On February 6, local time, two 7.8-magnitude earthquakes hit Türkiye, and the tremors were felt in Asia, Europe, and Africa. According to Aljazeera on Thursday, nearly 42,000 persons died in the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes. Turkish authorities said 36,187 people have been killed in the country. The Syrian government and the United Nations stated more than 5,800 people have died in Syria. The number of dead and injured is expected to rise for some time to come.
The Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China, recently interviewed Rev. Apollos Zhang (pseudonym), a millennial Chinese missionary who has served in Türkiye for two years. Although his city, Istanbul, was unaffected by the earthquake, it was a great shock to him and the people around him.
He shared the disaster and rescue situation, Türkiye's geographical, political, and religious environment, his personal thinking and perception, and the pain and joy of cross-cultural missions.
The following is what he told from his point of view.
In fact, the number of victims is estimated at between 60,000 and 200,000, as many people were crushed under the building and have not been excavated. Rescue teams from Europe, America, and China, would arrive there soon.
Some local churches were also damaged. Many churches I know are involved in fundraising to help the people affected by the disaster and donating clothes. Because the ruins of the Church of Antioch, which is very important to the Christian community, are located there.
The vast majority of people in Türkiye are Muslims, most of whom are moderate Sunni Islam who have little influence on Christians. It is a country of laws, and the police will come to protect churches if some extremists threaten them.
As a missionary, mourning the loss of life and property caused by the earthquake, I think this is also an opportunity for Christians to spread the gospel to these helpless persons.
In terms of Türkiye's overall political and religious situation, I think this earthquake will also prevent Türkiye from becoming more Islamic, because the current president, who has been in power for 20 years, is leading the country to be an Islamic state. But this time the earthquake exposed many problems for the government, such as shoddy construction practices and the disappeared earthquake taxes levied since the last major earthquake in 1999. With a presidential election in June 2023, there will be a possibility of a presidential transition, resulting in a better social and religious environment.
Türkiye is a bridge between Europe and Asia. For example, Istanbul, partly in Europe and partly in Asia, is one of the few cities lying on two continents. Having a good business environment that is market-oriented and law-based, the country attracts many Muslims and other people. With the same belief, Muslim people prefer to do business there, as it is a bridge to go to Europe and America. In addition, during the Syrian war, this country received four million Syrian refugees, many of whom were also trying to reach Europe from Türkiye.
It is a very important place for global Christianity. The first ten Ecumenical Councils that laid the foundation of the Apostles' Creed were all held in present-day Türkiye. Istanbul was once the capital of the eastern Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine the Great, who named the city “Constantinople” after his name. And the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I’s residence is in Istanbul.
Knowing nothing about Turkish, I first learned the local language. With some people who can speak Chinese and Turkish helping us with the translation of Bible courses, I strive to establish local people as church leaders.
In the process of nurturing the local people, I find the locals are not as strict with punctuality and faithful to agreements as Europeans, Americans, and Chinese. They treat the appointments with others more casually. They said, "If Allah wants it, so be it." This means that everything is up to the God they believe in.
The challenges missionaries face are more complex and diverse. We get some support in life by doing domestic missionary work. Coming overseas, we have to spend some time earning money, for overseas missionaries need to make a living by themselves. We also try by every means to attend morning services and regular prayer meetings with other Chinese-speaking missionaries.
I believe God loves this land and pray that Turks can recover from the earthquake's devastation and that God can comfort and heal their broken hearts.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
当地时间2月6日，土耳其发生两次7.8级地震，震感遍及亚欧非多洲。当地时间2月14日，土耳其总统埃尔多安表示，截至目前，2月6日在土耳其发生的强震已造成该国35418人遇难，105505人受伤。未来一段时间内，可能遇难和受伤的人数或将进一步上升。
日前，中国一网络基督教报纸基督时报采访了一位在土耳其服事两年之久的80后传道人张亚波罗牧师（化名）。虽然他所在的城市是伊斯坦布尔，在这次地震中并未受到影响，但对他和周围的人内心的震动是很大的。
他从土耳其此次的受灾与救助情况，土耳其的地理、政治与宗教环境，他个人的思考与感悟，以及跨文化宣教的苦与乐等四个方面的提问进行了分享与回答。
以下是受访者此次分享的摘要：
其实有很多的人被压在建筑物的下面，还没有被挖掘出来，所以受难的人数估计是在6万到20万之间。欧美，包括中国在内的很多国家的救援队会在很快抵达这里进行救援。
从当地教会的受损情况来看，也是有教会遭到损坏的。我所认识的基督教会，很多参与到筹款中帮助受灾的群众，捐赠衣物。因为那地方有对于基督教群体非常重要的安提阿教会的遗址
关于土耳其的宗教环境，土耳其的绝大部分的人是穆斯林,但温和的逊尼派的穆斯林占绝大多数，对于基督教的影响并不大。它是一个法治的国家，可能会有一些极端分子会威胁教会，去报案时警察就会来保护教会。
作为宣教士，我觉得一方面为地震所造成的生命和财产的损失而哀恸，但是另外一方面，我认为这也是基督徒传福音的一次契机。因为在这样的一种状况下，人的心是看不到真实的依靠。
第二点就是从土耳其整体性的一种政治宗教的态势上来看，我觉得此次的地震也对于土耳其不断走向穆斯林化有阻挡的作用，因为现任的总统执政20年时间了，他一直希望把这个国家往穆斯林化去带领。但是这一次的地震爆发了，暴露了好多政府的问题。建筑物未严格执行建筑法规，而且滥用了自1999年上次大地震以来征收的巨额地震税。2023年6月份，土耳其就要举行总统大选，这次地震估计会让土耳其有总统更迭的一种可能性，也许社会和宗教环境会变得更加宽容一些。
土耳其是欧亚大陆的一个桥梁，比如伊斯塔布尔，一部分在欧洲，一部分在亚洲，是世界上唯一的一个横跨两大洲的一个城市。土耳其的法制、营商、市场化等各个方面也都是比较好的。所以很多穆斯林的人来到这里，因为有共同的信仰，而且这里比较好做经济，又可以去作为桥梁去欧洲、美洲，所以很多国家的人都来到这里。另外在叙利亚战争期间，这个国家就是接待了 400 万的叙利亚的难民，他们其中很多人也希望以土耳其为桥梁，能够去往欧洲。
还有一点：土耳其是基督教走向世界历程中非常重要的一个站点。奠定使徒信经基础的前十次的基督教的大公会议当时举办的地点都是在当今的土耳其境内。土耳其的伊斯坦布尔当时叫君士坦丁堡——罗马帝国的首都，君士坦丁大帝以他的名字命名了这个城市。还有现在的普世东正教的牧首也是在伊斯坦布尔。
因为我自己的母语是和土耳其的语言不通的。来到这边的时候先学习语言，然后这里有会讲中文土耳其语的人可以帮助我们去做这种圣经课程的翻译，另外努力建立本地人为教会负责人。
在实际牧养当地人的过程中，当地人不像欧美人和中国人很守时间和约定，他们会比较随意对待与人的约定。他们说，如果安拉愿意，那就怎么样，意思就是所有的一切都是在他们所信仰的神的主宰里面生活。
宣教士所面临的挑战是更加复杂和多元。因为在国内做拓展性的服事，基本上生活会有一些支持。但来到海外，我发现海外宣教士常常都是需要自立的，他们需要拿出一些时间来去赚钱、谋生。我们也会想办法和其他说中文的宣教士一起做早上的灵修和固定的祷告会。
相信上帝爱这片土地，希望土耳其能够早日从地震的伤痛中走出来，这里的百姓受伤的心灵能够尽快的得到上帝的安慰和医治。
专访｜土耳其一位80后华人宣教士谈大地震后的思考与感悟
On February 6, local time, two 7.8-magnitude earthquakes hit Türkiye, and the tremors were felt in Asia, Europe, and Africa. According to Aljazeera on Thursday, nearly 42,000 persons died in the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes. Turkish authorities said 36,187 people have been killed in the country. The Syrian government and the United Nations stated more than 5,800 people have died in Syria. The number of dead and injured is expected to rise for some time to come.
The Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China, recently interviewed Rev. Apollos Zhang (pseudonym), a millennial Chinese missionary who has served in Türkiye for two years. Although his city, Istanbul, was unaffected by the earthquake, it was a great shock to him and the people around him.
He shared the disaster and rescue situation, Türkiye's geographical, political, and religious environment, his personal thinking and perception, and the pain and joy of cross-cultural missions.
The following is what he told from his point of view.
In fact, the number of victims is estimated at between 60,000 and 200,000, as many people were crushed under the building and have not been excavated. Rescue teams from Europe, America, and China, would arrive there soon.
Some local churches were also damaged. Many churches I know are involved in fundraising to help the people affected by the disaster and donating clothes. Because the ruins of the Church of Antioch, which is very important to the Christian community, are located there.
The vast majority of people in Türkiye are Muslims, most of whom are moderate Sunni Islam who have little influence on Christians. It is a country of laws, and the police will come to protect churches if some extremists threaten them.
As a missionary, mourning the loss of life and property caused by the earthquake, I think this is also an opportunity for Christians to spread the gospel to these helpless persons.
In terms of Türkiye's overall political and religious situation, I think this earthquake will also prevent Türkiye from becoming more Islamic, because the current president, who has been in power for 20 years, is leading the country to be an Islamic state. But this time the earthquake exposed many problems for the government, such as shoddy construction practices and the disappeared earthquake taxes levied since the last major earthquake in 1999. With a presidential election in June 2023, there will be a possibility of a presidential transition, resulting in a better social and religious environment.
Türkiye is a bridge between Europe and Asia. For example, Istanbul, partly in Europe and partly in Asia, is one of the few cities lying on two continents. Having a good business environment that is market-oriented and law-based, the country attracts many Muslims and other people. With the same belief, Muslim people prefer to do business there, as it is a bridge to go to Europe and America. In addition, during the Syrian war, this country received four million Syrian refugees, many of whom were also trying to reach Europe from Türkiye.
It is a very important place for global Christianity. The first ten Ecumenical Councils that laid the foundation of the Apostles' Creed were all held in present-day Türkiye. Istanbul was once the capital of the eastern Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine the Great, who named the city “Constantinople” after his name. And the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I’s residence is in Istanbul.
Knowing nothing about Turkish, I first learned the local language. With some people who can speak Chinese and Turkish helping us with the translation of Bible courses, I strive to establish local people as church leaders.
In the process of nurturing the local people, I find the locals are not as strict with punctuality and faithful to agreements as Europeans, Americans, and Chinese. They treat the appointments with others more casually. They said, "If Allah wants it, so be it." This means that everything is up to the God they believe in.
The challenges missionaries face are more complex and diverse. We get some support in life by doing domestic missionary work. Coming overseas, we have to spend some time earning money, for overseas missionaries need to make a living by themselves. We also try by every means to attend morning services and regular prayer meetings with other Chinese-speaking missionaries.
I believe God loves this land and pray that Turks can recover from the earthquake's devastation and that God can comfort and heal their broken hearts.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Chinese Missionary Says He Is Also 'Shaken' After Earthquake in Türkiye
