The objectives we set off with were all achieved. We affirmed St and his ministry of 15 years in Turkey. We shared in a worship service with the Turkish brethren. And we prayed with St for Turkey and his future.
During the 9 days, two full days were used for travelling and recovery time. I interviewed and videotaped two couples in a large city in Turkey who worked with and under St, and his supervisor in another city. I also videotaped the parts of the church service on Sunday in which I preached and St conducted the holy communion in Turkish, so people can actually see and feel the church they helped to plant, and also interviewed three Turkish believers. I had numerous conversations with St at mealtimes, while travelling and in the room when work matters are concerned. Ministry to the public in a Muslim country is risky so none was planned for the team but they got to visit and encourage St and get to know him and his work better. We also visited several sites of ruined cities like Smyrna, Ephesus, Laodicea, Philadelphia and Sardis. We read relevant portions of Scriptures from Rev 2, and 3 and prayed. We also carried back three big bags and hand luggage for St and Yip even offered to pay for postal shipping fees for his boxes of books. Praise the Lord.
15 years is a lot of life to lay down for a foreign people and St has done so. He has learned the language, the culture, and with a team planted a small fellowship of converts. Both the fellow workers and believers appreciate the church for its faithful support of St and felt they would miss him and his ministry. Pray for St has he closes one chapter, takes himself out of the situation, process how God has been using him in the past and consider what the next step will be. Pray also for Turkey which has a population of 72 millions, still largely unreached and most have never heard the gospel. 61% of Turkish population is under 35 and that is a lot of young people. Pray. -Kenny Chee
(Photos and names of places and people cannot be posted for security reasons).