The young man had a front tooth smashed and replaced with a partial denture.
The young man had a front tooth smashed and replaced with a partial denture.
Dec. 22, 2022 | Turkey

16-Year-Old Beaten for Wearing a Cross

[168] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Attacked teen.

Türkiye (Turkey) hosts the largest number of refugees in the world, around 4 million, mainly from Syria and also from Iraq and Iran. Numerous churches in Türkiye minister to these refugees, one of which reported that a teenager from a family of Christian converts was recently assaulted. The 16-year-old boy was walking down a street wearing a cross necklace when some young Turkish men confronted him and insulted him for wearing the symbol of Christ’s death. They asked why he was wearing it, and when he responded, “Because I am a Christian,” they began beating him. The attackers split the boy’s lip and smashed one of his teeth into his gums. VOM helped the young man receive dental services to repair the damage.

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

Write your own prayer for Attacked teen

  • Father I pray for this young man that the enemy has come against him to discourage him, do help him to be bold for Godand be true to the trust you left him, thank for providing treatment for him, thou Father art a helper Carer and provider, strengthened his resilience that he will always be bold for you dear Lord, grant angelic protection for him,
    Joyce D - United Kingdom
  • The Lord before you, the Lord behind you, the Lord above you, the Lord beside you, ever with you, your shield and mighty fortress.
    Danae V - USA
  • Lord, thank you for the boldness of this young man. May this assault not deter him from witnessing for Jesus, but only build his faith and deepen his convictions. Encourage him and bless him, and may he grow to be a leader in your Kingdom. May many come to faith in Jesus Christ through his testimony.
    Jackie V - USA
  • Father God, please help all our brothers and sister in Turkey and Syria, Father please console them and give them a refreshing of the Holy Spirit. Give each one of them what they need to continue with their walk with you Father God. Give them the strength and courage to be able to fight the good fight. No weapon formed against them..in Jesus' name amen
    Irma M - USA
  • Our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, I pray for comfort, peace, and protection for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can take comfort that the Lord is working. He is in control and His Will will be done. We can only plant the seed, the Lord will reap the harvest. We will continue to pray. Stand firm, Jesus is coming soon!
    Susan R - USA
  • Holy Father, & now there has been a terrible earthquake in Turkey, leaving many homeless & injured. Look down in your mercy & bring many to Christ from this frightening experience. Bring help from around the world to reveal your salvation & provision. May this teen boy be safe, & your saints too. Give peace & protection to all who call out to you. Amen
    SM D - USA
  • Father God, I lift up my young brother in Christ in Turkey that was beaten for saying he was a Christian. Please strengthen this young man to remain strong in You and fill him with Your Spirit, courage, peace and joy and may he never turn his back on Jesus. Please provide a church and tools to keep him and his family grounded in You in Jesus name Amen
    Sarah H - USA
  • Dear Lord, please provide protection for this young boy. He does not deserve to be punished for his faith and representation of You. I pray he does not have to go through this again, that he may remain untouched and have You, Lord, by his side. Amen.
    Aidan D - USA
  • Lord, I thank you that the teen got the help that he needed with a new partial denture, and that he's OK. I pray that you would protect him and heal him completely physically, as well as emotionally. Let this boy"s faith only grow in the face of this persecution. Please protect all Christians in turkey. In Jesus name amen.
    Nancy G - USA
  • In the peaceful name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Jehovah Shalom, God of peace, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of attacked teen. We ask for provision, for a hedge of protection and angels direct from heaven to surround and minister to him. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Our Great God, thank for the testimony of this young man and that VOM could help him recover from the attack on him. I pray that You would stir the spirit of these men with doubt and regret so that they would desire peace with Christ. Amen.
    Joan B - USA
  • Father, this young boy boldly declared his allegiance to Jesus and for this reason was beaten and now knows the cost of his faith but please keep his heart soft toward his attackers and fill him with love and boldness to forgive them openly. Please protect him and his family and grant them peace and grace to continue seek You and grow in their faith.
    Forrest B - USA
  • Lord I praise You for the funds to repair the teens teeth and I pray Lord that You would be with him and comfort him as he heals. I pray Lord that You would give him peace and that as he grows You would help him to keep trusting You and leaning into Your wisdom. I pray Lord for Your plans for his life to unfold and for him to have a strength from You.
    Joy H - USA
  • Lord use this as a weapon against the enemy to further your fame in this area. Take this teen and build him up in boldness and security it you. Continue to give him an obedient heart. Grow a love for you that cannot be quenched and grows. Let his persecutors become proclaimers by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.
    Atacy U - USA
  • Our Father, help us to bear our struggles against those who oppose You. May our lives bring glory to You, and draw people out of darkness and into Your salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen
    Eli S - USA
  • In the glorious name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Jehovah, God Who protects, as brothers and sisters in Christ we praise You for faithfulness of attacked teen. We praise You he applies Your Word. We ask for provision, a hedge of protection, and angels direct from heaven to surround and minister to him. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Thank You for this young man and his desire to follow You publicly. I pray that this suffering would increase and strengthen his faith and that he would trust that You are worth it. May he continue to be discipled in his faith and I thank You for the believers who helped provide for his dental needs.
    Danielle H - USA
  • Father, thank You that the attack against this young man didn't result in more severe injuries. Thank You that he was able to receive dental services to repair the damage. Help him to fully recover from this traumatic incident and forgive his attackers. If he encounters them again, give him the courage and boldness to be unashamed of being a Christian.
    Patrick V - USA
  • Gracious Father God, please be with this young man. Strengthen his faith. May he understand following Jesus is difficult but those who suffer for His sake are and will be greatly blest by God. Every hair of his head is precious to You. Help his family also to not be discouraged. Thank You that VOM was able to help. May the attackers find repentance.
    Jean S - Canada
  • Heavenly Father, thank you for this young man and his courage and boldness in not being ashamed of the gospel. Please continue to heal, bless and encourage him in the faith. Please take all fear from him, help him to give it to you, and help him to grow strong in the Spirit.
    In Jesus,
    Amen
    Lis S - USA
  • Father, move in Turkey, I'm sure there may be resentment from all the refugees, perhaps this fuels their anger. I pray you move in these region. Strengthen your children, give wisdom to those who are offering aid. I pray for the people of Turkey; may their eyes be opened to the truth of your love for them. Anoint your ministers and stir your children.
    Polly C - USA
  • O Father in heaven please protect this young believer. May his faith grow stronger as he depends on you for protection. May only those who seek to know You and are open to hearing the gospel be able to see his cross. May others see his strength in Christ and praise you or leave him be. In Jesus name I thank you for answering this prayer for him amen
    Peggy A - USA
  • God, give Your people courage, and let them own You before men, knowing Christ will claim them before God. Keep them safe, and God, when they are hurt, help them to heal. Please let this be a memorial to this boy, about the time You helped him, and sent those to help him heal. Let his faith be strengthened because of it. Keep him safe. Amen.
    Kesse R - USA
  • Thank You for the courage of this young man. Deliver him from fear, and make him even bolder and more determined to live for You than he was before. May he be an encouragement to Turkish Christians. Bless these believers living in a hostile land, and empower and use Your Church to reach out to a lost world as they did during the first century.
    Toni D - USA
  • In the name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, Who creates all things new, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of this attacked teen. We ask for healing, a hedge of protection and angels direct from heaven to surround and minister to him. Amen.
    Gary F - USA
  • Father, thank you for this young Christian who is "not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." May this trial plant seeds of belief in these young Turkish men that they would trust Jesus.
    Lynne J - USA
  • Merciful Father, thank You for providing this young believer with the courage to stand in faith. Please provide healing for his physical, spiritual & emotional need; make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ jesus. Please let Your mercies provide him an answer for anyone who reproaches him as he trusts in Your word
    Julie C - USA
  • Father God, it is easy for cowards to attack the innocent. May they be convicted of their wickedness by Your Holy Spirit and the goodness of Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. Do not let them rest until they see their sin. Please heal this young believer and give him good friends in Jesus. May he and other believers in Turkey grow in faith.
    Kathy G - USA
  • Abba the hate toward you is taken on your sheep because they do not fight back. Father of mercy cause these Turkish rebel to never be able to rest and their conscience trouble them for their brutality. Point them to our Saviour hanging on the cross and suffer excruciating pain for their sins so they may repent. God we need all these to come to Jesus
    BENEDICTA N - USA
  • Dear Lord, You have not promised us a life without and issues, but You instead promised that we would have trials and tribulations. However, people are not against us, but against You. Please help us to preach Your gospel and bring people closer to You so that You may make them righteous and want to give You all the praise, honor and glory! Amen!!!
    Donna H - USA
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