The gospel is for all the peoples of the world. That includes us, high up in the mountains of Ararat.
Meet our leadersOur mission is to worship God 
with all that we are and to make disciples of Jesus 
in Eastern Turkey 
and the surrounding region.
Three values shape every church we plant and every leader we send.
Istanbul
Years ago, Vahit Yıldız was working in a clothing factory in Istanbul. He said he was an atheist, but he could never fully convince himself: creation was too wondrous to happen by chance.
A Christian friend on the assembly line invited him to church. Six months later, he and his wife Hayriye confessed Jesus as Lord.
Van
Five years later, Vahit heard the Lord call him back to his hometown. He knew he would face persecution from his family, but the call of God was clear.
A handful of Christians met in their home, and later in the Iranian church building. The Lord sent more people through visions and dreams, and the fellowship slowly grew. It was the first Turkish-speaking Protestant church in Van in more than 100 years.
2017
Someone online contacted the Van church and asked us to visit and tell him more about Jesus. He lived in Kars, a 250 mile drive through the mountains.
There were many people like him scattered throughout eastern Turkey. We could never meet with them all, so we knew we needed more churches.
2018
We sent the first family from our church to live in Kars, to visit the people who contact us and to start a new fellowship there. Since then we have also sent members to Batumi, Iğdır and Muş to start new churches.
Today
Many of our members give their time to answer the calls and messages that come from our region, and we pray that more can be sent.
In the next five years we want to see our network expand to at least one church in every major city in the mountainous regions surrounding Mt Ararat. Anyone wanting to visit a church should be able to reach one.
Support our workLocal leaders with local values, serving the churches and congregations of the network across the region.
God has given us partners to lift the responsibilities of ministry together.
Coaching in church planting, partnership development
The RCA coaches our church planting and partnerships, and it holds the tax-deductible Turkish Church Planter Fund and Van Church Building Fund.
The questions partners ask us most. Anything else, write to us and we will reply.
Email usIn Van, in eastern Türkiye. The founding church, Van Salvation Church, is the mother church of the network, and it has sent members out to start churches in Kars, Batumi, Iğdır and Muş.
All peoples, including Turks and Kurds. There is also a Farsi congregation in Van for the many Iranians who come to the city and the Afghans who cross the border seeking refuge.
Yes. Gifts to the Turkish Church Planter Fund and the Van Church Building Fund are given through the Reformed Church in America and are tax-deductible. See ways to give.
Yes. Mail it to the Reformed Church in America, Attn: Finance Dept., 4500 60th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, and write “Turkish Church Planter Fund” or “Turkish Church Building Fund” in the memo line.
Yes. For individuals or churches that want to become long-term partners, we arrange annual trips to see the need and meet our leaders and projects. Write to info@vanchurchnetwork.org.
We daily encounter physical and spiritual opposition, and prayer is the first of our tools for change. Join the newsletter for ministry updates and the latest prayer requests.
See photos, services and updates from the Van church on Facebook.