Dear Theophilus Archive: Sept. 2000

So where is Ma.tta now?

So where is Matta now? And what is our Tur.kish brother in Christ up to?

I have recently talked with Ma.tta. The first thing Matta said to me is: "I miss you and Emmanuel Church very much. You are my family in America." He also expresses his immense thanksgiving for our support and encouragement, enabling him to do missions in his home country.

After spending two weeks at home with his family in Kon.ya, Ma.tta went to his internet café/church in Antalya and shared the good news of how God blessed him so much during his stay in Philadelphia. He spoke to the recently converted Christians and other Muslims attending that church of the things that the good Lord had taught him. Matta shared about the Christian fellowship he learned from his Emmanuel family, and the confirmation for the Lord's calling to be a messenger of the Gospel of Christ to his own Tu.rkish people, even as the Apostle Paul of Tarsus had done almost two thousand years ago.

Mat.ta shortly then met his ah-bu-neem (his spiritual father), Missionary Lee, to discuss his future ministry in T.urkey. Since they had succeeded in planting a church in Antalya, they felt that they had to move on to work in another city where there is no Christian witness. So, our brother Matta and Missionary Lee prayed, and they felt led by the Holy Spirit to go to Zo.ng.uldak.

As they had done previously in A.ntal.ya, Missionary Lee and Ma.tta have decided to open another internet café where they will provide free access to the internet, give out Christian books and Bibles, and have the opportunity to tell about the loving grace of Jesus Christ. They are currently working to build a church among the Tu.rkish people of Zo.ngul.dak.

Mat.ta asks for his Emmanuel family in Philadelphia to pray for his work in Zong.uldak. And he sends an invitation to help him by visiting him in Turkey or by supporting him from the United States. And he sends his greetings, saying: "Wa-a-a-s-s-u-u-u-up?!"

We miss you too, Matta, our brother in Christ.