MY ACCOUNT
When a devastating earthquake hit Turkey – killing more than 53,000 people and injuring at least 107,000 across Turkey and Syria – Christian families found themselves in desperate need.
The earthquake caused extensive damage in Antakya (Antioch) in Hatay province, a historically Christian region. According to reports, 90% of the buildings in the region were destroyed and more than 20,000 people in Hatay lost their lives.
Even though Christianity in Antakya can be traced back to the book of Acts, Christians have contemplated leaving the region in the wake of the destruction. Christians are viewed as a potential enemy by the Turkish state. Some in the Christian community express that the state has prioritized aiding Muslims, leaving members of minority faiths behind.
Global Christian Relief’s partners jumped in to help Christians in Turkey remain in their homeland. Your support allowed families to start or restore nine small businesses with vital financial aid. By providing Christians with the opportunity to work and earn a living, you have helped them rebuild their lives with dignity, strength, and purpose.
Christians in Turkey construct a butcher shop following a devastating earthquake
Your donations have contributed to economic stability and strengthened Christian communities in the region.
Not only do these establishments provide employment for at least 46 individuals and allow young believers to work in their families' businesses, they also meet local needs by providing essential goods and services, including food, medical supplies, and physical therapy.
Christians in Turkey are praising God for the new opportunities they’ve been given. Meryem* saw her livelihood and years of hard work vanish instantly in the earthquake. After she graduated from beauty school, Meryem poured her heart and her life savings into her own beauty salon. But less than one year later, her workplace and most of her equipment were destroyed.
Meryem began working out of her parents’ home with what few tools she still had. Your support has helped her take the first steps toward recovery by replacing her equipment and formally restarting her business. Now, Meryem and her husband look to the future with hope, not fear.
Isaac* had been working as a pharmacist for nearly 20 years when the earthquake hit. His home and pharmacy were completely destroyed, and he lost a beloved aunt and cousin. Nevertheless, for 10 days after the earthquake, he worked tirelessly – despite the chaos and despair – to distribute medicine to his community. After months of uncertainty, Isaac was able to open a new pharmacy.
“I will use the chance for a second life that God gave me and my family during the earthquake,” Isaac says. “Through my work, I can help other people, and I do this with all my heart. I am eternally grateful for your trust and support. I will not let you down. May the Lord be with you always.”
*Names have been changed as a security precaution.
Secret Believers When Faith Must Stay Hidden, Hope Must Not
Across the Muslim world, men and women are encountering Jesus in hidden places – through a dream, a late-night search, or a quiet conversation with a local believer. But when someone chooses to follow Christ in secret, the cost of their decision can be immediate: family rejection, social isolation, and real danger.
Learn more about how you can support secret believers and help ensure no follower of Jesus ever stands alone.
