“Me and My House” – When Whole Families Encounter God

With Tayfun and Sezer

Flight and a New Beginning

She was beaten and nearly killed—by her own husband, the father of her three children. The police refused to intervene in “family matters.” So Elif* took a radical step: she fled to Germany with her children, searching for love and freedom.

She found both in the community of our church—someone had invited her there. When Sezer, my wife, and I met Elif* in March 2024, we shared the message of Jesus with her. The Holy Spirit touched her so powerfully that she experienced God’s love in a profound way—and on the very same day, she gave her life to Jesus.

The Battle for Her Son

Her new faith was soon tested. Her son longed for freedom too—but in the wrong places. He fell in with the wrong friends, got involved with drugs, and became violent toward his mother while under the influence. We prayed for him. Soon after, he chose to enter rehab. Today, he is free from addiction and will begin an apprenticeship this summer.

Three months ago, the Holy Spirit also touched Elif*’s daughter, Maha*, and she entrusted her life to Jesus as well. On May 18, 2025, Elif* was baptized. Her story is one of the many miracles the Lord has worked in our lives in recent months.

God’s Timing for Another Turkish Family

Another Turkish family had been praying for mature Christians to guide them in faith. God sent them Sezer and me. The couple had serious relational struggles, but since we began meeting regularly, they have experienced God’s blessing anew.

They know many other Turks, and we want to equip them to share the Gospel. A year ago, we gave Nadir* a Turkish Bible, translated by Global Nomads. Through it, he came to faith—and passed the Bible on to Pinar*.

Pinar* is married for the second time and belongs to a very strict Islamic sect. Her family pressures her to be a “good” Muslim wife. Yet she dared to read the Bible and discovered God’s love. She had previously sought contact with spirits, but yesterday we visited her, she repented, and invited Jesus into her life.

In Turkey: Seeds Begin to Sprout

God’s work is not limited to Germany. Sezer and I are currently in the village of her family in Turkey. We prayed for revival and took prayer walks. People in these villages are often very resistant to the Gospel, and even Sezer’s family initially felt uncomfortable with our sharing of it.

But God worked through something that began five years earlier: a relative, Malik*, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and received no help from the Muslim community, asked us to bring him medication from Germany. We prayed for him and provided everything he needed. He then told everyone how Christians had helped him.

A few days ago, we visited him again with his son. We prayed for two hours. Both were deeply touched by the Holy Spirit and gave their lives to Jesus. 

God Brings Growth Despite Resistance

We now meet regularly with all four families (including online with Malik*) to live out discipleship together. No matter how hard the soil may seem, the harvest is ready.