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Mert Ozat
Hello,
My name is Mert Ozat. I was born on 01.01.1993 in Osmaniye, Turkey. You may consider this message as either a request for help or a plea for prayers. If it doesn't bother you, I would like to briefly share who I am and why I am seeking help/prayers from you.
I was born in a Muslim country, in a Muslim family. My childhood was marked by abuse and a series of sinful events. I longed for purification, redemption, and the ability to be true to myself. I sought God, and He showed me a path.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any person is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
After encountering God, my perspective on the world changed. I felt much stronger, empowered by God's strength to overcome anything. The city I lived in was filled with conservative Muslim people, and there was no Christian community. I prayed to God, and He introduced me to a family who came from Mexico to Turkey to serve God. They gave me my first Bible and taught me valuable insights to walk with God.
I prayed to God to provide me with a church to join, and I got accepted into a university in Iskenderun. Iskenderun was a multicultural city with many churches, and I became part of a community called the Bible Church. I started serving God and the church with them. It was a small community of elderly people, and I accompanied them on the guitar during worship. Playing hymns and accompanying people in worship was a wonderful feeling.
One day, during worship, the elderly community was overwhelmed by the spirit of God. We continued playing the hymn multiple times to witness their worship with the Holy Spirit. Our leader warned us, using the excuse of a church management meeting, and asked us to finish the hymn. I took my guitar and left the church that day, believing that serving God was more important than any administrative activities. Unfortunately, this decision negatively impacted my faith life.
After distancing myself from the church, I lost myself in the darkness of the world. When my faithful brothers and sisters wanted me to return, it was too late to undo some things. I lost my faith and drifted away from God. Since that day, nothing has been as beautiful and easy as it used to be. After graduating from university, I returned to Osmaniye, a small city without a church.
Throughout this process, I faced pressure and humiliation from my family, friends, and other people I knew. But I was aware of the challenges, just like Peter, James, and John. Living with Jesus without being separated from Him was my greatest desire.
To summarize my story in broad strokes, today, living as a Christian in Turkey, especially in a small and conservative city, is quite challenging. I feel the pressure of this in my work life, social life, and every aspect of my life. I want to live a faithful life and be with people like me who believe in Jesus Christ. I want to feel the faith and strength as I did before, walking with God once again.
I ask for your prayers or guidance on a path where I can serve God. God is love, and I greet you, dear fellow believers, with love. I hope for the day when we can raise our hands together to thank God. Best wishes.