TÜRKIYE: Foreign Christians Being Forced Out

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The Voice of the Martyrs

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🗓️ 22 February 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

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Summary

Dozens of foreign Christians have been quietly forced out of Türkiye in recent years.

After moving his family to Türkiye (formerly Turkey) in 2001, Jerry Mattix served in aid ministry and as a pastor. Last month he was told he is no longer allowed to enter the country—even for short visits.

Jerry and his wife grew up in missionary families with hearts for missions. During his first semester in Bible school, God grabbed Jerry’s heart for the Kurdish people in Türkiye, one of the largest unreached people groups in the world.

Listen to hear how Jerry and his wife started ministry together in Türkiye, and the story of Jerry’s first expulsion from the country in 2013, when he was labeled a “threat to national security.” Türkiye was founded as a secular republic, but in recent years government leaders have grown more open about favoring Islam. Jerry fought his first expulsion in court, and judges ruled in his favor, allowing him to reenter the country in 2016—but not to live there. Jerry and his family planted new roots in North Cyprus. They have seen the Lord’s hand at work despite their family’s upheaval.

Following the massive earthquake on February 6^th, 2023, Jerry made repeated trips to Türkiye to partner with local pastors and lead international Christians in to serve in relief work.

Listen as Jerry explains the government’s decision to remove foreign Christians from Türkiye and hear how the local church has “grown legs” to carry forward the ministry as foreign workers are being forced out of the country. “We’re not praying for peace and prosperity, or for Christian persecution;” Jerry says, “We are praying for the kingdom of Christ to grow and thrive—whatever it takes.”

Pray for Jerry and other foreign Christians who have been kicked out of Türkiye and for believers in Türkiye to continue in the ministry God has called them to. Listen to more stories from Türkiye on VOM Radio with Joy Subasiguller, Andrew Brunson, and David Byle.

The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving free access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We look across to Iran and as bleak as it looks, you know, on the political side spiritually,
0:06.0	boy, that place is like heaven on earth.
0:08.2	What God is doing there.
0:09.6	It is remarkable and it's inspiring to hear the story of Iranians coming out and how in the midst of just how bleak it is,
0:18.2	politically speaking, in the religious oppression they suffer,
0:21.6	the gospel is thriving.
0:24.8	Jesus never promised his followers an easy path.
0:27.8	In fact, he told his disciples that the world would hate them.
0:31.4	He sent them out as sheep among wolves.
0:34.5	Jesus' words came true in the life of the apostles, and they're still coming true today in the lives of his followers around the world.
0:41.4	Join host Todd Nettleton as we hear their inspiring stories and learn how we can help.
0:46.2	Right now on the Voice of the Martyrs Radio Network.
0:48.9	Welcome again to The Voice of the Martyrs Radio.
0:50.9	My name is Todd Nettleton, and we are connected across the miles today on an
0:55.1	internet connection with Jerry Maddox. Jerry and his family moved to Turkey in 2001. He served there
1:02.3	as a Christian worker. He has been involved in aid ministry. He has also been a pastor in Turkey.
1:08.9	And just recently, he was told, sorry, Jerry, you're not allowed back into
1:13.9	Turkey. We're not going to allow you to enter the country. So we're going to talk about that,
1:17.9	as well as his ministry in Turkey over the years. Jerry, welcome to the Voice of the Martyrs Radio.
1:23.9	Thank you. It's a privilege to be with you. Well, we are excited to have this conversation.
1:28.8	And let's go back to the very beginning. How did God grab your heart for the nation of Turkey?
1:35.1	Turkey, I always tell people one of my favorite countries, one of my favorite places to visit in the
	...

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