Christmas in Istanbul, Turkey

Christmas is the greatest celebration on this world. Lord Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day! People in this world don't celebrate any other leader’s birthday as we are celebrating birth of Jesus Christ. Many nations celebrate this day together with Christian world even without knowing exactly what are they celebrating. There are many concepts and presumptions about Jesus’ birth.
The day before yesterday we had a great Christmas Carols concert in Santa Maria Catholic church. Church was full with visitors and all sang together with our Istanbul Greater Grace choir. That evening both Christians and Muslims came together. There was amazing spirit of worship and people were singing praises to Jesus together with our choir. The short message what Pastor Matti Sirvio shared from Bible was really anointed. When Pastor invited people to receive Christ there were several responds to our prayers.
After the Christmas Carols concert in Santa Maria Catholic church two young Turkish men came up to our Pastor and started asking him questions about Christmas. I was there and translating for my pastor. It was amazing to see how thirsty they were, how many things they don't know and how they were willing to know about Christ more. I think it is not just accident that they came to the Christmas Carols concert. God prepared their hearts for His glory. These guys were totally different then I saw within past two years during my ministry in Istanbul. Question after question they were asking about Christ and Bible. Of course they had their own concept about Truth but as they were hearing the Word of God, God was convicting them. I am sure that God’s Holy Spirit continues ministering them and makes miracles in these person’s lives. Our new friends promised us to come and join us at the Christmas Eve celebration in our Gumushsuyu Greater Grace church. Please keep in your prayers our new friends Ismail and Levent so they would be more thirsty and hungry for the Word of God.
It is rear in Istanbul to meet people who have thinking mind and humble in the same time. Most of the time people are very proud with their knowledge but more than that you can meet very ignorant people who really don't want to learn or to be taught. But God is faithful and He has many people Acts 18:9-10.
Jesus is always one step ahead of us and preparing harvest. By God’s grace this Christmas season became a glorious one. I didn’t expect that people who come to the concerts would say yes to Jesus and receive Salvation.
It is important for us not to lose our targets while we are here. Let’s continue praying for Turkey, for these amazing people from all nationalities who live in this country. Souls are important and we are called to bring them to Christ. Personally I strongly believe that God has a great plan for this nation. And who knows when time comes? Maybe time will come with last Turk who will receive Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Also pray for our Istanbul Greater Grace church. We need your prayers and spiritual support. We are working in the main and difficult field and we need more workers who will leave everything to follow Christ Mat. 4:18-22.