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TURKEY ... LEGALLY SPEAKING

We've had some encouraging developments occur in the capital city of Turkey -Ankara - recently.

• One of our workers was acquitted of all charges brought against himby the police related to the beginning of a church.

• The lawyers who were working on the case said the church is now aregistered entity. This is a "first" for modem Turkey.

• An application has been filed for free water and electricity for thechurch.

• Also, an application has been made for a graveyard since Christianscannot be buried in a Muslim cemetery.

• This legal registration means that the church can now apply for a plotof land upon which to build their building.

TRANSLATION TRUST REPORT

The year 2002 was a remarkable year! The new translation Bible was launchedin Turkey with 51,000 printed. Over 3000 Bibles were provided to the churches.More than 13,000 were exported to supply Turkish communities around theworld. At the request of Muslim Theological faculties, 746 copies were madeavailable to students. It is also available in pocket size and on CD Rom.

ADDITION!

"Umut" explained to one of our workers recently that he was not a Christian or aMuslim - just a fellow that loved his life. The thought that came to our workerwas that he would not become a Christian anytime soon, if ever! A short timelater, on the spur of the moment, Umut decided that he did want to be aChristian and that he wanted to be baptized that very day ... in the river. Thatnight, around 9 PM, eight men along with Umut climbed into a van and traveledone and one-half hours to the nearest river. After having some difficulty findinga spot that was deep enough, and having given his testimony concerning hisfaith and belief in Christ, he was baptized in the very cold water. With a deeperawareness that God is not only at work in Turkey (as a whole) but also inindividual lives, our worker was both encouraged and blessed with the events ofthat incredible night. They arrived back home at about 1:30 AM!

TURKEY - A CHECKERED HISTORY

The history of the Christian church actually begins in Turkey. The sevenchurches, spoken of in Revelation (2 and 3), are located in Turkey. The ApostlePaul was born in Tarsus, Turkey. Antioch is where the followers of Jesus werefirst called Christians. Thousands and thousands of Christians were persecutedand/or killed because of their faith during the Muslim conquests there. So,Turkey has gone from being nearly 100% Christian to being over 99% Muslim.

A Baptism in the Mediterrean Sea at Sel^uk (Ephesus)

'GROWTH" IN TURKEY

Mission organizations across the Christian world continue to be faced with themonumental task of evangelizing Turkey - still considered to be "the world'slargest unevangelized country" - and other Turkic-populated countries. Thebest estimate of the number of evangelical believers (who are from a Muslimbackground) in Turkey is approximately 3000. This number does not includeOrthodox believers and the many foreign workers.

A CULTURAL MOMENT

Ramadan, which occurred from part of November into December recently, is atime when most iMuslims fast for an entire month during the daylight hours.Some obvious exceptions are allowed: those with health problems, children andso forth. A typical day, as told by some of our workers during that period, mightbe interesting for you know about -- hearing it from their prospective.xvere axvakened by a dnm around 3:30 each morning. We noticed lights zvere beingturned on in the apartment building across the roadfivm us. It was the time for womento getupand prepare the special breakfast to enjoy before daivn, zvhich is zvhen the day offaststarts. People zvould go to their places ofzoork and school as normal, but there zoos aheaviness and irritability in the air that is difficult to explain. Most of the restaurantszvere empty, and it seemed that business in general was slozo at this time. At sundozon,zvhich zvas around 5:00 PM, people ran to the restaurants or their homes to devour ameal The month ended with the Feast of Candy zvhich zvas a time to visit, wear nezvclothes and giveout szveets."

"A & E" IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN

One of our worker-families in Turkey has a very imaginative three-year oldchild. He has his own version of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: ''God

said,'Stop! Don't eat those apples. Theyhave snake germs on them'."

TURKISH WORLD OUTREACH TODAY

The ciirrent makeup of our workers on the field includes nineteen men andnineteen women including sixteen married couples with twenty-sevendependent children, three single men, and three single women. Mirustrylocations include Germany, Australia, the USA and Turkey. Focus countriesinclude Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Iran, Iraq, Kazakstan,Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and otherlocations where there are large nxunbers of Turkic and related peoples. Ourministry began as Friends of Turkey in 1969 with the name being changed toTurkish World Outreach in 1996.

Ibu pnyer letter is published sod distribmed byTurkish World Outreach

SOS Fruitvale Ct, Grand Junction CO 81504-5768

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You are probably not 'Mying" of curiosity to know what the above numbers are'referring to! But, just in case you are. Til give a brief explanation. I will also giveyou a hint. They have nothing to do with the Colorado Powerball Lottery!Gambling is not my thing.

EIGHT (8)

We have already begun our eighth year in western Colorado with the Turkishmission. As you may remember, Turkish World Outreach began as Friends ofTurkey and continued with that name for twenty-seven years. The change tookplace because we wanted our name to better reflect the global nature of ouroutreach to Turks.

EIGHT ( 8 ) continued ...

Marti is preparing her classroom for her eighth year of teaching in one of theChristian schools here in Grand Junction. Her duties this year will be teachingthe first and second graders (a combined class of course). She has finally gottenback to her first choice of grade levels after teaching in all of the others levels ofelementary school for many years (public and private). School begins in earlyAugust.

TWENTY-FOUR (24 ) and THANKS

We will be starting our twenty-fourth year of full-time mission service soon. In1979, when we indicated our decision to leave home and "go", we were quiteserious about that decision; it was a permanent decision. So, here we are,twenty-four years later. You really believed us when we said that we wereserious about this, and we believed you when you agreed to support us in ourwork. Many of you have stayed with us all the way - praying for us andsupportingus financially. Forthis we are eternally grateful. Thank you.

FORTY-THREE (43)

We will be celebratingforth-three years of marriage soon - in September. If oneblinks one's eyes just so, forty or fifty years will pass. Marti and I have alwaystried to put Christ first in our lives, which means that our marriage has beenblessed by Him.

SIXTY-FIVE (65)

It won't be long now before I (Ron) will be experiencing my sixty-fifth birthday."Experiencing" is the correct word I think. It is my first time to be sixty-five! Itis the "mythical age" of retirement that big business has tried to thrust upon us.Some folks need to retire at age sixty, for many reasons that we won't go into.Some should not retire even at age seventy. I find myself in the middle of theseages and am convinced that the Lord is still using me effectively at TurkishWorld Outreach. Obviously, this could change "in a heartbeat", but so far, sogood!

ZAMBIAN UPDATE - GOOD NEWS!

Our last report to you concerning Zambia (in February) mentioned our concernthat the funds ($4500), for purchasing the structure that was to be used as achurch building, were being held by the bank ... saying "the check had notcleared"! I recently heard from the Christians in Mansa telling me that the fundswere finally released and that an alternate building had been purchased. Thatbuilding has been repaired and is now occupied by the congregation. Thank youfor praying concerning this matter. A special "thank you" to First ChristianChurch of Tarpon Springs, Florida for giving the entire amount for thebuilding purchase. Our prayer is that many lost Zambians will come to knowChrist as a result of this generosity. We are hoping for some photographseventually so that we can all actually "see" this building.

GOSPEL LETTER PROGRAM

The Gospel Letter program seems to be making a difference in Turkey. The newGospel Letter has, included with it, 15 - 20 different ways to ask for prayer,request a free Jesus Film video and/or request a free Turkish Bible or NewTestament. Folks can call a number, send an email or write a letter to make their

requests known. These numbers and addresses have been published severaltimes in local newspapers (as advertisements) within Turkey, but we have beentold that the volume of contacts has risen dramatically since we have includedthem with our Gospel Letter. We have nearly 400 volunteers across the U. S. A.sending out the letters to Turkey, and we would like it if that number could bedoubled. Please contact me if you are interested. <tworon@onlinecol.com>

SUMMER AND FALL TRAVELS FOR THE BAUMANNS

This has been one of the busiest summers ever for travel for most of the

Baumanns, and it will continue into the fall. Jeff, Robbie, Stephen and Katherinevisited us the first week of June. It was a wonderful time to "get to know" ourgrandchildren again; once or twicea year is not enough! Immediately after theirvisit ended, Marti and I spent two full weeks in Wales, Scotland and England.We have visited there several times in the last few years and will probably do soagain when the time is right (translated: can afford it!). We do really enjoy the U.K. Susan visited with us the middle two weeks of July. We had a great timeeating, shopping, visiting, sightseeing and eating some more. We have heardthat Andrew and Careyare hoping to come for a week in September or October.We can't wait! And, it is possiblethat Jeff and his family will be able to comeforanother short visit during the middle of September. Now, all we need to do isstart working on Russell to come out for a visit.

PRAYER - CONCERNS & PRAISES

• Praise that the fimds were released in Zambia making the buildingpurchase a reality.

• Pray for the new congregation in Mansa, Zambia that their "new"building will make a difference for the Kingdom in thatsmall city.

• Thankful praise that we have been able to see some of our familymembers this summer and prayer that the rest of the family will beable to visit soon.

• Prayer for Marti as she begins her eighth year of teaching in theChristian school here.

• Pray that the Gospel Letter program will continue to reach Turks forChrist.

• Pray that more Christians will volunteer to help with the GospelLetter mailing program.

• Thankful praise for the many years of financial support from ourfaithful supporters.

Uiisprayer letter ispublished anddistributed byTurkish World Outrea.ch

508 Fruitvale Ct, Grand Junction, CO 81504-5768