Thursday, December 23
Turkey
Muslims. Christians. Is there common ground? We are reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. The question is still the same: Who is my neighbor?
A good Muslim must keep the scales balanced in favor of good deeds to secure a place in paradise. For several years we have known Ali, an ambitious man who built two large clinics that served the poorest of the poor. Then Ali went bankrupt. It was clear he needed a friend.“Indeed, I need a friend,” Ali confided. We became Ali’s friends. We thank God a genuine friendship grew between us. In the midst of trial Ali found peace and the presence of God.
—Ben and Verna King are a retired couple living in Turkey.
Cyprus
Though Protestant Cypriots are a small minority, the island of Cyprus is often the site of leadership and training conferences of the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC). FMEEC is an association of churches with a reformed heritage — Presbyterian, Congregational, Reformed, Lutheran—as well as Episcopal and Methodist, in North Africa, the Nile Valley, the Holy Land, the Levant, the Gulf states, Iraq, and Iran. This important regional partner, led by Mrs. Rosangela Jarjour, general secretary, emphasizes leadership development, Christian unity, and service. FMEEC — together with the Catholic churches, the Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox — constitute the four families of churches that make up the Middle East Council of Churches for a shared ecumenical witness in the Middle East.
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) People in Mission
Mission Volunteers, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): The Rev. Arthur Beals, regional liaison, Albania, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and the Balkans, Sonia Beals, team ministry
Partners/Ministries - Turkey
Amerikan Bord Hayeti (UCC/PCUSA American Board)
Evangelical Alliance of Turkey
Besiktas Turkey Protestant Church: EnginYilidrim, pastor
International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES)
Hasat Kilise Hizmetleri (Harvest Church Seminars)
Interparish Immigrant Ministry Program, Istanbul
Jinishian Memorial Program
Turkish Evangelical Church of Antalya (Antalya Bible Church)
Turkish Protestant Fellowship (Turkish Protestant Church)
Union Church of Istanbul: Rev. Benjamin van Rensburg, pastor
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Partners/Ministries - Cyprus
The Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches: Mrs. Roseangela Jarjour, general secretary
The Episcopal Church, Diocese of Cyprus
PC(USA) Agencies' Staff
Ashley Winn, PILP
Jung Winner, GAMC
Jackie Wizner, BOP
Prayer
Loving God, help us to find the common ground to live as your witnesses. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 18:1–20, 147:12–20 and Ps. 126, 62
Isa. 33:17–22
Rev. 22:6–11, 18–20; Luke 1:57–66
