Just by being there
On a hilltop above Istanbul stands the 62-metre-high Galata Tower, built in 1348. In the 17th century, Turkish scientist Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi climbed to the top, attached a pair of wings to his shoulders and reportedly glided 1.5 km across the Bosphorus strait, landing safely on the other side. It was man’s first successful attempt at flying. Looking up at the tall Galata Tower, it is hard not to admire Mr Celebi’s unfailing optimism that had led him to jump. Optimism Just around the corner there is a modern-day
story of unfailing optimism. In the bustling yet elegant street of Isiklal,
an open Bible is always on display in the window of the Bible Society
bookshop. “Recently two Turkish clergymen came by, and one stopped at the window and began reading. The other urged him to walk on but eventually both were reading. One of them came into the shop and said that they had liked what they had read but that they did not like the name of the book! Other people can be very hostile but when we tell them that the Bible teaches us to love our enemies and each other they usually soften.” PeacefulIt has not always been this peaceful in the Istanbul Bible bookshop – in 1969 it was burnt down. In another incident a group of students attacked BST Executive Secretary, Ameniel Bagdas, hitting him over the head with the butts of their pistols. “But then we started selling the Koran, and because no radical Muslim can burn down a shop that sells the Koran, they are leaving us alone,” explained Mr Aydin. New property
For many years, the Bible Society in Turkey (BST) has rented this small shop. Now, with funds from Opportunity 21 (O-21), it is in the process of leasing the shop and an adjoining property for 49 years in order to expand the Bible Society’s presence in the centre of Istanbul. The new property, which is being acquired for less than 40 per cent of the market price, will house a spacious bookshop downstairs, with modern office accommodation above. The shop in Istanbul hardly produces impressive sales statistics – the daily sales amount to about three Bibles, or 1,000 annually. But sales are not a true measure of the shop’s service, Behnan Konutgan, Distribution Officer of the BST, explained. “Sales are not the shop’s
main objective,” he said. “It would be unrealistic to hope
for great sales in a predominantly Muslim country like Turkey. The Bible
shop is first and foremost the Christian ‘consulate’ here
in Istanbul. Many people just drop by and ask questions. It is important
to us that everybody feels welcome here. What matters is just being
here, keeping the door open, so the Word of God is always within the
reach of every seeker.” The Bible shop in Izmir is located in pleasant surroundings in the university area. The Bible Society has rented the property since 1994, but hopes to be able to purchase it in the future with funds from O-21. As well as selling Scriptures, the bookshop also offers photocopying services, which draws many students. “Students drop in throughout the day and while they are waiting for their copies, they can sit and relax, pick up a Bible, read a little if they want and have a talk about Christianity,” said Suna Coskun, the bookshop’s manager. “Some refuse to even touch a Bible but many of them are curious. Some come regularly and ask lots of questions. We try to answer them as well as we can, always stressing that God is good, loving and merciful, and that the Bible teaches us to love our enemies. Come to Christ“About 10 students have come to Christ in this way during the last two years, but we firmly believe that God’s love has touched the hearts of many, many more.” Mrs Coskun herself recently became a Christian through a gift of Scriptures. “I have lived here in Izmir for
30 years but I have a Kurdish background,” she said. “My grandparents
were involved in the killing of Armenians, which took place between
1915 and 1923, when many people died, either from hunger, sickness or
fighting. My parents-in-law are Armenian and their parents were killed
during that time. I thought a lot about all this hatred that exists. “When a friend gave me a New Testament in 1994, I read it and it touched something deep in my heart. I cried for days. Jesus turned the hatred he met into love and mercy – what a wonderful example for all people. Now, once a year, I go to my hometown in eastern Turkey just to pray.” Mrs Coskun’s two brothers and her 16-year-old son have also become Christians and she is praying that her husband too will find God. Respect “Many people have ridiculed me
for my faith in Jesus,” she said, “but now my friends and
relatives respect me for my faith.”
The Izmir Bible Shop was kept under surveillance when it first opened. Since then, however, things have become more relaxed and the people of Izmir have come to accept and, in some cases, appreciate, the presence of the Bible Society in their city. In fact, the shop has had a profound effect on the city’s Christian community. An evangelical church has been established and, according to its pastor, Zekayi Tanyar, 60 per cent of his congregation became Christians through buying books from the Bible shop. He described the situation in the city for Christians. Relaxed“We have to be careful but the situation is comparatively relaxed now,” he said. “We have adapted to the conditions we are offered. For instance, we need permission to hold a special service but we have no problems accepting the limitations on religious freedom. These limitations apply to other religions as well. The principles of the secular state are guaranteed, which we are grateful for.” PreciousA number of volunteers work for the Bible cause in Izmir, teaching Bible classes and providing Christian counselling for families. One volunteer described the Bible Society bookshop as “a precious meeting point.” “For a Muslim woman, meeting in a church would not be appropriate and neither would meeting in a private home,” she explained. “The Bible shop is neutral ground and men and women with various backgrounds can come here. No Muslim I have heard of is uncomfortable with coming to the bookshop. And we have all the material we need at hand to be able to lead people to the books.” Another volunteer described a conversation she had had with a Muslim woman about reading the Bible. I feel proud“She said to me, ‘When I read the Koran, I feel proud, I feel I am a good person. But when I read the Bible, I feel humble. I am a sinner, and I cannot meet God’s requirements. But God forgives us!’” the volunteer recalled. “The notion of mercy has a major impact upon Muslims learning about Christianity.” Following a request by the Advisory
Council of Churches in Adana, a city close to the Syrian border, the
Bible Society opened a Bible shop in Adana with funds from O-21
in October 2000. Close to the cities of Mersin, Tarsus and Antioch,
the Adana shop serves an area of more than 5,000 Christians.
“We want to demonstrate God’s love just by being here.”“We are just beginning our work here,” said Betsy Hunter, who volunteers in the shop. “We want to demonstrate God’s love just by being here. In the first five months after opening, more than 4,000 people visited the shop, many encountering the Bible for the first time. “When a young Muslim comes to the Bible shop and asks questions, we never push but trust the Lord’s guidance. We can see that the Gospel has a great impact on these young people, even if they don’t openly confess their belief in Christ. Many are tormented in their souls, but suffer quietly. “Sometimes those who do decide to become Christians ask us if they should put everything at stake and tell their families. We normally advise them to do so. The reaction is usually terrible, but gradually, they are accepted again by their families.” (SR 27/15 - 11.01) [PHOTOS]As well as its Bible shops in Istanbul, Izmir and Adana, the Bible Society in Turkey has also opened a bookshop in Ankara, and plans to open another in Diyarbakir in the south-east of the country, where many speak the Kurdish language. |
