“Because He loves us!”

It was the year 2013. The Middle East was experiencing its bloodiest times due to Islamic terrorism. Militants were killing anyone who actively opposed the recently imposed Sharia law. At the same time, entire cities were reduced to rubble and ashes by intense bombardments. Hundreds of thousands were fleeing; many sought refuge in nearby Turkey and found it in refugee camps in Eastern Anatolia. Many people around the world interceded in prayer for the region, and God sent local Christians to serve in these camps.

A Church Is Born
Just as the Gospel spread in the New Testament through words, deeds, and divine confirmation, so too did the Gospel take root here. Thirteen years ago, the commitment of Christians led, so to speak, to the birth of the first modern church in this Eastern Anatolian province. Two rented rooms served as the church's meeting place. The members could be counted on two hands. Today, two hands are no longer nearly enough. The majority of Christians are still first-generation believers. The work is pioneering in an exclusively Muslim, partly radical region.

The Treasure in the Field
The young church is strongly reminiscent of the early churches well documented in the New Testament. Thus, the words of Jesus and also of Paul are very much present. Discrimination, threats, and violence are unavoidable in missionary work in this environment. The Gospel has an enemy, and this enemy mobilizes all its forces to counteract the spread of the Good News.

Sitting on cushions on the floor, I ask a 20-year-old convert—the daughter of an Islamic teacher—if she was aware of the consequences when she gave her life to Jesus. Visibly surprised, she replies, “Yes, of course. I was aware of the problems that would come.” By taking this step, she lost a large part of her social circle and even some members of her family. What is the Gospel worth? This young woman amazes me. She found the treasure in the field and gave everything to make it her own.

The Greatest Pain
The family with whom I'm sitting on cushions in the only warm room of their apartment has had to move twice in the past two years. The believers face hatred, accusations, and rejection. The children do too—and this is what hurts the parents, as well as me as a listener, the most. The generation of children growing up here as Christians must grapple with the issue of persecution at an early age. “Every evening, when my children come home, I ask them how their day was—what they did, who they talked to, and whether they faced any difficulties. I receive answers to these questions, to which I can then respond with advice. I always tell them not to treat those who treat them badly in the same way.”

God's Will as Our Home
How is it possible that a family decides to heed the Great Commission despite all the consequences? Certainly, it was the father's time in prison before the church was founded, but it was also the clarity demanded by their circumstances. When asked about their motivation, they reply: “Because He loves us. We owe Him something for this love, and to fulfill this debt, we share what we've heard with everyone. This is our home; this is God's will.” Christian or not—in Eastern Anatolia, you have to make a choice. Do we perhaps have too many alternatives in Europe? Could this be the reason why the ranks of our churches are thinning, while they're filling up in countries where persecution is rampant?

Alternatives?
Incidentally, the young woman I interviewed about her conversion to Jesus comes from a region that is currently once again the scene of fierce fighting. In the name of Islam, one atrocity follows another. And the fact that this suffering is ongoing is evident from the images of fallen fighters—both men and women—who have been claimed by this war and whose faces now seem to appear on the news for hours on end. No, there is no alternative to the Gospel of peace and reconciliation—not for this war-torn region oppressed by radical Islamism, and not for Europe. “Because He loves us!”