News from Turkey

EPIC/Gateway Newsletter from Turkey: March 12, 2010
Praise and thank the Lord for:

J. and E. had a successful speaking tour in the United States. They were gone for twenty-three days but were able to accomplish much during their visit. They had over forty meetings with supporters and churches and both preached/taught or presented together fifteen times during their stay. They also shared to gospel with two Muslims (AP Turk and AT Kurd) during their stay. Pray that they would both come to faith.
Highlights from the trip:

1. There was a revival in the hearts of many to serve their Lord and awaken from their slumber. Pray that this would be a lasting revival in their lives and would pour out into their churches as a whole.

2. There was a call for ESL teachers to come and serve in Sodom city, Eastern Turkey at a supporting church. The Lord called up many that night who were ready to leave all and teach immediately! This Sunday our first ESL teacher will arrive in Turkey from that church! He will teach for 3 months then another will come and take his place from the same church! This man “G.” left his girlfriend, home and work to serve the Lord in an unreached area. Pray for him and J. and E. as they prepare him for service, culture learning and spiritual combat. Pray for safety in his travels and peace for him and his family. What obedience to the Lord to leave all!

3. E. and J. taught on how to evangelize Muslims there were over 100 attendees at these lessons. Pray that those who joined the classes will take action, be bold and actively share their faith with Muslims in their areas.

4. E. and J. have been trying to raise funds to purchase a building that they can stay in and not get kicked out of. They also were asking many to help purchase a vehicle for ministry in the East and for Kenan’s taxi. There has been some good response and many promises. Please pray that those who said they would give would follow through.

5. E. and J. were blessed and encouraged more than those they visited could even know. We thank them all!

- New Church Plant Update: The new church plant in Yeni Bosna has met for the last 3 weeks now. Erl has been preaching through the book of I John. Those who have attended have been greatly encouraged. This is the first church plant in that area of Istanbul ever. Pray that both Erl and “M.” would be encouraged in their work for the Lord. Pray for protection of the small church and pray that the Lord would call many to Himself in the area of Yeni Bosna and grow His church both numerically and spiritually.

- Twitter Updates from “M.” from Yeni Bosna will begin this week. Please pray for his requests as “M.” and Erl are spearheading this work.

- Second Kurmanji Service to take place: Please pray as we have much preparation to do for this next service. Pray the Lord would guide us as we plan the worship, prayers and sermon.

For any written resources on praying for workers, evangelism to Muslims, Islam, apologetics, unreached peoples etc… please do not hesitate to ask and we will send you info.

Thank you for your prayers and support, J. Follow us on Twitter: Gatewayedu Join us on Facebook: Gateway Educational Website: www.gatewayeducation.org Check out the EPIC’s Website: www.epicinternational.org
New Donation Instructions and new giving address for Gateway Supporters:
New Donations can be made online by going to: http://www.epicinternational.org/designated_donation.html Please make sure you designate your giving to Jacob Pursley (Gateway) Or send checks snail-mail to: EPIC International 115 Woodland Way, Suite 120Canton, GA 30114 Please note or indicate on the check in the memo: PURSLEY or GATEWAY.

News from Mexico

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord! Our feet hit the ground running when we arrived back in Guadalajara. All the programs and activities are going well and we were very happy to see all the people involved and doing their part. There have been a few professions of faith since we came back and we are awaiting warmer weather for baptisms.

Praise the Lord!
Martha and I have been praying daily for the safety and future of our son, Bryan. We wrote you in our last letter he had been activated for deployment to Afghanistan. When we told our people in Mexico, they joined us in praying for him and many of them began to earnestly pray he would not have to go at all. Well, we are pleased to inform you that on February 17th he was told he will not be going now after all! We praise the Lord for answered prayer.

Missions Conference
In January, Living Word Baptist held their second missions conference. Our home missionaries, Hirving Sein Gonzalez to Oaxaca and Cesar Delgado Coronado to Tlaxcala, were with us. The people responded generously and promised by faith to give $18,000 to missions in 2010! In 2009, they met their goal of $12,500. Besides the two home missionaries mentioned above, they also support the Donovans in Asia and the Robertsons in Costa Rica.

Financial Goal
You may recall from our video the piece of property next door to Living Word Baptist. The church voted to begin to save up towards buying it. The price has come down to about $153,000 and the church already has $25,000 in the bank! Things are looking good! We covet your prayers for this need.

We continue to labor here where God has called us. Things are going well. The ladies' and children's programs, which are led by Martha, are doing good; the young people's groups are very active; discipleship classes are being carried out; and I am preaching the Gospel for our Lord Jesus with power and liberty. All of this is thanks to your support for which we are so grateful.

'Til Jesus Comes,
Lonnie C. Smith, Jr.

Update from Zurafa

Hey everyone!

It has been a while since my last report. Sorry about that. First, I want to thank all of you who have been praying for my trip here and for safety and so forth. I know many of those prayers have been answered in MANY ways! I also want to give thanks to God for everything He has done! I have seen God working here and in my life since I came here. Please continue to pray for my learning of the culture, language, and other related topics.

Right now I am working on a research paper. The topic is who Jesus is according to the Qur'an. Once I finish that part, I will follow up with a comparison of who Jesus is according to the Bible and then with J's help, how to implement that knowledge when witnessing to a Muslim. Going through the Qur'an a third time right now more slowly to catch everything and to make comparisons with other prophets mentioned in the Qur'an.

I have decided to remain in Turkey for another three months to study more Turkish and to help with a couple things that will be happening here. This coming month I will be involved with helping a college student learn what a M's life is like and the following month I hope to enrol in another month of language school. Shortly after I plan on returning home to attend university. While I am there (in Rochester), it is my plan to begin a new ministry among the Turks there, as there are about 20,000 of them living in Rochester. I will be holding classes to help teach how to effectively witness to Turkish Muslims and a lot about Islam itself. If you or anyone you know would like to participate or would be able or willing to help (like if you already do this somewhere or speak Turkish and live in Rochester) please contact me; Especially if you know a great deal about Islam. I realize that only five months of study leaves me greatly inadequate to teach on the subject as it is a very large and confounding subject.

I am happy to report that I have already been able to find the support of a man who is already doing this same work in NJ and said he would be willing to help in any way he can. I have also met people in many states and countries who work with Turks who said they would be willing to help me with any questions or ideas. Praise God for His provision!

Here is how you can pray specifically the work in Turkey:
· Pray that God would raise good godly leaders in His churches here.
· Pray for the work that will start in Rochester.
· Pray for much discernment for me as well as the other workers here for many decisions that need to be made.
· Pray that I will be accepted into the college I applied to and will get into the right pre-med classes.
· Pray that the Lord would open my mind to learn what He would have me to learn and to give me a humble and obedient Heart
· Please pray that God would reach His lost sheep here and bring them out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light.
· And always remember to pray for our brothers and sisters who are in prison and who are suffering. (Heb 13:3) Thanks for all the prayers everyone! They truly are a blessing! ____________________________________________________________

If you feel led to support the work here, please contact J of GES for more info on donating. You can email him at gatewayeducationalservices@hotmail.com You can now see more constant updates and pictures on my Facebook account: Zurafa Turk

-- It is well with my soul, Is it well with yours?

~Zurafa Turk

South O' Border

March 2010

Dear Friends in Christ,

In our early ministry in Monterrey two brothers were saved: Franciso (Kiko) and Alfonso Sanchez both were young men living in a section of the city called Colonia Moderna. Kiko married a lovely Christian girl named Lola. Soon after Kiko surrendered to full time service. His wife worked as a maid so here husband could study in our Bible College. He is now the pastor of Gethsemane B.C. in Colonia Madera and Director of our Bible College in Monterey.

His brother also finished Bible College and surrendered to be a missionary to the Tarahumara Indians in the mountains of Chihuahua. He has served faithfully there for many years. His oldest son Imer graduated from the Bible College in Cd. Mante and is now working with his father Alfonso among the Indians. They have three different congregations. Recently in a special service in Creer, over 140 people were in attendance with four adults saved.

The material for 70 DNBS has been ordered from "Mensaje de Vida" press for this year's project. This is enough material to reach over 10,000 boys and girls with the Gospel message. You can sponsor one Bible Club for just $50. We need your help in order to finance this project. We have to order the material by March in order to get it to the churches when the pastor's meet for the annual pastor's retreat the week after Easter Sunday. Postage is a real problem if we do not get this material on the buses when all the pastors meet.

Margie is recovering well from her surgery. The surgeon has released her. Further tests are to be done by a doctor of Oncology. We will not get the results of these tests until March 10. At that time a determination to have chemotherapy will be made. Please remember us in your prayers.

Beloved we thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and financial support. God continues to bless with souls and in each church they report an increase in attendance since the weather is much better.

Yours for souls in Mexico,
Lonnie and Margie