christmas programs and outreaches for children, women, and families.
• Antakya Christ-followers Church (Mesihçiler Kilisesi) is meeting the needs of hundreds of people every week through food and hygiene product distribution and weekly children and women’s programs.

While the needs in the region remain high, the number of volunteers has decreased, and those who have been faithfully serving are becoming increasingly worn down. There remains a place for short-term teams to come alongside and support those serving in the earthquake zone, and a place for joyful intercession on behalf of those serving.

Spiritual Shift and Unity

It is abundantly evident that the practical love and care shown by the body of Christ has softened spiritual ground. We receive regular reports from local leaders attesting to fertile soil and open hearts. One couple in İskenderun says they have never seen anything like what is happening; people are so open that they are constantly distributing Bibles to the spiritually hungry. New Bible studies have sprouted up in multiple locations, churches in Antakya are full almost every week, and we hear regularly of many giving their lives to Christ.

Here’s how a couple of other leaders on the ground sum up this spiritual shift:

“Spiritually significant conversations happen every single day. People’s hearts are more open than ever.”

“Now is the time to sow seeds in fertile soil. Now is the time for a spiritual harvest!”

There is strong unity among the churches in the region. Churches in Antakya held a joint Christmas celebration that was attended by hundreds, each guest receiving a New Testament. This same group of churches will hold a commemoration service on February 6 to remember those lost in the earthquakes and to pray for God’s blessing in the region.

Spiritual Heritage

While the earthquakes devasted a mind-blowingly large area of the country, one city that saw an incredible level of destruction was Antakya the location of biblical Antioch (not to be confused with Pisidian Antioch). This is where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26), where, during upper room prayer and fasting, Saul and Barnabus were set apart for ministry (Acts 13:2-3), and where on multiple occasions “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21, 24).

What if through this shaking, part of what God desires to release is this very spiritual inheritance? What if He is saying it’s time for the peoples of Turkey to joyfully embrace this rich heritage of the land they dwell in, claiming this heritage for themselves?

Would you join us in praying for just that? Pray for the Church in Turkey to:

• rise up from these ashes taking claim of the spiritual inheritance of biblical Antioch
• have a deep understanding of her identity in Christ,
• experience upper room prayer and fasting that naturally leads to sending laborers into the harvest,
• have faith to see the Holy Spirit pour out an awakening in which a great number of people will believe and turn to the Lord

We invite you to continue standing with the Church in Turkey as she commemorates this tragic disaster and looks to the Lord in hope to bring beauty from destruction.