What an honor it is to represent Christ here in the Middle East. I stand in awe of how God can take a flawed and broken vessel like me and still see fit to use it to display His glory. I am deeply grateful for the privilege of serving you by representing your prayers and support in obedience to the Great Commission. Through your faithfulness, God has allowed us to connect with people “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38).
There is a man from a neighboring country with whom I shared the Gospel a year ago, and today he is preaching boldly in his hometown. Next week, Lord willing, I will begin training him online for the ministry. If God opens the door, I hope to visit him soon with the intention of planting a church and over time, as God leads, to ordain this young man as a pastor.
I am also training another brother from our local church. His deep passion for Christ convicts me, and the Holy Spirit in him often becomes my teacher. Please pray that God delivers him from the bondage of smoking. I believe he has the potential to become a strong teacher in our church one day. My prayer is that God would use him to begin a Persian ministry. He is faithful, humble, and often the one cleaning up after church activities. Pray as well for God’s grace upon him during a season of many trials and hardships.
Another friend, whom I have shared about in recent prayer letters, is entering a new season of faith. The Lord has anointed him on several occasions recently to preach the Gospel in public. For years, he has been wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, ministering privately; but recently, what began as quiet conversations turned into powerful, public demonstrations of the Spirit, drawing an audience. The city he lives in is far more dangerous than most for a Christian. Please pray that God would deliver him from wicked and unreasonable men and that no fear would find room in his heart to hinder the Gospel.
Please also pray for the longevity of the ministry here. After receiving approval for a digital nomad visa, we were initially granted six months. When we attempted to renew it for a year, they granted only six more months. A new 2025 policy states that foreigners cannot live in Turkey for more than three years unless they purchase property. It was a miracle that they processed our visa to begin with and another miracle that God gave us an additional six months, especially since the immigration officer was frustrated that we were still here. Truly, the six months we have had in Turkey and the six months ahead are a gift from God. Please pray for God’s clear direction when this period is finished.
This past month has been the busiest of the year. I had the privilege of preaching at two of the seven churches of Revelation. At the ruins of Pergamon—where Satan’s seat once was—I preached to a tourist group, and the tour guide later told me his heart was deeply stirred. A few weeks earlier, I preached at the active church near ancient Colossae, and three souls trusted Christ after the message. We also hosted a family for several days who are seeking to serve in a city south of us. Pray for God to work a miracle for them so they can minister here.
We recently had a wonderful Thanksgiving gathering at our church, with thirty people in attendance. It is amazing how God transforms our temporary events into divine appointments. I loved watching our members share the Gospel with guests. Because of your faithful prayers and support, I am witnessing God’s mighty hand at work here in the Middle East. Divine appointments are multiplying, and the Gospel continues to spread.
Please pray for laborers—even if only seasonal or for a few weeks. The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Missionary #6506
