April 1, 2023. April Fool’s Day — A journal entry to you.
Tonight my heart is so heavy. After a long few days, I crawled into my bed to settle in for the night. I pulled out my laptop, inspired to write a blog for you to share a little bit of what I’ve been learning during our time in Turkey. I began to write about Turkey and research on Joshua Project to share more about the religions, population, and statistics about Christians in this country. My heart broke.
As I read the numbers, their reality began to sink in. Out of Turkey’s population of 85,226,000, 84,565,000 (99.2%) have either never heard the gospel or do not have an indigenous community of local believers who are evangelizing without the help of outside workers. Islam makes up of 96% of the population, while Evangelical Christians make up 0.03%. I stopped typing and began to cry.
So many people have never heard the gospel. So many have never read the Word of God. So many are living under the stronghold of Islam and have never tasted the freedom and abundance of Christ. So many are observing Ramadan this month in an attempt to be self-controlled, sacrificial, and charitable so that Allah will find them good enough. So many do not know that salvation is a free gift.
It’s not a joke. The enemy is fooling millions of people into trading the truth about God for a lie and worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. I sit in my room on April Fools Day, and I’m saddened by the way the truth has been twisted by the enemy. Ramadan won’t save them. The call to prayer won’t save them. The Quran won’t save them. Those things are foolish. Only the Lord Jesus can save them!
My heart breaks as I think about these things. As I wonder and dream with the Lord about what he would have me do post-race, I can’t help but sit with open hands and an open heart at the possibility of him sending me back to the least-reached. Who am I to resist my Master’s call? ‘Who will go for me?’ He speaks. You know what comes next. ‘Send me’, I will respond to my Savior and King.
So, my friend, you might be wondering…what are you to do? Maybe you’re still in college, maybe you’re invested in a career, maybe you’re retired and settled down, maybe you’re plugged in with good community at home. Wherever you are and whatever season of life you find yourself in…pray. Nothing of eternal significance happens apart from prayer.
Pray that the Lord of the Harvest would send laborers to the field. Pray that the believers in the 10/40 window would be strengthened and encouraged. Pray that the people in the least-reached places would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and would boldly share the gospel in their communities. Ask if there’s any obedience that God is calling you into. The Lord is moving, please keep praying!
Thank you for reading these words about what God is stirring in my heart. I feel the heaviness of the reality that the majority of people here have never heard of Jesus, yet I choose to carry the light yoke of Jesus. In his grace and sovereignty, God makes himself known to all people. I’m encouraged by His heart for the people he has made. Truly, these people matter to God, so they matter to me.
With love and conviction,
Kara Grace <3
My eyes have tears in them. I really everything that you wrote in here. I have also been walking through moments of surrender to God’s will as I look ahead to the future, uncertain of what it will look like. Thankful to have a sister like you in this life, who is not willing to put aside the call of God for the comforts of mankind. Love you sister. Proud of you!