Turkic World | Beyond

Eighteen Years to Harvest

Jan 21, 2026 | Stories, Turkic World

Sabir is well known among the international believing community in the Muslim-majority country where he lived. For nearly two decades, Sabir had quietly played a significant role in gospel work across the country, even though he was not a follower of Jesus himself. His vocation was teaching the local language to mission catalysts preparing to live and serve among his people.

Some of his students tried to conceal their true purpose for being in the country, but Sabir always knew. And rather than being offended, he was intrigued.

A devout Muslim, Sabir found something beautiful in their devotion. He admired that these men and women loved their God so deeply that they were willing to leave home, learn a difficult language, and give their lives to share their faith. Their commitment stirred something in him—but not in the way they hoped. Instead of drawing him toward Jesus, it drove him deeper into his own religion.

So, for 18 years, an unlikely partnership continued. A Muslim man in a Muslim-majority nation faithfully taught followers of Jesus his heart language, equipping them to share the Good News with his own people. All the while, those same students loved Sabir, prayed for him, and gently shared the hope they had found in Jesus. Bible stories were told. Seeds were sown. Prayers were whispered in living rooms and classrooms alike.

Yet nothing seemed to change.

Year after year, Sabir listened—respectfully, thoughtfully—but remained unmoved. Each testimony only strengthened his resolve to pursue Allah more fervently. For 18 long years, the gospel was shared with him, and for 18 long years, it appeared to bear no fruit.

Then came the breaking point.

At the age of 40, Sabir and his wife suffered the devastating loss of a miscarriage. In the depths of grief and unanswered questions, he reached for the faith he had devoted his life to—only to find it empty. The faith he had pursued with such discipline offered no comfort, no peace, no hope.

And in that dark place of sorrow, something shifted.

All the stories he had heard, all the prayers prayed on his behalf, all the seeds patiently planted over nearly two decades—God brought them to life.

This year, Sabir chose to follow Jesus.

Dozens of workers had crossed his path over the years, never knowing if their faithfulness mattered. But God had been at work all along. Repentance, belief, new life, and hope finally entered Sabir’s household—right on time.

God is always on the move, His timing always perfect.

Pray for Sabir as he now shares his newfound faith with his family and with others in his community. May the seeds he plants fall on good soil and bear much fruit.

*pseudonyms

A Day of Spirit Led Encounters

Aug 13, 2025 | Stories, Turkic World

“Lord, where would you have us go to share today?” *Sue and her friends waited in silent prayer, listening intently for the Spirit’s guidance. They were spending three days devoted to worship, prayer, and sharing God’s love with others. Each day, they first sought to receive from the Father, then they interceded for their country, and finally asked for specific directions on whom to share His message with that day.

Usually, the insights they received pointed them toward various people, places, and moments during their prayer walk—like a divine to-do list of appointments. But this time, all the pieces they felt God had given them came together in a single moment, leading them to one father and daughter from Germany. As Sue sat on the bench, she snapped a picture of the view, feeling deeply that the Spirit was emphasizing, “Here. Share now.”

This experience encouraged Sue and her friends immensely, revealing to them how clearly the Holy Spirit can speak and reminding them that they can recognize His still, small voice. Earlier that day, God had placed that neighborhood on Sue’s heart, along with a prompting to sit and wait on a bench, rather than wandering as they usually did. And there it all was: the bench, the boats in the water, the family picnicking, and the boys playing soccer—all the details they had received came together, pointing to that one conversation.

Praise the Father for the ways He leads us into moments where He is already at work.

*pseudonyms

Beyond the Beads

Jul 30, 2025 | Stories, Turkic World

Asif* was raised in a strict conservative Muslim home in an Asian country. From a young age, he followed every rule of his faith with deep devotion. He wore traditional attire, grew his beard, avoided anything considered impure, and prayed faithfully five times a day facing his religion’s holiest site. He never missed a prayer—fearing that for every one he missed, he would suffer seventy years in hell.

In his heart, Asif believed he was seeking God. But despite all his religious effort, he felt an aching emptiness inside. Desperate for hope, he increased his devotion. Each night, before falling asleep, he would repeat his prayer beads 21,000 times—longing for peace, for connection, for something more.

Years passed, but the truth he longed for felt further away than ever. His soul grew weary under the weight of endless rituals and rules. Disillusioned and heartbroken, Asif came to the conclusion that perhaps God didn’t exist after all. He abandoned his faith, cast off his religious clothing, and left his hometown in search of a fresh start.

But even as Asif tried to walk away from God, God never stopped pursuing him.

Years later, something shifted. Asif began to notice the world around him with fresh eyes. The intricate beauty of nature—the skies, the trees, the design of it all—sparked a question deep within: Could all of this really exist without a Creator? The thought stirred something long dormant in his heart.

Determined to seek the truth, Asif began searching again—but this time with a different posture. By God’s providence, he came across a copy of the Bible in his own language. Though he had never met a single follower of Jesus, he began to read.

As he turned the pages, something incredible happened. The Spirit of God began to open his heart. For the first time, Asif saw the truth he had longed for: the reality of his sin, the kindness of God, the need for a Savior—and the living hope found in Jesus.

Asif surrendered his life to Christ.

Today, Asif is a bold disciple-maker. His journey is far from over, and there is much more to share. But for now, please join us in lifting up Asif and his family in prayer. They are truly like sheep among wolves. Ask the Father to bring lasting fruit from Asif’s ministry and to raise up more local workers to join him in the harvest.

*pseudonyms

Turkish Coffee, the Story of Job, and Listening Prayer

Feb 11, 2025 | Stories, Turkic World

A few days before Sue was set to leave her Middle Eastern home, she was walking back from the grocery store when she felt an unexpected nudge to stop by a nearby pharmacy. It was a place she often visited, where she’d formed a friendship with two employees. That evening, Aida, one of those employees, was on shift and greeted Sue warmly. She invited her to sit behind the counter, and together they shared Turkish coffee during the final half-hour before closing.

As customers came and went, their conversation turned to Sue’s work—helping people find healing from trauma through the story of Job. Curious, Aida mentioned verses about Job from the Qur’an and then asked, “What does the Bible say about him?”

Sue began sharing Job’s story. Partway through, the other young women who worked at the pharmacy joined in. Aida, eager to involve her colleagues, summarized what Sue had shared so far before letting her continue. This thrilled Sue, knowing that Aida’s retelling would help her remember the story better.

Although Job’s story isn’t the one Sue typically starts with when introducing spiritual truths, it resonated deeply with Aida. She even helped Sue explain parts of it more clearly in Turkish, which enriched the conversation.

As their discussion wound down, the women grew curious about Sue’s life. “How did you end up living here?” they asked.

Sue explained how she had prayed for direction before applying to various opportunities overseas. Then she turned the question back to them: “Have you ever prayed to make a decision?”

Aida nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, prayer is what led me to this neighborhood.”

“Me too!” Sue exclaimed, then shared how “listening prayer” had guided her to her current apartment. (Listening prayer involves inviting God to speak to a person or group, often about a specific question or topic, as they wait silently in His presence. Anything heard is tested to be sure it’s consistent with Scripture.)

Intrigued, Aida leaned closer. “Can you teach me how to do listening prayer?”

“Of course,” Sue replied with a smile. “When would you like to practice?”

Before they could plan, it was time to close the pharmacy. Aida offered Sue a ride home on her moped, since they lived near each other. As they turned onto Sue’s street, Aida gasped at the scenic view from Sue’s apartment.

“Now you really need to teach me listening prayer!” she said, marveling at the beauty. As they waved goodbye, Sue quietly prayed that she would get the opportunity to meet with Aida again. Join us in prayer for Sue and her plans to return to her Middle-Eastern home in the months to come. Pray for Aida, that the Holy Spirit will prepare her heart to hear what Sue has to say when she returns.

*pseudonyms

Baby Steps

Sep 4, 2024 | Stories, Turkic World

“How can I pray for you?” *Verda asked *Sue, moments after Sue had finished praying for Verda and her family. Despite having only spent time in intercession together twice before, Verda had already prayed extensively for Sue. Admitting that she had never prayed aloud in front of anyone before, Verda’s courage deeply touched Sue, who felt honored.

Earlier that evening, they had gathered around the kitchen table to read verses about the Spirit in the book of Acts. Verda, her friend *Anna, her younger brother *Sammy, and Sue each took turns sharing their insights from the passages. As Sue looked around the table at the 19-year-old Verda, Anna, and 10-year-old Sammy, she felt a wave of gratitude. Sitting there, Sue silently offered a prayer of thanks, feeling blessed to be part of this intimate gathering of friends and family, united in their faith. It was a beautiful example of disciples making disciples, and it felt precious.

This sweet fellowship reminded Sue of a quote by Olivia Smith that she had recently read: “I always love it when people say ‘baby steps!’ to imply they’re being tentative, when actually baby steps are a great unbalanced, wholehearted, enthusiastic lurch into the unknown.” Sue thought this perfectly encapsulated the beginnings of their journey.

Each moment of growth and each minute spent in prayer felt like an important baby step forward. While Sue admitted she still felt somewhat timid herself, she also felt a growing excitement about the direction she and Verda were headed in their ministry together. Although they were uncertain about exactly how to achieve their vision of multiplying disciples among unreached people in their area, these tentative steps into the unknown felt like a wonderful place to start.

Pray for Sue, Verda, Anna and Sammy as they take these baby steps toward making more disciples among the unreached where they live.

*pseudonyms

Eighteen Years to Harvest

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