On the evening of September 24, police in Bodrum, Turkey sealed the doors of the Bodrum Grace Church, reportedly on orders from the governor of Bodrum. Giving no reason for the closure, the police also confiscated all church signage.According to the pastor, Engin Duran, several people gathered at the church building on Sunday morning, including some tourists. Four police officers were there to prevent any service from taking place. Later that day, eighteen people met at the pastor's home. The next day, the pastor met with the governor who acknowledged that he had ordered the church closed and refused to rescind that order, saying that the church could take him to court. The closest church is in Ephesus, which is 3.5 hours away.
The church is uncertain what to do at this point, since they are not in the position to hire a lawyer. Even if they were to go to court, the church would remain closed for at least three months. The pastor is concerned that continuing to meet in his home would cause problems with the landlord.
Pray for wisdom for this church. Pray that the Gospel of Christ will not be hindered, but that the message will continue to spread in the midst of this adversity.
For more information on the challenges facing Christians in Turkey, click here.
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