I had been in Turkey for a conference with 400 Christian leaders from scores of different nations and it was exciting to be part of something of such breadth and depth – especially so as we were gathered in Turkey. Turkey is a key nation in so many ways – the bridge between Europe and Asia, and between the old Christendom and Islam; and now, as an officially secular nation very much the bridge between modern secular Europe and the Islamic nations to the east. Turkey occupies a politically, militarily and socially strategic position in the world, and her people seem acutely conscious of their unique identity. So a conference in Turkey brought with it a greater frisson than has been my experience with similar gatherings in the UK.

There has been some debate on this blog about the existence and nature of apostolic ministry, but in Turkey I saw the clear evidence of the kind of gospel advance that apostles should surely generate. Both in that wonderful, infant church in Istanbul, and in the experiences of friends from around the world at the conference, the fruit of the gospel was apparent.
 
Turkey is a fascinating country, and Istanbul an extraordinary city. Pay it a visit if you possibly can – you won’t be disappointed, and it will probably get you thinking about mission and the church in new and helpful ways.