New Life From Death

Foreword: Since Erik Meberg’s article about the earthquake in southeastern Turkey, much has happened that is beginning to show God’s Kingdom purpose amidst tragedy. Here is what God is doing there.  

Though much of the world has forgotten about the cataclysmic earthquake occurring on Feb 4, 2023, in southeastern Turkey, it is still fresh in the memories of hundreds of thousands of people in that region. Officials estimate the loss of life at 50,000; locals estimate the death toll in the hundreds of thousands.  

The second hardest-hit area was in the city of Feliz (a pseudonym). Immediately following the earthquake, Feliz was largely ignored by government relief efforts. The bulk of relief was sent to a far wealthier city in the region. World Witness partner, Pastor Yusuf, International Ministry Associate, traveled to this area shortly after the quake and began organizing relief efforts by going from neighborhood to neighborhood, making lists of needs. He quickly organized the larger Protestant church in Turkey to begin bringing in food, clothes, and temporary housing. Yusuf slept in his car for the first few weeks, as most buildings were destroyed or condemned. A few of us, including ARP pastors Todd Matocha and Erik Meberg, visited the work firsthand and were amazed by the level of organization within Christian relief efforts.  

Recently, we learned about a landowner who lost his wife and a child when his building collapsed. This landowner then witnessed the love and perseverance of God’s people when dozens of Turkish Protestant Christians began flooding the city to deliver aid and relief. These Christians were clothed in yellow and black uniforms on which were boldly written the words, “Turkish Protestant Church.” The few, yet courageous, believers sat nightly with these stricken Muslims, listened to them, and prayed for them. Moved by compassion, the grief-stricken landowner came to these believers and offered to sell his land to them at a fraction of the cost. World Witness helped with a third of the land purchase.  

What will they do with this land? For the next two years, it will continue to be a base of operations for relief efforts. But more than that, these partners have declared their intention to start a Protestant church on the land in the city of Feliz – the first and only Protestant church in this city. God willing, we are beginning to see new life, from so much death, in the birth of this church.