The People — Turk

Türkiye (Turkey), Percent Christian: .02%, Percent Evangelical: .02%

Turkey is the bridge between East and West, between the Oriental and Occidental. It is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures. It is the only secular republic with a population that is almost entirely Muslim. Turkey has a rich history, and is home to many sites of historical significance to Christians, such as the seven churches of Revelation, Antioch and Tarsus.

The Painting

2024, Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches

We Still Have Each Other portrays a couple who lost their home in the earthquake in eastern Turkey in 2023. That quake affected an estimated 14 million people and left some 1.5 million homeless. People often set up a tent or container on the property where their homes collapsed or became uninhabitable.

Many of the displaced people now live in small container-size homes while other live in tents. This couple lives in a tent near Antakya (the biblical Antioch). They lost everything, but they were grateful they still had each other. Even though the suffering in the earthquake area has been great, there have been reports of a move of God in the earthquake-striken area and an influx of people from the majority faith into the local church.