(From Mission Network News, Turkey, mnnonline.org) – 92% of the Turkish public believes youth crime and violence are increasing. A recent school shooting in Kahramanmaraş that killed eight students and a teacher has intensified these fears. Turkish believers acknowledge the problem and are praying to be effective in reaching local youth.
Patrick Anthony from FMI says teenagers often fall through the cracks of society. “They’re oftentimes caught in between childhood and adulthood, and oftentimes they’re kind of unseen, or invisible to the rest of the population,” Anthony says.
Yet God places special value on young people. One FMI partner in Türkiye who works with youth shared, as quoted by Anthony: “He likes to think of children in this teenage group as diamonds waiting to be polished,” Anthony adds.
Many teenagers are struggling with anxiety and depression, with some turning to smoking or alcohol at an early age to cope. Moreover, more than 2 million children in Türkiye are outside the formal education system, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and involvement in crime.
But, we know that there is ALWAYS hope in Jesus! To learn more about one of the efforts to reach the youth of Turkey, please click here
And, for a short prayer video about Turkey, here is one from our series, The Waiting World. Please click here.