Tuesday, May 15, 2007

She said in one sentence what 1000 missionaries in 1000 years could never do

Please take some time to read this Letter to the Global Church from The Protestant Church of Smyrna (PDF).
It is a long message, but I do urge you to read it and I also ask you to pray for our brothers and sisters in Turkey.


In an act that hit front pages in the largest newspapers in Turkey, Susanne Geske in a television interview expressed her forgiveness. She did not want revenge, she told reporters. “Oh God, forgive them for they know not what they do,” she said, wholeheartedly agreeing with the words of Christ on Calvary (Luke 23:34).
In a country where blood-for-blood revenge is as normal as breathing, many, many reports have come to the attention of the church of how this comment of Susanne Geske has changed lives. One columnist wrote of her comment, “She said in one sentence what 1000 missionaries in 1000 years could never do.”

To the Church in Smyrna (= Izmir)
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelations 2:10

Please visit the website of the Protestant Church of Izmir, Turkey.

5 comments:

John said...

Paul,

Thank you for posting this. Those of us who live in nations where persecution is non-existent have difficulty even imagining what life must be like for those who live with it daily. I personally struggle with how I am to respond. Blessings on you and the family of God there.

John

Anonymous said...

Ditto what John said.

I’m completely at a loss for words. Thank you, Paul, for posting this. Susanne Geske is a woman to be admired, as are all these missionary families serving in such extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

Carolanne said...

What an incredible testimony and also a challenge. I have no idea if I could have dealt with it in the same way.

Thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

Wow what a witness. We need to be woken out of our slumber. So many of our brothers and sisters are suffering.

Carol Douglas said...

Paul, I have not seen that story before now--it is unbelievable that it happened and that we don't hear it on the news, which is clearly too busy worrying about Paris Hilton's upcoming jail term.

I have passed it along to my Christian community. Pray this email has wings.