Baptism in a Turkish Hotel Pool Surprises All

Seven years ago, a Turkish man named Yousef was tormented by demons. After recently accepting Jesus into his life, he was delivered from his tormentors and he wanted to be baptized. The Lord truly had touched his heart in a great way. One day while driving with a Turkish pastor, they stopped to eat at a hotel restaurant. The pastor saw a pool behind the hotel and it came to his mind that he could baptize Yousef there. But then he realized that it wouldn't be possible because lot of people were in and around the pool. In many Turkish churches, the common thing that can be heard is, "Don't let anybody see it happen." or "Don't let any people outside the church see the baptism." The pastor prayed while thinking these things and as they approached the pool he said to Yousef, "I suppose we couldn't do it here?" Yousef said, "Just a minute." and hurried to the reception of the hotel and asked, "Is it alright if I get baptized in your swimming pool? It will only take 5 minutes?" You can imagine how surprised the person at the reception desk must have been!

The next surprise came as Yousef emerged from the hotel with tens of people and the pastor thought they were coming to start a fight. They approached the pastor and said, "Mr. Priest, is it OK if we watch the baptism too?" Yousef had explained to them all what was happening and had invited them to come and watch.

The Lord had done this and Yousef was baptized in the pool with 20-30 Muslim spectators watching! The clapping after he came out of the water was more than the pastor had ever heard at anybody's baptism in his church and almost all of it being from unbelievers! Before they parted they were able to talk to the group of people at the baptism and distribute all the New Testaments that they had.

The Lord once again reminded Yousef and the pastor that He prepares everything and He will lift up his holy name. People need to simply give themselves to God and watch as He is the one who does everything.

Communities Around the World: First Stop the Silk Road.

The Silk Road is the land between China and Europe. Traders crossed back and forth over this land for thousands of years. Most of the people of the Silk Road are Muslims. However 70 years of Marxist propaganda in Central Asia left little formal knowledge of Islam, so for many people only the folk superstitions survived. Many Turks, for example, pride themselves on their liberal interpretation of Islam. Turkish aspirations to join the European Union have fostered the desire for more freedoms. Religious nationalism still results in the persecution of religious minorities, such as Christians. Iran opposes the West in the name of Islam, but disillusionment with the regime has led to great interest in other faiths, especially Christianity. Where there is war and poverty, Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise and strengthening. Iraq is on the verge of further unrest once the Americans completely pull out the end of 2011.

The Turks

The Turks were nomadic peoples who burst out of the steppes of Central Asia and astonished the world as they captured Baghdad and Constantinople. Now the languages and cultures of the Turks of Turkey, the Azeris of Azerbaijan, the Turkmen, the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgys and Uighurs of Northwest China are closely related, with a shared feeling of kinship.

The Persians

The Persians were the first to dominate this region. Darius' empire spread from the Aegean Sea to the Pamir Mountains. Persian language and culture and their early conversion to Islam impacted the lives of everyone under their influence. Today, the people of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan are proud of their Persian heritage, its poetry and its carpets.

The Muslim peoples of the Silk Road related themselves back to Ishmael, the son of Abraham. Many are disillusioned with hypocrisy and corruption. They are tired of poverty and hopelessness. There is a cry in their hearts for righteousness, peace and acceptance from God.

Here is an excellent resource for reading more about peace with God or Allah in your own language.