Highlights from Turkey
By Karen Arkan
It’s not yet 4am and the Muslim call to prayer rings out in my hometown of Antalya, Turkey.
Every neighborhood in our city has at least one mosque, so all can hear the call to prayer. In some places, a drummer also pounds on his drum as he marches through the streets, making sure everyone wakes-up. He’s a real live human alarm clock.
It’s now the month of Ramadan. Muslims all over the world are fasting from sunrise (around 5:30 am) to sunset (around 8:30 pm) for 30 days. Ramadan 2022 in Turkey will begin in the evening of Saturday, April 2 and ends in the evening of Monday, May 2
The days are long and hot without food or water. So this early morning wake-up call is a chance to eat and drink before the daily fast begins.
The purpose of fasting during the month of Ramadan for Muslims is to develop the quality of righteousness. Not only should Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours, they are also supposed to be intentional about refraining from sinful deeds, thoughts and desires. At the same time, there should be an outward expression of good character such as generosity, patience, and purity. Fasting is meant to protect individuals from sin and ultimately the punishment of God.
There may be self-control and even good accomplished in a works-based religion, such as Islam, but there is no freedom.
Freedom is unique to Jesus. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5:1
The month of Ramadan always reminds me of this profound difference between Islam and Christianity. I cannot imagine putting only my own efforts into relating to God and trying to earn my salvation. And then to never really know if I’m close enough… adequate enough… deserving enough.
Nearly 40 years ago, during the month of Ramadan (or “Ramazan” in Turkish), my husband’s teenage mother gave birth to him in a garden all alone. For this reason, his grandmother named him Ramazan after the Muslim holy month of fasting.
Nineteen years after Ramazan came into the world during the Ramadan fast, a friend of his boldly shared the truth of the Gospel with him. Over time, Ramazan accepted the grace of Jesus, the forgiveness of his sins. And Ramazan was set free. His name, Ramazan, is now an indicator of his past, a reference to the place and family he was born into…the time before he entered into a place of freedom.
As Christians, it’s quite easy to take God’s grace for granted.
We forget how significantly different our Christian faith is.
We neglect our hope.
We disregard our freedom.
This Ramadan I’m thankful for the 4 am wake-up calls that serve as a reminder to me of all I have to be thankful for…particularly, the gift of the freedom that has set me free.
Source: FruitfulBlog.org, subscribe for free at ChurchGrowth.org
 | KAREN ARKAN and her husband Ramazan serve as pastors of Antalya Evangelical Churches, located in Antalya Turkey, a port city on the Mediterranean Sea which the Apostle Paul visited as described in Acts 14:25 (recorded as Attalia). They are still fundraising for the operational needs of their new church, which is the subject of the Fruitful post BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME. Please pray that the Lord will continue to bring generous partners to support Antalya Evangelical Churches. Donations may be sent to: People International USA, PO Box 3005, Vancouver, WA 98668-3005. In the Note area of the check write: Project Number 935. Contributions are USA tax-deductible and 100% will go toward the ministries of Antalya Evangelical Churches. |
