A new believer encourages magazine publisher Gökhan Talas to keep going.

 

Sezai contacted us online in 2019. He subscribed to Miras magazine and requested a copy of our book Voice of the Martyrs. He was unsure and afraid.

 

Sezai is from Artvin, a city on the Black Sea. Like many families in Turkey, Sezai’s family is half atheist and half Muslim. The conflict was tearing them apart. Sezai belonged to the part that held that there is no god. 

 

One day Sezai was surprised by a call from his elderly Muslim grandfather who asked for help walking to the hospital. Not far into the walk, the grandfather wanted to sit down to rest and took the opportunity to talk frankly about faith and the family tradition. He said he wanted to save Sezai’s soul and gave him a book about Islam.

 

Sezai felt uneasy. He knew his unbelieving relatives would be very angry if they knew about this conversation. 

 

A season of sowing 

 

After a few days reading the book, Sezai began to feel that Islam offered a solution to the suffering in this world. He found in Islam strong conviction for his heart. Sezai accepted more books from his grandfather and began to practise Islam in secret.

 

It was while reading his grandfather’s books that Sezai first encountered the Christian faith. The curses and condemnation directed at this false religion aroused something contrary in his heart. A seed of curiosity had been planted. 

 

All these new ideas and secrecy were creating chaos in Sezai’s mind. He felt empty and adrift. His studies were going badly and some members of his family started to ask questions. Sezai decided to leave them and his ­grandfather behind in Artvin and move to his sister’s house in another city.

 

A season of reaping

 

Sezai studied the life of Jesus. What he discovered shocked him. Jesus was different. His actions and teaching were straight and graceful. Sezai found Miras on Facebook and wrote to us. The first magazine we sent him explains what the Bible teaches about God’s nature. He read more issues online and asked us hundreds of questions. After a year of investigation, Sezai gave his heart to the Lord. We prayed together online and praised God. Now he is waiting to be baptised.

 

This story fills our hearts with joy and our eyes with tears. 

 

For years I have served as an evangelist in different Turkish cities. I know that people want gospel resources that are well-written and well-designed. Miras magazine has been tried and tested. This is more than just a publishing ministry. We work to spread the gospel. 

 

Please pray that our desire will not be quenched.

 

Your prayers and support make stories like this a reality. Will you stand with us?

 

Gökhan Talas is the founding director of Miras magazine. Miras means “inheritance” — because Turkey was home to the first gentile churches.

 

$10,000 will make possible the publication of Miras magazine in Turkish, Persian and Arabic.

With your support Gökhan Talas will train a new generation of Christian writers.

 

I always thought I was a wise man. I was proud to be a socialist and an atheist. Nevertheless, I was curious about God. I grew up in the Alevi sect of Islam but felt dissatisfied and empty. I wanted to understand my existence. Why are we here? Where are we going?

 

I encountered Jesus for the first time while doing my military service. I found a Bible in an Islamic centre and read from Genesis to Revelation. It was logical. I saw that Jesus is real. He is alive and eager for us to have a relationship with him. God’s love changed my heart.

 

More dangerous than terrorism

 

In Turkey we face a close and real evil. Evangelism is considered a greater threat than terrorism. When I started to believe in Jesus, my commanders burned my Bible. Many of my friends abandoned me. Christians are persecuted daily. Many have to leave their families when they convert. When I try to evangelise on the street the authorities beat me.

 

After completing my military service I started going to church. I met and married my wife and began training to preach the gospel and support churches. I worked in a radio station preparing programs with the intention to evangelise.

 

My wife and I moved to Malatya to continue our work. After only eight months five Muslim fanatics entered our office building, held us captive and killed three colleagues, including our pastor. We suffered great grief and trauma. We have lost many brothers and sisters to persecution.

 

A Turk can become a Christian

 

I moved my family to Istanbul and began to train in graphic design. I decided to use my skills to start a magazine to unite and strengthen isolated believers and reach the unsaved. Miras (Inheritance) magazine is easy to read, easy to hide and reaches people who have no access to literature, the internet or a Christian friend. Our authors represent various Turkish churches and ministries. We explain how a Turk can become a Christian. This is a strong message.

 

It takes courage to write

 

Most Turkish Christian books are translated from western languages and perspectives. We need more books and articles written in our own context and language. This is a difficult climate in which to recruit and nurture new writers. Naturally, potential authors are reluctant to attract attention to themselves.

 

To help young Turkish writers develop discipline, technique and confidence we are preparing to publish a manual for Christian writers. Will you help us guide and encourage a new generation of Christian authors?

 

Please pray that by training Christian writers we will extend the good news of Jesus Christ to those who are unsaved in Turkey.

 

Gökhan Talas is co-founder of Miras Publishing Ministries in Istanbul.

 

$4,500 will finance the preparation and publication of a manual to guide and encourage new Christian writers in Turkey.