There are many places on the road to the Middle East that claim to be, and in many cases are, meeting places between east and west. There are few however that can truly act as a bridge between the continents of Europe and Asia. Turkey is one of those special countries.

Today Turkey is known as one of the hardest mission fields in Europe, if not the hardest. Less than 0.1% of the population would call themselves Christian.

And yet when we consider the spiritual atmosphere of the country today we have to do so with sadness and some confusion. During the first 1000 years following the life of Christ Turkey was the 'bible-belt' of the day! Each of the major Ecumenical Church Councils (which were a massive deal where bishops from around the known world came together to discuss the key issues of the time) were held in what is now Turkey. We've got to believe that what was once the hub and meeting place for the church worldwide will be so again.

Friends of 24-7 Prayer who live and work in Turkey write:

Many of the radical shifts in European culture over the last few decades have caused a sense of loss of the Grand Narrative of God.
In this season of culture transition, the church in Europe must hear God's heart.  There is no time like the present to sit before God listening for His strategies and partnering with Him in prayer and action.

We are beginning to see our partnership with God in prayer as the catalyst to see His Story revealed once again across this magnificent continent!!

Thay ask us to pray with them for Turkey:

Pray for God's Fire to bring fresh revival to the 3000 Turkish believers in a land of 77 million people.

Pray for God's Justice in the ongoing Malatya trial of the men accused of killing the 3 martyrs in May of 2007.

Pray for God's Spirit to flow in the Turkish government as they are major players in the world politically, culturally, and economically - especially as a bridge between East and West.

Pray for the youth of Turkey to be ignited to a relationship with Jesus as many are becoming disillusioned with the current religion of Islam.

Pray for families to be filled with love for each other, as emotional and physical abuse plagues many Turkish homes.

To join with Christians all over the world in praying for the prodigal continent of Europe visit the website 24-7prayer.eu where you can sign up to pray, for weekly newsletters and prayer resources. You might also like to read Ian Nicholson's article Restoring the Romance or watch our excellent European Prayer video.

If you've missed our earlier posts in the European Voices series you can catch up:

Euro Voices - Albania

Euro Voices - Bosnia

Euro Voices - Croatia

Euro Voices - Bulgaria

Euro Voices - Malta

Euro Voices - Hungary

Euro Voices - Czech Republic

Euro Voices - Finland

Euro Voices - Ireland

Euro Voices - Switzerland

Euro Voices - Portugal

Euro Voices - Greece