Turkey has undergone an increase in terroristic violence, with major bombings in Ankara, Istanbul, and the predominantly Kurdish southeastern region of Turkey[1]. A failed coup of the government took place in 2016 leading to a state of emergency resulting in major constitutional changes being passed in 2017. In regards to faith, extremist Muslims persecute Christians resulting in job loss, violence, and even death[2]. Turkey is also a destination and transit country for women and children for the purposes of sex trafficking and forced labor[3]. Turkey also serves as a home to 3.7 million refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran alongside another one million internally displaced persons[4]. Finally, Turkey serves as a key transit route for the distribution of Southwest Asian Heroin to Europe & the United States[5].  (2.6.23) On February 6, 2023, Southwestern Turkey and northwestern Syria were struck by a devastating earthquake. Let’s Pray…

-Father, we pray for your love to fill Turkey. We pray for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to overflow through the people of Turkey and into every neighborhood in Turkey.* 

-Father, let your peace reign in Turkey. We pray for peace in Ankara, Istanbul, and the Southeastern region of Turkey. Yeshua, we pray for those instructed towards violence to meet you Jesus, and we pray for changed hearts. We pray for decisions of life and not death. God we lift up the government and pray for wisdom and grace in leadership. We pray that they would all come to know the living God, Jesus Christ, and that they would receive your free gift of salvation. Jesus, help them to follow you as they lead this nation.

-God, we lift up your Christians in Turkey. We pray for provision and protection for your children as they minister in love. We pray to you Jesus, Lord of the harvest, to send out laborers into your harvest. Let evangelism continue to flourish in Turkey. God, we pray for the printing and distribution of millions of bibles to be received by the Turks. Let your word transform their lives. We lift up transformational Christian literature, and ask for your literature to be disbursed throughout the nation. We lift up the radio ministry and pray for a stronger signal and for radios to turn to radio signals which lead people to your mercy God. Let Christian radio stations multiply and may the music they play lead Turks in worship of Yeshua HaMashiach. We pray a blessing over the Christian TV channels, over internet evangelism, and over telephone ministries. Let the name of Jesus be proclaimed throughout the entire nation.           

-Yeshua, we pray that you would shut down the human trafficking business in Turkey. We pray for an angelic presence over the borders of this nation guiding the incoming victims towards a safe home and safe community. We pray for salvation to come to the oppressed and poor. We pray for healing, restoration, and freedom over those held captive in Turkey. We ask for conviction to fall upon the guilty, and we pray your grace would lead them to repentance, salvation, and restoration. 

-God, we pray for the refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, the internally displaced population, and the stateless persons. We pray for strong communities and for all their needs to be fulfilled. Father, we lift up the poor and unemployed in Turkey. We pray for the provision of food, shelter, clothing, water, and clean sanitation facilities for every Turk. Let their hope rest in Yeshua. We pray that those who are poor in the eyes of this world would be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom that you God promised to those who love you.** We pray for income opportunities from your hand which brings you the glory God. 

-Holy Spirit, we pray for the drug trafficking to cease in Turkey. Father, we pray that you would close the borders to Turkey that illegal drugs would not come in or get out. Let any individuals transporting drugs find conviction in the Holy Spirit and repentance through the blood of Christ. Let repentance lead to the destruction of these drugs-we pray in Jesus name. Jesus, please end drug trafficking in Turkey; Amen. 

-(2.6.23) Father, we lift up the nation of Turkey and we pray for your peace that surpasses all understanding to cover Turkey. Let your Holy Spirit guide this nation during this time of sorrow. Father, we pray for the provision of shelter, food, clean water, clothing, medical supplies, mental health support, and all other needs to be met in Jesus name. Jesus, we pray that your name would be glorified in the midst of hardship and suffering. Thank you Lord Jesus.

Image Credit: Alpcem

[1] CIA World Factbook, (Date Accessed March 2015).

[2] The Voice of the Martyrs. “Global report on where Christians are persecuted today.” Bartlesville: Persecution.com. 2017.   

[3] Patt, Professor Martin, (Date Accessed January 2015).

[4] CIA World Factbook, (Date Accessed March 2015).

[5] CIA World Factbook, (Date Accessed March 2015).

*Scripture quotations are based upon text obtained from New International Version of Galatians 5:22-23, (1984).

**Scripture quotations are based upon text obtained from New International Version of James 2:5, (2011).