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Murder trial in Turkey reveals antipathy toward Christians

The trial in the brutal Malatya Christian slayings is probing deeper into what could be a "deep state" conspiracy, reports MNN.

Two Turkish Christians, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, and a German, Tilmann Geske, were tied up and stabbed to death at the Zirve Publishing Co. offices on April 18, 2007.

The next hearing for the trial is scheduled for April 13, four days before the second anniversary of the murders.

The identities of the middlemen linking the attackers and the alleged masterminds in the murder of the three Christians in Malatya, Turkey are expected to take clearer focus.

According to Compass Direct, plaintiff attorneys have called in a heavy slate of witnesses for the next hearing, ranging from a gendarmerie commander to an Islamic theology instructor at a nearby university. Mehmet Ulger, the former gendarmerie commander of the province, and Ruhi Abat, a theology instructor at the local Inonu University, are among the 10 people expected to testify at the April 13 hearing.

What's been uncovered so far reveals a deep mistrust Christians in Turkey. The number of Christian believers declined from 22% to only .2% between 1900 and 2000, and most of these Christians are non-Turkish. The other 99.8% of the Turkish population is Muslim. Very few have ever heard the Gospel.

Behnan Konutgan with IN Network says that "identity mistrust" has been a challenge in their ministry.

There's a saying that goes: "To be a Turk is to be Muslim; to be Muslim is to be a Turk." Konutgan says often, when they're doing Christian work, they are asked, "Where are you from?" He often gets an incredulous response when he tells the person, "I am from here. I am Turkish.'" Their response: "You can't be! You're a Christian." It's a cultural assumption, along with the assumption that Christianity is a Western religion.

The problem is that many Turks get their idea of Christianity from Hollywood. With that misconception to confront, Konutgan says their team of four have to work carefully.

Church Planting and Evangelism are carried out by a small church that was planted in Istanbul, through personal visits, discipling church members and building them up in their faith.

The I.N. Network in Turkey also works with Internet Evangelism -- a "door-opening" forum to chat with those who do not know Christ, sharing with them the truth of the good news of Jesus. "We have a community center," says Konutgan," and through this community center, we want to reach our people. The community center becomes like an 'embassy' to the people around. We have a library there, and if anyone wants to have a discussion about the Gospel, or Christianity, welcome. They come, and we start a relationship."

Those who express a deeper interest are invited to seminars and sent other literature for personal study.

Today, the small Church in Turkey is ready to release a limited number of its members to become involved in a full-time ministry.

While evangelism is not specifically forbidden, many view it with suspicion. "Pray for the protection of the Christian family, the protection of our children in schools, and the breakdown of the anti-Christian spirit in Turkey."

Their ministry team is hoping to have 10,000 believers and local churches in 50 provinces by 2010, as well as a team of Turkish evangelists trained and sent to other countries with Turkish populations.

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TAGS: Turkey Malatia murder trial persecution Church Planting anti-Christian spirit

[03/18/2009]

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