THE TEAM HAD A GOOD TIME INISTANBUL AS WE SHARED THEGOSPEL WITH MANY TURKS.
I was amazed to see openness to the Gospel in Turkey likenever before. I’ve been using the Ten Commandments as Ishare the Gospel with the Moslems. Jesus broke the fear inme that I have had of the Moslems several months ago whileI was in Turkey. He has placed love in my heart for allpeople and by His grace I’m seeing people through His eyesand being moved with compassion to share the Gospel withmore people.I’ve had a deep rooted fear of the Moslems ever since 9/11.Seeing pictures and hearing the stories of brutality, violenceand hatred had increased the fear in my heart. God’s Wordsays perfect love casts out fear, and I have seen Hisfaithfulness to replace the fear in my heart with a love and adesire to see many Moslems saved. God has shown me theyare people created in His image, just in need of Him. Goddoes not want me to fear man as it proves to be a snare.When we see people through the eyes of Jesus we can’t helpbut share the Gospel with them. I started seeing millions of people around me who need forgiveness for their sins andneed the hope of salvation that only Jesus can give.
WE HAD ONE SMALL INCIDENTAS WE WERE HANDING OUTGOSPEL TRACTS IN ISTANBUL.
The police threatened two members of the team and toldthem not to share the Gospel in Turkey anymore. Thedisciples of Jesus, the early church, often faced this situation.Paul said, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel.” The twoguys rebounded and kept sharing out of obedience to Jesus.Many of the young people were receptive to take the tracts.We traveled south of Istanbul and visited Ephesus, Laodiceaand Colossae. The whole time we were ministering theGospel and were blessed to make new friendships with peoplewho are searching for the truth. I’m so thankful that Jesussaved me, but he didn’t stop there. He wants to use us tobring the truth to others as well. One morning at Ephesus Imet a Moslem security guard who looked very sick. I sensedthe Lord’s leading to pray for his healing in the name of Jesus.He let me pray for him and a little while later, he called out,“Sir, your God just healed me, I’m totally healed!” I was ableto give him a gospel tract and he was excited to get it. It wasanother confirmation that God desires all people to be saved.The first team returnedhome and I joinedanother team and flewinto Tehran, Iran. I couldnot believe that Godwould let me go into thiscountry that I have beenfascinated with for manyyears. I want to thankyou for your prayersduring the trip to Iran. Itwas amazing what Goddid. I was amazed to seethe love the Iranianpeople have for America.It was not what Iexpected.We arrived in Tehran at 4 am and we were taken to be fingerprinted. The immigration official was excited to help us andhe expressed his love for America and the American people. Inoticed he held his chin high as he escorted us through theairport. I was nervous as we went through customs because Iwas carrying New Testaments in Farsi. The customs hall wasempty so I thought I would get my luggage and get outquickly. Just as I approached the x-ray machine a manstepped out of nowhere and said, “Put your bags on the x-raymachine.” My heart starting pounding as I thought I wouldbe going to jail my first trip to Iran.After putting my big suitcase on the x-ray machine he asked,“Are you tourists? “ We said “Yes,” and he asked “Where areyou from?” We said, “The United States.” He said “I loveAmerica, take your luggage off the x-ray machine. You can goright through. You’re American.” I breathed a sigh of relief.We found the Iranian people to be very kind, friendly andhospitable. When they heard we were Americans, they all
Leave a Comment