Before I went to Turkey, I pictured what many people do — mosques, conservative religion, and strong cultural barriers to the Gospel. And all of that is true. But I also found something unexpected: a quiet hunger under the surface. I met young people asking real questions. I heard frustration with the government, distrust in religion, and a cry for something real. There’s a shift happening in Turkey, and I got to see it firsthand.

A Nation in Tension

Turkey is a Muslim nation. You see it, hear it, feel it. Mosques fill every neighborhood, and the call to prayer echoes from loudspeakers throughout the day. Banners with phrases like “There is no god but Allah” hang on buildings, sometimes intentionally positioned as statements of supremacy over any other faith. Islam is deeply woven into the national identity — but that identity is beginning to crack.

A local told me that five years ago, 90% of Turks identified as Muslim. Today, he says, it may be closer to 50%. That’s not necessarily because people are converting to Christianity — many are simply leaving religion altogether. Young people, in particular, are disillusioned with what they’ve seen. The economy is one of the most pressing concerns for citizens right now, as the cost of living and dramatically increased, and locals are working tirelessly to make ends meet. Many believe the government uses Islam as a tool to manipulate and control. “They say the poor will be rich in heaven,” one local said, “so they don’t have to help them here.”

Others are still devout Muslims. I spent two hours in a mosque with a kind man who passionately tried to convince us that Islam is true. But as we asked deeper questions — about the Quran, about history, about assurance of salvation — he didn’t have answers. He had passion, but not understanding. He had been taught what to believe, but not how to seek truth.

This is the tension in Turkey: a nation caught between deeply rooted religion, growing skepticism, and a tiny, faithful Christian presence holding out the light.

1 in 10,000

In Turkey, the odds of a local meeting a Christian in their lifetime are about 1 in 10,000.

Let that sink in.

I met a pastor and his wife serving in Turkey, and when I asked them how they ended up there, their answer shook me. They didn’t feel some intense “call” or spiritual lightning bolt moment. They were simply working at a church in America — one that already had a large staff — and they heard that statistic. They looked at each other and said, “Why don’t we just do what we’re doing here… but in Turkey?”

That’s it. That’s the reason they came.

And honestly, that might be one of the most convicting mission stories I’ve ever heard.

Yes, God does sometimes mark people for specific nations. I know people like that. I’ve even felt that myself in some places. But we can’t use “waiting to feel called” as an excuse for inaction. If God never specifically told you to stay — what if you’re supposed to go?

Obedience doesn’t always begin with passion. Sometimes it begins with willingness.

Mission Work in Secret

Turkey is a place where the word “missionary” can’t be used publicly. Many believers live under an alternate identity — working regular jobs while secretly sharing Jesus through relationships. Ministry here isn’t loud. It’s not flashy. It’s slow, intentional, and sometimes dangerous. And yet, it’s happening. Quietly, faithfully, the Church is growing — one disciple at a time.

And when someone does give their life to Jesus, it’s profound. I saw the way the church celebrated a single baptism like a national holiday. I heard of believers who can’t go back to their home countries, or who’ve lost jobs and family relationships for their faith. There is a cost to following Jesus here. And that’s what makes their faith so powerful.

What Makes Someone Ready?

One of the most impactful conversations I had in Turkey was about readiness for missions. The pastor and his wife shared three simple but profound questions they challenge every would-be missionary with:

1. Are you faithful?
   Are you walking in daily obedience where you are right now? Are you honoring God in the small things?
2. Are you qualified?
   Have you actually been equipped to do what you want to go out and do? Have you studied the Bible? Been discipled? Surrendered? Baptized? Sent out and commissioned by a body of believers?
3. Are you ready?
   Is this the right season? Or are there still things God is asking you to complete first?

This perspective wrecked me in the best way. It removed the hype and heroism around missions and brought it back to what it really is: obedience. Not emotion. Not escape. Not performance. Just obedience.

Missions May Not Look Like You Think

Being in Turkey also gave me a glimpse into how the Church functions in places of pressure and limitation. It reminded me that evangelism isn’t always about big crowds or open-air preaching. Sometimes it’s hospitality. A long conversation. Being a faithful friend. Living a life that witnesses even when your mouth has to stay shut.

And it reminded me that the Great Commission isn’t only for those who “feel called.” It’s for the whole Church. And maybe God is waiting for more of us to say yes — not out of emotional highs, but out of deep conviction that He’s worth following wherever He leads.

A Closing Thought

If the odds of meeting a Christian in Turkey are 1 in 10,000, and you are that one — what will you do with that opportunity?

If we only go where it’s easy, where we feel passionate, or where we feel gifted, we may miss the very places God is longing to send us. And if we wait for the perfect moment to go, we may never go at all.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…”
– Luke 10:2

Maybe it’s not about where you feel called. Maybe it’s about where there’s a need — and whether you’re willing to go.