TÜRKIYE: Foreign Christians Being Forced Out

Dozens of foreign Christians have been quietly forced out of Türkiye in recent years.

After moving his family to Türkiye (formerly Turkey) in 2001, Jerry Mattix served in aid ministry and as a pastor. Last month he was told he is no longer allowed to enter the country—even for short visits.

Jerry and his wife grew up in missionary families with hearts for missions. During his first semester in Bible school, God grabbed Jerry’s heart for the Kurdish people in Türkiye, one of the largest unreached people groups in the world.

Listen to hear how Jerry and his wife started ministry together in Türkiye, and the story of Jerry’s first expulsion from the country in 2013, when he was labeled a “threat to national security.” Türkiye was founded as a secular republic, but in recent years government leaders have grown more open about favoring Islam. Jerry fought his first expulsion in court, and judges ruled in his favor, allowing him to reenter the country in 2016—but not to live there. Jerry and his family planted new roots in North Cyprus. They have seen the Lord’s hand at work despite their family’s upheaval.

Following the massive earthquake on February 6th, 2023, Jerry made repeated trips to Türkiye to partner with local pastors and lead international Christians in to serve in relief work.

Listen as Jerry explains the government’s decision to remove foreign Christians from Türkiye and hear how the local church has “grown legs” to carry forward the ministry as foreign workers are being forced out of the country. “We’re not praying for peace and prosperity, or for Christian persecution;” Jerry says, “We are praying for the kingdom of Christ to grow and thrive—whatever it takes.”

Pray for Jerry and other foreign Christians who have been kicked out of Türkiye and for believers in Türkiye to continue in the ministry God has called them to. Listen to more stories from Türkiye on VOM Radio with Joy Subasiguller, Andrew Brunson, and David Byle.

The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving free access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

➕➕➕

📚 Explore More Resources: Access free resources including ebooks, feature films, short videos and The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) Radio through the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet. You’ll also have access to a new prayer request from persecuted Christians each day. https://www.VOM.org/app.

🛎 Stay Updated: Subscribe & Share our journey! Join us here: Subscribe to ‪ ‪@VoiceOfTheMartyrsUSA‬. Your support means everything!

🎙 Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to The Voice of the Martyrs Radio for powerful stories & insights. Find us on your favorite podcast platform here: https://bit.ly/42yVMEj

🔗 Connect with us on social media:
  / vomusa  
  / vom_usa  
  / vom_usa  

➕➕➕

The Voice of the Martyrs – https://www.vom.org
Founded by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand - https://www.persecution.com/founders/
The Voice of the Martyrs President Cole Richards - https://www.persecution.com/bios/cole...
The Voice of the Martyrs Radio Host Todd Nettleton - https://www.vomradio.net/host

#podcast #martyr #voiceofthemartyrs #christianmartyrs #missions #turkey

00:00 - The Gospel Thrives Amid Persecution in Iran
01:47 - From Bolivia to Turkey: Jerry Mattix’s Calling
05:58 - Expelled from Turkey: A Missionary’s Journey
07:01 - Earthquake Relief and Unexpected Deportation
11:18 - The Rise of the Turkish Church Despite Opposition
17:39 - How to Pray for Persecuted Christians and Turkey
22:26 - A Spiritual Awakening: Deliverance in Turkey