Blogging News Page
This page keeps you up to date with all the breaking news about our Silas Project work in Turkey, and also gives you our comments on other relevant issues. Please send us any news or comment that you think would be of interest to others.
Please also send us your name and address details if you would like to receive our email newsletter regularly - we send out 2 to 4 a year.
7 Jan 2010
Christianity is still from time to time occupying the front page of news in Turkey because of on-going claims that a link exists between the alleged army Ergenekon plan to destabilise the pro-Islamic government and the murders of the three Christians in Malatya, the 2006 assassination of Catholic priest Andreas Santoro and the 2007 slaying of Hrant Dink, Armenian editor-in-chief of the weekly Agos. Please pray for the steady flow of enquirers resulting from this publicity, and for the Turkish churches and believers following up such contacts - especially via the Internet.
6 Jan 2010
Please pray for our overall finances. The economic difficulties of the world continue to affect individuals' giving. Pray that we will be able to maintain an effective book and media publishing work - as well as continuing to support Turkish national Christian workers adequately.
5 Jan 2010
We have just issued our Winter FFT newsletter - opens in a new window.
18 Dec 2009
In a decision many hope will lead to greater religious freedom in Turkey, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found that a Turkish court ruling barring a church from starting a foundation violated the congregation’s right to freedom of association. Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a Turkish attorney and legal adviser for the litigants, said the decision is the first time the ECHR has held that religious organisations have a right to exist in Turkey.
5 Dec 2009
The difficulty of Christian witness and life in Turkey has been underlined by the results of a recent survey. Major findings are that 59% of Turks feel that non-Muslims should not be free to hold religious meetings, and almost 40% have negative views of Christians. Full details will be found on the Compass Direct News website. Please continue to pray for Christians, Christian workers, and Christian activities in Turkey.
3 Dec 2009
Please sign the Barnabas Fund online petition against inhuman Islamic apostasy laws (imposition of the death penalty for leaving Islam). Although Turkey does not have such a law, the existence of extreme apostasy laws in some Muslim countries encourages extreme behaviour in all the others - including Turkey.
1 Dec 2009
We have released the final production version of a 15-minute audio visual DVD on the Silas Project. The DVD is available for private showing on request. Please view the reduced size trailer - opens in a new window. Details will be found on the Resources page.
20 Nov 2009
Please give thanks that the major Turkish TV debate today went very well, with Carlos Madrigal being able to address with grace and wisdom a good many vital issues such as: the true status of the 'Gospel of Barnabas'; the meaning of Christ's claim to be the Messiah; the meaning of the statement in John's Gospel that 'the Word became flesh'; and the common Muslim comment that: "Jesus is just another prophet".
18 Nov 2009
Please pray for Carlos Madrigal of the Church of Altintepe in Istanbul, whose major Christianity-Islam apologetic book is currently being published. He has been asked to speak in a major national channel (HaberTürk) TV debate this Friday (20 Nov). Carlos comments: "In such TV debates awkward and uncomfortable questions are often brought up. Please pray that the Holy Spirit gives me wisdom to answer well and be an effective witness. I cannot emphasise enough what an important witnessing tool this program will be because it will reach to millions of living rooms and have a lasting follow-up impact. It will also be an opportunity to promote my book, which is a solid document on the reliability of the Bible. Please pray as well that the program and attendant publicity will not have an adverse effect on the processing of my work permit, for which I applied last month."
15 Nov 2009
Please pray for a strengthening of Christian marriages in Turkey, that couples may be filled with the refreshment and love of the Lord for each other, and that couples in relationship difficulties may work through them in the strength of the Holy Spirit. The devil seems to be finding marriage a fruitful field of attack at the moment in the Turkish Church.
12 Nov 2009
Give thanks that the trial of the Russian-born German who stabbed to death a Muslim woman in a Dresden courtroom in July has come to a speedy and just conclusion, with a severe sentence being imposed. Full details are on the BBC World News website. Please continue to pray for a speedier and just end to the trial of the men accused of slaying three Christian publishers over two years ago in Malatya, southeastern Turkey.
28 Oct 2009
A surprise development has taken place in the various 'Christian' murder cases that are currently ongoing in Turkey. The head of Turkey's police intelligence department was removed on 16 Oct amid allegations that he failed to prevent the murder of the Christian editor of an Armenian weekly and the slayings of three Christians in Malatya (southeastern Turkey). Ramazan Akyurek is also accused of withholding evidence in those cases and improperly investigating the murder of a Catholic priest in 2006. Full details will be found at Compass Direct. Please give thanks for this step forward, and also pray for a just and proper conclusion to the current trial, in Germany, of the Russian-born man who stabbed an Egyptian Muslim woman to death in a courtroom in Dresden last July.
14 Oct 2009
We have extended our PayPal donation facility to include recurring donations (Monthly, Quarterly, Half-Yearly, Yearly).
7 Oct 2009
We have issued our Silas Autumn Newsletter - opens in a new window.
4 Oct 2009
Please pray for the continuing follow-up to a well attended special evening held in Antioch on 3rd October. An illusionist and a unicyclist showed what they do and shared their faith, and visitors were encouraged to fill in a questionnaire.
30 Sep 2009
Ahmet in Diyarbakir has written a book that deals with common ailments in society, and how Christ offers the solution. The church in the process of putting the final touches to the book and hopes to publish it in the very near future. Please pray for the provision of funding.
27 Aug 2009
Roger and Yvonne are now in the USA until early 2010.
7 Aug 2009
We have implemented an international website donation facility using PayPal. Click on the Donate menu item for further details.
29 Jun 2009
Roger and Yvonne are in the UK for July and August.
17 Jun 2009
Please continue to pray for supported worker Gul as she undergoes weekly chemotherapy treatment for an intestinal malignancy. Give thanks that her illness is having a healing effect on relationships with her non-Christian sons.
1 Jun 2009
Roger and Yvonne are in India for the next month, then in the UK for July and August.
30 May 2009
Pray for supported worker Gul as she undergoes treatment for quite a serious stomach complaint.
20 May 2009
The May Womens Conference in Diyarbakir was a real success. View a photo report using this link - opens in a new window.
10 May 2009
We have issued our Silas Spring Newsletter - opens in a new window.
21 Apr 2009
We have released the trailer of a 15-minute audio visual Silas presentation - opens in a new window. Full details will be found on the Resources page. A high-definition DVD of the complete presentation is available for private showing.
19 Apr 2009
Please pray for the Holy Spirit's anointing of the speakers at the Ladies Conference to be held in Diyarbakir in early May. Pray for safe travel of the numerous ladies coming from different parts of Turkey.
18 Apr 2009
Please pray for the Christian believers in Turkey on this the second anniversary of the martyrdom of the three Christians (two Turks and one German) in Malatya on 18 April 2007. If you missed the day, please pray anyway - God is not fussed about dates! The events in Malatya on that day, and the continuing, if halting, progress of justice in the case, has had a great impact on Christian awareness in Turkey. View the very moving memorial video that has been posted on the Google Video website - opens in a new window.
13 Mar 2009
Arya and Ahu are now home from hospital and making good progress.
11 Mar 2009
Roger and Yvonne Malstead are now in Turkey until the end of May.
28 Feb 2009
A daughter, Arya, has been born to Ahu and Fatih (who minister in the Church of Altintepe in Istanbul). Arya was safely delivered but is in intensive care because of an infection and neonatal jaundice.
15 Feb 2009
Ahmet and Cigdem have been able to sell their current flat and buy a suitable new one in a district of Diyarbakir that will be much better for their young children.
8 Jan 2009
Roger and Yvonne Malstead are now in the United Kingdom for two months.
2 Jan 2009
Generous giving over the Christmas period means that the fund for a new flat in Diyarbakir for Pastor Ahmet and his family is now over half way to its target - $15,000 to go! See our Other Information page for details.
