Turkey is a country where the Gospel is not welcome. From the largely Muslim influence across the country to the growing secular culture, the majority of Turkish people do not know Jesus Christ. In a recent Heralds of Hope trip, we interviewed a believer who was encountered by the Lord more than 24 years ago and has dedicated his life to ministry and evangelism among a people who are against what he stands for. In a culture that doesn’t agree with him, Ahmet* has been faithful to his Saviour. May this inspiring testimony encourage you today.
*Ahmet is a pseudonym. Names and details have been changed due to sensitivity.
From a very young age, Ahmet felt strongly that there must be a God. Born and raised in a Muslim context, he read and studied the teachings of the Qur’an. Without access to the internet or a telephone, it was difficult to encounter different ideas and beliefs outside of Islam. In his early years, Ahmet met several Americans who believed in Jesus. As Ahmet observed their character and mentality, their actions, and the way they carried themselves, he wondered what they had that he didn’t. He thought, there is something different about these people. He later described his encounter with these American Christians as a “seed planted in his heart.”
As Ahmet got older, he desperately wanted to know the truth. He read the Qur’an and studied many commentaries, delving into the theology and teachings of Islam. The Qur’an claimed that the Bible had many contradictions. Ahmet wanted to know for himself. He began searching for a copy of the Holy Bible.
Eventually, Ahmet found a small bookstore that sold New Testament Bibles. Excitedly, he purchased his first copy of God’s Word and spoke with the lady at the bookstore about his search for answers. She gave him several books to supplement his Bible study: Josh McDowell’s More Than a Carpenter, The Truth of the Resurrection, Messiah is God, and even an old cassette of the book of Luke in his language. He was overjoyed.
He returned home with the books and began his study. He compared the Qur’an and the Bible, asking questions as he went. He saw many differences between the Holy Bible and the Qur’an, specifically in how they addressed issues like the treatment of women, who Jesus is, who Muhammad is, and theological questions like “Who is God?”
He also attended a place of worship on the weekend, but the message didn’t seem to fill him up as he had wanted. He continued his study of Scripture, determined to understand for himself.
Up until this point, Ahmet had thought that he was a pretty righteous person. He didn’t drink or smoke, and he handled himself well. As he studied Scripture, he began to see himself in a different light. He realized that all other religions tend to exalt the person and their actions, but the Bible was different.
Rather than focusing on what man can do to save himself, the Bible exalted Jesus as the only way for salvation. While other religions claimed there were things you could do to become righteous or earn your salvation, the Bible taught that God is the only one who can save you. Ahmet’s heart was touched by this unique narrative.
Ahmet’s search for answers culminated one day as he was walking down a long street. As he walked, the Holy Spirit began to work in Ahmet’s heart. He was overwhelmed by the realization that he was not righteous, but a sinner. The verse from Romans says, “There is no one righteous, not one.” Ahmet realized that there was nothing he could do to save himself. He exalted the cross above all else and realized his redemption lay with Jesus Christ.
A verse from John 10 came to his mind, “Jesus said, ‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.'”
Ahmet began to cry. The message of the Gospel had touched his heart profoundly. Ahmet surrendered to the voice of the Holy Spirit, saying, “My Lord and my God, my Saviour.”
As Ahmet walked, overwhelmed with this newfound hope, he recognized several of his father’s old friends. He became suddenly self-conscious, wondering what they would think when they saw him crying. But Ahmet decided that he shouldn’t worry about what they would think. The good news of the cross was too wonderful. A peace washed over him, from head to toe. He felt a joy he had never felt before.
Ahmet knew that he was saved. He knew that before he believed, he was a sinner who would have gone to hell. The cross and the resurrection had saved him. From that time on, Ahmet was a changed man.
Later, as he reflected on this moment, he said, “Before that, I was trusting myself, but after that, one hundred percent, I started trusting Jesus. And my life changed totally, my thoughts and mindset changed. There was such joy that welled up in my heart as John 7 says, ‘a fountain of life.'”
Meanwhile, Ahmet had a hard journey ahead of him. At that time in Turkey (over 24 years ago), being a believer and sharing the Gospel was very hard. Conversion often meant ostracization from the life you knew. Family and friends could throw you out of their lives. People could curse at you or get very angry with you if you tried to share your faith with them.
But Ahmet was not discouraged. He would fill his bag with New Testament Bibles and cassette tapes and go out into the streets to evangelize. His excitement for the Gospel was larger than his fear. He would go out and talk to people in the streets, telling them about the hope of Christ and how God had changed his heart.
Eventually, one of his pastors came to him and said, “Ahmet, we think that you should quit your regular job and enter full-time ministry.” And Ahmet did. Laying aside everything else, he devoted his life to sharing the Gospel with lost souls in a country very closed off to the love of Jesus.
It has been more than 2 decades since that day when Ahmet gave his life to the Lord, and Ahmet is still passionate about sharing Jesus. He has been working with various ministries in Turkey, and God has been very good to him.
One day, Ahmet and some friends were gathered at Starbucks for a Bible study.
As they studied the Word, a young man looked at Ahmet strangely. Ahmet wondered, is he going to curse at me or beat me? These types of things have happened before.
But Ahmet spoke to the man, waving him over and asking, “Would you like to join us?”
The man gave him a funny look, but sat down and said, “Okay.” Ahmet and his friends made room for the man around their circle, and over their coffee, they studied the Word of God together. Ahmet asked the man if he had questions about God, and their discussion went on for several hours.
When they finally parted ways, the man seemed very happy. Ahmet invited him to join their group again another time. “We are here every week. Come and join us!” Ahmet didn’t know if the man would come back.
The man didn’t return. Three years went by, and the event slipped from Ahmet’s mind. One day, he was out evangelizing and sharing the Good News. He saw a good friend and went to greet him. Then he heard a man calling his name excitedly, “Ahmet! Ahmet!” He turned around, wondering who could be calling him. A man with a huge smile was approaching Ahmet, but he didn’t recognize him. Ahmet was confused. He didn’t know what was going on. Joyfully, the man said, “Ahmet! You saved my life. You told me about Jesus. And I believed in Jesus and was saved. You remember in Starbucks? You went through the Scripture with me and talked about Christ and shared the Good News about Christ?”
Suddenly, Ahmet remembered it all. With joy, Ahmet realized that the seed he planted so many years ago had been fruitful, and this man was living proof that God can do remarkable things if we are willing to be obedient and faithful.
Ahmet looks back on this memory and says, “We are like people planting seeds in the field. Let’s do our job, and God will make it grow. God’s sovereignty is a big encouragement for us. We need to trust the Holy Spirit as we share with people. We need to keep going.”
Ahmet’s ministry work has not always been easy, but he has continued to faithfully serve the God that met him so many years ago. Ahmet has learned that life with God isn’t always easy, but he believes it is worth it.
In the interview with our staff, Ahmet closed by sharing this:
“Sometimes things happen when we are sharing with someone, and our motivation can go down, we need to keep going! Thank God, He is good.
Matthew 28:18 is an important verse. Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came near to them and said to them, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’”
He said go and make disciples. There may be a small group or a small church, home church, office church… there’s enough if there’s a Bible and we are studying the Word. The church is us, it’s not a building.”
Did you connect with Ahmet’s story? If you were encouraged, share the link to the blog with a friend or let us know your thoughts! We love to hear from you.
