Masked gunmen connected to ISIS entered a Turkish church and killed a man inside.
Masked gunmen connected to ISIS entered a Turkish church and killed a man inside.
Apr. 11, 2024 | Turkey

Pastor's Name on ISIS Hit List

[189] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Turkish believers.

On Sunday, January 28, two masked gunmen entered a Catholic church in Istanbul during a service and randomly shot and killed a 52-year-old man. The self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility. Turkish police quickly arrested two suspects with ties to ISIS and later arrested 25 more after raiding numerous locations. Afterwards, police contacted a pastor of a rapidly growing church in another part of Turkiye and told him that his name was on an ISIS hit list. “This pastor has been threatened by ultra-nationalist Turks many times, but this was the first time that he sounded worried,” said a front-line worker. Turkish police offered to protect the pastor and encouraged him to set up security cameras. “We can’t pray for the elimination of persecution,” said the front-worker, “but we can pray that believers will be strengthened and recognize these things are happening because of the growth of the church.”

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Turkey and learn how to pray.

Write your own prayer for Turkish believers

  • Lord I ask for protection and safety for the Turkish believers and this pastor. I pray for wisdom and safety as they go about their daily lives. I pray for them to be encouraging one another and holding fast together. I pray for Your peace to wipe away their fears and hold them steady in the midst of toil. I pray for police to have eyes to see and save
    Joy H - USA
  • Father, grant believers in Turkiye special favor with the police to catch all ISIS terrorists and punish them. By Holy Spirit, set hedges of protection around all pastors and believers. Deliver them from all that is evil and conceal your people under the Shadow of your Wings. Cause evil doers to fight with each other and never recognize your people. Am
    Danae V - USA
  • Father, please protect this pastor and give him peace as he trusts in you. Please thwart the violence of ISIS and turn the hearts of terrorists to you. Give them eyes to see that Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life. Please encourage and strengthen believers in Turkey to remain faithful to you and to boldly share their faith. Bless them.
    Laurie P - USA
  • Thank You, Holy Father, for these Turkish believers. May the word of the Lord run swiftly and be glorified in Turkey through them. Please deliver them from unreasonable and wicked men. Thank You for Your faithfulness to establish and guard them from the evil one. May the Lord direct their hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ
    Julie C - USA
  • Father God, I ask that you will protect this pastor in Turkye and other Christian leaders like him who are in danger. I pray that you will comfort those mourning the killing of their brother in Christ. Please strengthen your church and help them stand strong for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I thank you that Turkish police are doing justice. In Jesus' na
    Julia F - USA
  • In the precious name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Jehovah El Roi, God Who sees, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of Turkish believers. We praise You that You see. We ask for a hedge of protection and angels direct from heaven to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Dear LORD we pray for the church in Istanbul and the family that mourns the death of their loved one, protect the Pastor encourage and sustain him LORD with endurance that many ISIS will be saved . Amen.
    Nancy W - USA
  • Lord protect and defend my Turkish brothers and sisters for not all have faith. Guard their ways and keep them in perfect peace as their minds are steadfast upon You. Bring glory to Your Name, Jesus as they walk humbly but with the Holy Spirits power. Bear much fruit through their witness. Keep them steadfast in faith & love. Bind their wounds.
    Atacy U - USA
  • Almighty God, I pray you will increase the faith of believers in Turkey in You. Help them to be confident of your provisions even tho evils will rage around them. Fill them with Your peace and assurance that your eyes are upon them. Grant them grace to be bold in proclaiming the name of Jesus. In His precious name I pray. PS US
    Patricia S - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for believers in Turkey: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. May they stay strong & united in faith, hope & love, committed to Christ. I praise You for their faith! Bring many around them, including ISIS adherents, to repentance. And so may all Turkey be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

    Lisa D - USA
  • Father, I ask YOU to protect YOUR children, my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus who are in Turkey. YOU are their shield and strong tower, hide them beneath YOUR wing. Shine YOUR favor upon them and prosper them as they serve you faithfully. Thank YOU Father for answering the prayers of YOUR children. Amen
    Julie S - USA
  • Dear Heavenly Father I amen these previous prayers. Thank you that Turkish police officers wish to do righteously. I pray Your protection over the pastor; Your gates & Your angels posted at the four corners of his church. If persecution comes, may the power of God be evident here. Reveal Yourself; dreams & visions to IS agents to save them. IJ Holy NA.
    Johnathan K - USA
  • Father, help this pastor and his church as they continue to be a light despite the persecution. Help them to have boldness in their witness and to recognize your loving guidance even as they suffer.
    Ross J - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for believers in Turkey: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. May they stay strong & united in faith, hope & love, committed to Christ. I praise You for their faith! Bring many around them, including ISIS adherents, to repentance. And so may all Turkey be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

    Lisa D - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for believers in Turkey: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. May they stay strong & united in faith, hope & love, committed to Christ. I praise You for their faith! Bring more around them, including ISIS adherents, to repentance. And so may all Turkey be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

    Lisa D - USA
  • Abba Father please weaken the ISISsoften their hearts, may they see visions of You God and look ito Your eyes to know who You are & the unconditional love you offer.Revel to them Your death on the cross. Unless they understand your unconditional love it is difficult for them to yield to your loving grace. Forgive them God.Provide ways to find you
    BENEDICTA N - USA
  • Thank You for the Turkish police's concern. I pray for Your protection upon this pastor and for You to use this recent tragedy to lead others to Yourself. In Jesus Name, amen
    Debbie M - USA
  • Thank you Lord for the growth of the church in Turkey. Please protect this pastor from harm. Strengthen him and his family and all the church members as they continue to serve you. I pray angels around them and a bold witness for the Lord Jesus. Add numbers to their church in Jesus name I pray amen
    Nancy G - USA
  • Lord God, I pray for Turkish belivers to stand stong in the power of your might, to put on all your armor, to see the true battle that is going on. Be with the pastors to proclaim your word boldly. Let the attacks only serve to grow and stregthen your people. Encourage your people to live by faith, fully satisfied in you, even above mortal life.
    Rachel Albro H - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for believers in Turkey: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. May they stay strong & united in faith, hope & love, committed to Christ. I praise You for their faith! Bring many around them, including ISIS adherents, to repentance. And so may all Turkey be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
    Lisa D - USA
  • Lord, Thank You that we are more than conquerors in all of these things that are not supposed to stop us through they threaten our safety. We therefore pray that You will provide an unusual courage to these believers. Keep them from all harm & protect them from all unreasonable & wicked men. Cause The Gospel to penetrate the hearts of every opposer.
    Maureen E - USA
  • Father God, Please protect this targeted Pastor and his family from any violence. Thank You for the faith You have given them and for the growth of the church in Turkey. Please help Your people there to feel Your presence with them each day. Calm their fears and guide and comfort them. Strengthen their faith and courage. In Jesus' name, Amen
    Rena B - USA
  • Dear Jesus, please bless and protect our brothers and sisters in Türkiye. Help them as they continue to advance your kingdom there amidst the growing persecution and violence against them. Send your angels to keep them safe, and please soften the hearts of their persecutors so that they might also come to know your heart. Amen
    David B - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for believers in Turkey: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. May they stay strong & united in faith, hope & love, committed to Christ. I praise You for their faith! Bring many around them, including ISIS adherents, to repentance. And so may all Turkey be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
    Lisa D - USA
  • Heavenly Father, I give thanks the Turkish church is growing enough to catch the eyes of those who wish it harm. I pray You would protect each brother & sister physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I pray the Turkish church would continue to grow, and I pray that each person persecuting these believers would repent of their sins, and come to Jesus
    Curtis M - USA
  • Lord, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Turkey and ask that You would protect them from harm, strengthen their resolve, and encourage them to remain faithful amid persecution. We ask that You would thwart the plans of the enemy and that their attacks would have the opposite of their intended effect, that more people would be drawn to Christ.
    Tim S - USA
  • Dear God & Father, I pray for believers in Turkey: Protect, provide for, comfort, strengthen, encourage & guide them. May they stay strong & united in faith, hope & love, committed to Christ. I praise You for their faith! Bring more of those around them, including ISIS adherents, to repentance. And so may all Turkey be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

    Lisa D - USA
  • Dear Father in Heaven, please send Your warring angels to protect and hide this pastor from the aggressors. Bless all of the pastors in Turkey to continue their ministry. I thank You for the victorious churches of Turkey. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
    Teresa P - Korea, South
  • In the name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Jehovah Ori, Lord Our Light, as brothers and sisters in Christ we praise You for faithfulness of these Turkish Christians. We ask for Jesus, Light of the World, enlighten their lives, a hedge of protection, angels direct from heaven encamp around and minister to them. Amen.
    Gary F - USA
  • Lord, I pray that you would help the people in Turkey be safe and help the pastor not to be threatened. Help the faith of all these Christians to continue growing. Thank you Father. In Jesus' name, Amen. (Caleb, age 8)
    Hannah C - Ecuador
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