Turkey: Turkey:
A LUTHERAN WITNESS TO When When the the Lutheran Lutheran churches churches in in Muslim Muslim Turkey Turkey have fewer than 3 dozen worshipers on have fewer than 3 dozen worshipers on aa Sunday, Sunday, why why translate translate and and print print 1,500 1,500 copies copies of of aa Lutheran Lutheran devotion devotion book? book?
New Children’s Mission Project:
Bible Books for Families in Ukraine As As war war has has consumed consumed their their country, country, Ukranian Ukranian families families have have had to fl ee. Whether to safer regions of Ukraine or into other had to flee. Whether to safer regions of Ukraine or into other countries countries like like Poland Poland and and Germany, Germany, few few mothers mothers and and children children had the time or space to pack their Bible storybooks as had the time or space to pack their Bible storybooks as they they flfled. ed. And yet, God’s message of Jesus’ love for them has never And yet, God’s message of Jesus’ love for them has never been been more more needed! needed! Your Your students students can can help help -- for for just just $5! $5! When When your your students students adopt adopt “Bible “Bible Books Books for for Families Families in in Ukraine” with their mission off erings, every $5 they give Ukraine” with their mission offerings, every $5 they give provides provides aa Ukrainian Ukrainian family family with with aa Bible Bible storybook, storybook, Small Small Catechism, or other Bible resource written in their own Catechism, or other Bible resource written in their own language! language! Call Call LHF LHF at at (800)554-0723 (800)554-0723 or or email email info@LHFmissions.org info@LHFmissions.org to get a free “Bible Books for Families to get a free “Bible Books for Families in in Ukraine” Ukraine” classroom classroom kit kit (available (available Aug. Aug. 1,1, 2022), 2022), including: including: •• •• •• ••
aa 5-minute 5-minute video video about about the the project project & & life life in in Ukraine Ukraine aa colorful bulletin board display colorful bulletin board display aa take-home take-home flflyer yer to to share share the the project project with with parents parents engaging and mission-themed activities for engaging and mission-themed activities for your your classclassroom (crafts, games, stories, etc.) room (crafts, games, stories, etc.) •• aa Ukraine-themed Ukraine-themed classroom classroom or or chapel chapel devotion devotion 22
Anna Anna Meyer*, Meyer*, aa pastor’s pastor’s wife wife who who coordinates coordinates LHF’s LHF’s publications in Turkey, is amazed at the thirst for God’s publications in Turkey, is amazed at the thirst for God’s Word Word that that she she sees sees among among the the Turkish Turkish people. people. While many obstacles exist to establishing While many obstacles exist to establishing churches churches and openly sharing the Christian faith in Turkey, and openly sharing the Christian faith in Turkey, small small books like Only One Thing Is Needed a book of books like Only One Thing Is Needed - a book of daily daily devotions devotions - are are quietly quietly but but quickly quickly claimed claimed by by people people who who would never openly identify as Lutheran. would never openly identify as Lutheran. ““Only Only One One Thing Thing Is Is Needed Needed is is aa book book of of daily daily readings readings that share the Good News, both for new believers that share the Good News, both for new believers and and for for people people who who already already have have been been believers believers for for aa long long time,” time,” Anna Anna explained. explained. “For “For every every day, day, there’s there’s one one Bible Bible verse verse and an explanation. All the texts preach Jesus. and an explanation. All the texts preach Jesus. “One “One thing thing II am am really really glad glad about about is is that that this this is is aa book book that that other other churches churches also also want want to to read,” read,” she she continued. continued. “So “So with this book, we can help Christians in other churches with this book, we can help Christians in other churches to to get get sight sight into into God’s God’s real real mercy. mercy. These These people people may may not not want to read the Book of Concord , but they may want want to read the Book of Concord, but they may want to to read read this this book book -- and and at at the the same same time, time, get get to to know know Jesus Jesus as as aa merciful merciful Savior.” Savior.”
THIS THIS MESSAGE MESSAGE IS IS MUCH MUCH NEEDED NEEDED BY BY TURKISH TURKISH PEOPLE PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR COMFORT AND REASSURANCE. SEARCHING FOR COMFORT AND REASSURANCE.
“It’s “It’s not not diffi difficult cult to to be be aa Christian Christian in in Turkey Turkey ifif you you are are aa foreigner,” refl ected Anna. “But for a local person, it may foreigner,” reflected Anna. “But for a local person, it may be be quite quite diffi difficult. cult. Some Some of of them them face face problems problems daily daily within within their families or at work, or some struggle to get any their families or at work, or some struggle to get any job job at at all, because they aren’t Muslim.” all, because they aren’t Muslim.” LHF LHF books books have have gained gained aa reputation reputation among among Turkish Turkish believers for their high quality. “The language or believers for their high quality. “The language or transtranslation is good. The book looks good, and the content lation is good. The book looks good, and the content is is good, so Christians of other churches read LHF books good, so Christians of other churches read LHF books too,” too,” Anna Anna said. said. “Last “Last autumn, autumn, the the printers printers asked asked whether whether we had a Lutheran group in a city in eastern Turkey, we had a Lutheran group in a city in eastern Turkey, as as this this group constantly asks for Lutheran books from the printgroup constantly asks for Lutheran books from the printing ing house. house. But But we we do do not not know know who who these these people people are. are. So So II can say that LHF books do help a lot when sharing can say that LHF books do help a lot when sharing the the Gospel Gospel among among Turkish-speaking Turkish-speaking people.” people.”
To To support support LHF’s LHF’s work work of of translating translating
