Learning Turkish Through Worship

Happy Sunday friends !! I have some exciting news to share about what worship has looked like in Turkey !!

My team leader gave each of my teammates a role for this season together. I was given the opportunity to step into worship. I’ve really enjoyed creating worship space for my teammates to encounter the Lord by always welcoming Him into spaces that we are in. 

My last team made a video about the important things they thought my new team needed to know about me. Amongst silly things, they shared that I feel closest to God during worship, so make space for it in the day. This moment made me smile as worship has always been a place that the Lord speaks to me and I feel His presence.

When we began our ministry in Turkey, it didn’t take long before our host asked us if anyone played any instruments. My team all pointed to me and told him that I play the guitar. I froze and tried denying it. From a young age, I enjoyed playing guitar but over time spent less time doing it. After many years I have held tightly to the few chords I know for the moments I pick it up and worship God. Rarely do I feel comfortable playing around others. The expectation I have for myself forces me to crumble and withhold ever playing outside of a shut door.

The body of believers here in the local church are few, which makes for a sweet intimate space for Sunday gatherings where they typically engage in musical worship through YouTube.

God often gives us opportunities to step in to serve His kingdom in ways that often are scary or make us uncomfortable. This was one of those moments for me. Despite that, I felt the Lord telling me to say yes to lead worship for the few weeks we are here. I asked my teammates to help me sing the English and provided the congregation the Turkish translation.

The first Sunday was sweet. I heard the echos of Turkish praises filling the room while we also echoed in English. The name of Jesus was filling the cavelike room.

While as special as that was, we often encountered challenges with the varying melodies among the two languages. I decided we would try to learn a song in Turkish. Through listening to the song and google translate, my team learned ‘Our God is an Awesome God’. This Sunday, we will be singing two more in Turkish- ‘More Love, More Power’ and ‘Lord, I Lift Your Name On High’.

Here is the link to listen to a Turkish worship song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZBNkySQ3I

I’ve seen God’s faithfulness through this ministry. My anxiety of playing in front of people has vanished and my excitement to sing the name of Jesus has increased. That is the power of Jesus, y’all. He is worthy of all the praise.

The church body has been so gracious while we learn. It only encourages me to create more spaces for believers to dwell in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The God that transcends all languages hears us & is with us in one spirit. 

It has been a gift to have a guitar this month in Turkey. It has been a gift to learn a little Turkish. 

Please pray for my brothers and sisters as we sing his praises loudly today! 

• For the ability to worship with an undistracted heart
• That their entire beings would be set on glorying God and sitting in His presence
• That their faith and trust in Jesus would be strengthened
• That they will be reminded of the heart of worship
• For joy and celebration to fill the room !! And that their voices would be lifted high !!

If you have any Easter worship favorites, comment them below or send me a message. Thanks y’all !!

Be well. Love well. Mags