Türkiye (MNN) — 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.
Istanbul (photo courtesy of
ONUR KURT via Unsplash)
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.
“That can foster a desire in teens to seek significance in unhealthy places, which can lead to extreme behaviors,” says Anthony.
Hopelessness is especially prevalent in economically strained areas. Many teenagers and young adults are also wrestling with deep questions about the meaning of life and their future.
“They’re diamonds waiting to be polished”; diamond (photo courtesy of Long Truong via Unsplash)
“The invisibility and the oftentimes the lack of attention and care can really exacerbate these kinds of problems,” he adds.
One solution, Anthony says, is to reconsider how the church views its youth, while also fostering healthy relationships between mature believers and teens. “That can really help a teen find their place and feel like they do belong,” Anthony says.
Pray that Turkish churches respond to the hopelessness of local youth with practical Gospel hope.
“Pray for creative solutions and building bridges to teens,” Anthony says.
Visit FMI to learn about the ways their empower indigenous church planters. Pray also for an FMI partner in Türkiye who leads a children’s outreach ministry in his community. He organizes summer camps and plans to host four camps for kids this year. Pray for the team’s protection and for transformed lives among the children.
Header photo: Young men standing in Istanbul, Türkiye (Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Guetar via Unsplash).
