TÜRKIYE: Given a New Testament and a Vision, He Became a Follower of Jesus
Release Date: 08/30/2025
VOMRadio
Over the last fifteen years living and ministering in South Asia, Brian, a leader with , has witnessed numerous changes. One aspect that hasn’t changed is openness to the gospel. Brian will explain where Christian persecution usually begins and how it can feature a mix of family, community, and/or the government coming against the church and against new followers of Jesus. Emphasizing that God is the one who changes hearts and minds, Brian shares how, when we read the New Testament, we see that God is sovereign even over the persecution He allows His children to endure. “[Christian...
info_outlineVOMRadio
In India, carrying a Bible to a meeting—or even offering a Hindu tea and cookies—could be construed as illegally “enticing” that Hindu to change his or her religion. Under anti-conversion laws currently enacted by 12 of India’s states, such “enticement” can result in a long prison sentence. And once charges are filed against a pastor or other Christian, there is no presumption of innocence; it is up to the accused to prove their innocence. Sister Joti, a human rights lawyer in India, has worked on numerous religious freedom cases. She will tell listeners about 80 pastors...
info_outlineVOMRadio
On November 5th, a judge in Malaysia will deliver a verdict in the case of Susanna Koh vs. the Malaysian government and members of the police believed to be involved in the abduction of her husband, Pastor Raymond Koh. Raymond disappeared off the streets of Malaysia in 2017; he hasn’t been seen or heard from since, and his car has never been found. Susanna and her children shared their story at The Voice of the Martyrs’ National Conference in September. They are asking Christians around the world to pray ahead of this important court verdict. Susanna shared how she sees, in hindsight, that...
info_outlineVOMRadio
“I just want the Bible. How much does it cost?” First, the young Druze woman tried to access and read her own religion’s holy book. But she wasn’t allowed to read it. Then she tried to find a Quran. Finally, she came to a church and asked to purchase a Bible, worried she wouldn’t have enough money to pay for it. The pastor told her that God’s Word is priceless, but that he would give it to her without cost. Shocked, she took the Bible and began to read, eventually giving her life to Jesus. Brother Michael, a gospel worker in the Middle East, will share more of this young woman’s...
info_outlineVOMRadio
Churches in Algeria have been closed by the government. Pastors have been threatened. But ministry continues. Pastor Abraham and Sara are back on VOM Radio this week to continue our conversation about God’s work in the Middle East and North Africa—and the Christian persecution that Christ’s followers face. Listen for the story of one pastor who has repeatedly changed his phone number because of constant threats. Yet he remains in his country and continues to share the gospel with Muslims. They will also offer an update on the situation for Christians in Syria as we near the one-year...
info_outlineVOMRadio
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and their countries amidst war and upheaval in the Middle East. Pastor Abraham and Sara are living as representatives of God’s love to displaced people in the Middle East. The ministry can be messy and difficult, yet they persist in demonstrating love in practical ways. And they are seeing great fruit for their ministry. Abraham and Sara will share how one woman—the widow of an imam—had heard all kinds of negative things about Christians. But when she came to the church, she found something very different: people who...
info_outlineVOMRadio
In Malaysia, every citizen carries an ID card that includes religion; every person is classified as either “Muslim” or “Non-Muslim.” The Malaysian constitution promises religious freedom and the right to choose one’s religion. So what happens if a citizen changes their faith? “Brother Samuel” will answer that question this week on VOM Radio. Born into a Muslim family, he came to know that Jesus was the Son of God, then chose to leave Islam behind to follow Christ. At first, he kept his newfound faith quiet, knowing that being publicly identified as a follower of Jesus could bring...
info_outlineVOMRadio
After dozens of churches and Christians’ homes in Jaranwala, Pakistan, were attacked, looted and burned by a mob, Christians gathered in and around the ruins of their former church buildings to sing and worship the Lord. The words they sang were directly from Scripture: Psalms of lament; reminders that even in times of suffering we can come to the Lord and trust in His sovereignty. , professor at Wheaton College and co-leader of the , is back on VOM Radio, sharing the story of the Punjabi Psalter: what it is and how it has impacted the church in Pakistan and parts of India for generations....
info_outlineVOMRadio
Dr. Yousaf Sadiq was born into a Christian family in Pakistan. He will share how his ancestors came to faith in Christ in India out of Hinduism. While his parents never had the opportunity to go to school and learn to read and write, Yousaf shares how they saw education as a privilege. His mother worked as a cleaner at a local school so that Yousaf and some of his ten siblings would have an opportunity to be educated. In the evenings, he would help his mother clean the school where he was a student during the day. Despite their deep poverty, Yousaf gratefully recounts how his family’s needs...
info_outlineVOMRadio
“We are Christians. [Persecution] can happen any time.” As the pastor of an illegal house church in China, “Brother Enfu” knows the truth of that statement. Listen as he shares why and how he prepares his wife and children for the day he may eventually be arrested and sent to prison. He will give an update on Christian persecution in China and how believers there are responding faithfully despite increasing government pressure. Enfu will explain how a new law prohibits foreigners in China from talking about their faith—even in private settings. He’ll also share how the CCP’s...
info_outlineBrother Bayram came to the United States from Türkiye (Turkey) to further his education. He started a business, where one day a Christian customer gave Bayram a New Testament. He began to read it, the beginning of a path that would lead him to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and the Son of God.
It was a costly decision: his devout Muslim wife divorced him and wouldn’t allow him to see their daughter. His brother had Bayram committed to a mental hospital, thinking anyone who would leave Islam was mentally unstable.
It has been a difficult road, but Bayram’s faith has only grown stronger as he has seen God work in his life and his country. Listen as he shares the story of his journey to Christ, and how his family pressured him to return to Islam and persecuted him for his Christian faith. He’ll also share stories of others still meeting Jesus in Türkiye.
Bayram will encourage and instruct listeners about how we—like the woman who gave him a New Testament—might help lead Muslims where we are toward Christ.
You can connect online with Brother Bayram and his ministry at www.albtci.org.
We’ll finish this conversation with Bayram next week on VOM Radio. Between now and then, you can hear David Byle tell his story of persecution in Türkiye. You may also be interested in hearing American Pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife, Norine, tell their story of imprisonment and persecution in Türkiye.
The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.