The Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, with snow covered mountains behind it

The Gospel for the people of Eastern Turkey

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Our ministries

Church planting

When many follow-up contacts come from one province, we prayerfully consider whether it is time to start a church. The mother church trains and sends called families to plant it.

Young adults sharing a meal together outdoors under a canopy

Make disciples. Plant churches.

There are many ways to share Christ. We prioritize finding those who are seeking, one-on-one discipleship, and starting new churches.

Explore what we do
A person holding a Bible while walking through a field at dusk

Follow-up ministry

Hundreds of people contact us each month wanting to know more about Christianity. Brothers and sisters call and visit them all around our region.

Farsi ministry

Many Iranians come to Van for shopping, and Afghans often cross our borders seeking refuge. We now have a Farsi congregation in Van, and we hope to do the same elsewhere.

A busy market street lined with fruit stalls and shops
Akdamar Island in spring, with almond trees in blossom, the lake, and snowy peaks beyond

A journey 15 years in the making

Our founding pastor, Vahit Yıldız, came to faith after a coworker in an Istanbul clothing factory invited him to church. Five years later he heard the Lord say, “You will go to Van.” The fellowship that began in his home became the first Turkish-speaking Protestant church in Van in more than 100 years.

Read our story

Our reach

Many provinces of Eastern Turkey still have no church. We want to see that change.

Vahit Yıldız, founding pastor, with his wife Ekrem, Kars church leader, with his wife in a pine forest Arşak, Batumi church pastor, with his wife Kenan, Iğdır church leader, with his wife
Vahit Yıldız, Founding Pastor
Meet our leaders

Van Salvation Church was the first Turkish-speaking Protestant church in Van in more than 100 years. Today it is the mother church of the network and home to a Farsi congregation as well.

Vahit Yıldız, Founding Pastor

Kars is a 250 mile drive through the mountains from Van. In 2018 we sent the first family from our church to live there, visit the people who contact us, and start a new fellowship.

Ekrem, Kars Church Leader

Across the border in Georgia, members sent from the Van church are starting a new church in Batumi.

Arşak, Batumi Church Pastor

We have sent members to Iğdır and Muş to start new churches too, and many more give their time to answer the calls and messages that come from across our region.

Kenan, Iğdır Church Leader

How a new church begins

Our churches are small and widely dispersed, but the people of Eastern Turkey are interested in the Gospel. This is how we serve them and Christ.

1. Seekers reach out

Every month hundreds of people across our region ask to know more about Christianity. Follow-up teams call and visit them, wherever they live.

Map of Eastern Turkey with the provinces our follow-up teams serve highlighted in orange Follow-up regions

2. We pray and prepare

When many contacts come from one province, we prayerfully ask if it is time to start a church. The mother church identifies and trains leaders from our congregation.

People at a prayer meeting, hands open in prayer

3. A family is sent

Called families move to plant a new church where follow-up teams are active, so anyone who wants to visit a church can reach one.

People gathered together in a warmly lit room

Take the next step

We can’t do this alone. We need steadfast partners who want to share the burden of reaching the least reached.

  • Pray with us

    We daily encounter physical and spiritual opposition. Prayer is the first and foremost of our tools for change.

    Prayer

  • Come and see

    For churches and individuals who want to become long-term partners, we arrange annual trips to meet our leaders and projects.

    Visit

  • Church planter fund

    Follow-up teams and church planters go to pioneer areas. Support them with a tax-deductible gift through the RCA.

    Give
Women and a young girl standing on a village street with mountains behind them

Your partnership matters.

Help send local brothers and sisters to places without churches. Every gift is tax-deductible through our partner, the Reformed Church in America.

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