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Greetings from Grand Junction and Turkish WorldjOcrffeach. Ifyolr<Wink your eyes" a couple
of times you will find that six months (or six year^) have passed. Our l^t newsletter to you was
aroimd Christmas time, 1996; here we are now urtjie Summer of 1997j^peaking ofSummer, we
are happily expecting lots of visitors this season. Hehty and Hnda Welch, from KnoxviUe,
recently toured the state and visited with us for a couple of days. We had a great time together as
we shopped and "climbed" (huffing and puffing at about 10,000 feet). Our son Jeff, his wife
Robbie and our twin grandchildren - Stephen and Katherine - arrived from Georgia the same day
that the Welches left. The ten-day period that they were here with us was tremendous. Our son
Russell arrived last week for a two-week visit while his wife, Amy, is in France for some
University of Tennessee course-work in Archeology. She will be graduating soon. Susan, our
daughter, arrived here a couple of days ago and will have about two weeks here with us as she
enjoys her Summer off from teaching the fifth graders in Knoxville. Andrew, our fourth-bom,
completed his college language requirements this Summer by taking a mini-term (the second full
year) in Spanish. He is well into his junior year at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Andrew be here in Colorado for a week or so in August. We are exceedingly thankful to
have all of our immediate family members visit with us; what a blessing it continues to be.
ZAMBIAN REPORT
We have received two separate letters from our Zambian leaders within the past six months or so
outlining how the churches and believers (tiiat we worked with) are faring without missionaries
beingin residencewith them. (I can onlyspeal< of the Mumbwa District, becauseI haven't heard
a word about the rest of the coimtry as far as our churches are concemed.) The news is good!
The association of church leaders continues to meet somewhat regularly. Three buildings (we left
materials for three) are either imder construction or are completed. New members have been
attracted. On the "down side" transportation to and from conferences and meetings is still (and
always has been) a problem; this mles out attendance sometimes for those who live great
distances away. Toour knowledge, therehave beenno visits by troublemakers to the area. This
maybe true, quite frankly, becausethe Mumbwa churches are so remotely locatedand difficultto
reach. I now realize that remoteness is not necessarily a bad fliing! We have a great love for our
Zambian brothers and sisters, and we would love to visit with them someday if the Lord permits
it. Pleasecontinue to pray for these precious souls.
CENTRAL ASIA
Two of the staff missionaries at the Turkish World Outreach office here in Grand Junction
recently returned from a church-planting effort in the Central Asian city of Osh, located in the
country of Kyrgystan. They, along with a team of others (37 in all), were attempting to start a
new church in Osh. As to how to go about doing this, the decisionwas made to walk the streets -
praying and talking to people - hoping to be invited into their homes so theycould present Christ
to them. The team reports that fifteen people made the decision to follow Christ. Lessons were
begun also, teachingthem more about Jesus. Kyrgystanis just one of a group of Turkic nations in
the world that we, at Turkish World Outreach, are targeting for Christ. We need to remember
that there are at least 150 million Turks in the world, so the task before us is huge.
GOSPEL LETTER MAILING PROGRAM *
Someof you are participatingin our Gospel LettermaOing program. You are part of an exclusive
networkof nearly1100 volunteers across America who are mailing Gospel messages of Christ to
Turks in the world. Turks who respond have the opportunity to receivea copy of the JESLFS film
video and a New Testament (both in their language and both free). They can also request prayer
for personal problems that are occurringin their lives. A follow-up report that we have recently
compiled reveals that in the past three and one-halfyears 1,444 Turks have responded - they have
sent in their various requests. The Gospel Letter program is a wonderful way to be a missionary
at home. Please let me know if you wish to participate.
RECONCILIATION WALK
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Many of you may have heard of the Reconciliation Walk which is continuing in Turkey. The
"Walk" is a spiritual remembrance of the First Crusade. Participants are following the routes
taken by the Crusaders from Europe to the Holy Land which was completed inthe years 1096-
1099AD. Astatement is being distributed in local languages as they go, a portion of which
includes: "Nine hundred years age, our forefathers carried the name of Jesus Christ in battle
across the Middle East. Fueled by fear, greed and hatred, they betrayed the name of Christ by
conducting themselves ina manner contrary to His wishes and character... We wish to retrace
the footsteps of the Crusaders inapology for their deeds and... (we wish to demonstrate) the true
meaning of the Cross. We deeply regret the atrocities committed inthe name of Christ by our
predecessors... Where they were motivated by hatred and prejudice, we offer love and
brotherhood. Jesus theMessiah came togive life..." Participants inAe "Walk" arenot trying to
repent on the Crusaders' behalf. As we all know, no one can secure eternal forgiveness for those
who have passed on. It is however an attempt at reconciliation, which is a principle of Jesus
Christ
TURKISH BELIEVER'S CONFERENCE
Turkish Christians from across Americaare invited once a year to gather in Grand Junction for a
week-long period of: praying together, sharing testimonies, general fellowship and strategy-
planning sessions onhaw to reach other Turks for Christ. The group this year numbered about 28,
and they came from the geographic extremes ofAmerica; Oregon, Florida, Michigan, California
andsoforth. One young lady who attended with her brother (who is a Christian) hadbeen sent
to America recently bytheir parents tobring her brother "back to Islam". Her brother shared the
Gospel ofJesus with her, and she was baptized into Christ inthe swimming pool at the motel
while here. Praise the Lord!
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CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
Occasionally, especiaUy here lately, those of us in Colorado get the notion that we are at the
center of the universe! The publicity that we have received, relative to violent acts, is
undesirable. The student rioting atColorado University inBoulder is an example. The "big" frial
in Denver, as a result of the Oklahoma City bombing, is always with us. The murder of littie
JonBen^t (unsolved so far) is areal "black eye". The Colorado connections (there were many!) in
the Heaven's Gate mass suicide incident are embarrassing. The crash (accident, suicide or foul
play {?}) of the Air Force A-10 plane into the rugged mountainside of Gold Dust Peak (elevation -
13,365 feet) in the Rockies continues to be amystery. Lately the G-7 Summit conference of world
leaders has drawn the attention of the world to Denver; we are thankful that there was no
violence.
Fortunately we are not at the center of the universe. Fortunately (again) God is at the center of
everything. The violence and terrible deeds in the world must grieve Him greatly. Our religious
leaders must begin taking astand against Christian persecution in the world. (An example of this
is featured inthe July 12^ issue of WORLD magazine.) What must He think of His creation -
Man?" Fortunately (again) He is giving us a little more time to spread the Good News to every
part of His creation. We must continue to work hard, seizing every opportunity to tell all who
will listen that Christ isthe only way to eternal life with God, as told inHis Holy Book.
This newsletter is published by. Turkish World Outreach
508 Fruitvale Court, Grand Junction, CO 81504
(970) 434-1942 E-mail: tworon@onlinecol.com