Being a Christian in Türkiye

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yusufiyras

yusufiyras

New member
Aug 21, 2025
11
13
3
Hello everyone,
I would like to share something that happened at my school.
I am a respectful and calm student in all my classes. I treat my teachers politely and I do not cause any problems. When I first started 11th grade, I did not openly share that I am Christian. I know some may see this as wrong, but I live in Turkey, and being Christian here is genuinely very difficult.
Over time, I told a few close friends about my faith. Unfortunately, this information spread throughout the school. If I were atheist, it probably would not have attracted much attention, but being Christian somehow became a big issue.
Last week, I was absent from school. During that time, my mathematics teacher was talking to my closest friend and asked him if he prays (namaz). My friend said yes. Then the teacher asked whether I pray as well. My friend replied that I have a different belief. Someone from the class then said, “Yusuf is Christian.”
After that, the teacher seriously told my closest friend to stop being friends with me and to cut all contact with me. This deeply affected me, because in that teacher’s class I am one of the most well behaved and attentive students. In fact, during the first week of 11th grade, this same teacher told me that I am polite, respectful, and a good student.
My friend explained that we do not discuss religion, that I live my faith privately, that I am calm and kind to everyone. Despite this, the teacher said something shocking:
“You should actually be afraid of people like Yusuf.”
This experience showed me once again how difficult it is to be Christian in Turkey. No matter how good or respectful you are, prejudice can still appear.
I feel tired, but I believe this is a test allowed by Christ.
I have been studying Forex trading for about a year. I follow a single strategy with discipline, but I have not yet reached the freedom I seek not only financial freedom, but also the freedom to live my faith openly and peacefully.
I pray every day and I trust that Christ will guide me toward the life He has prepared for me.
Please keep me in your prayers.
May the Lord protect you and bless you all.
 
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yusufiyras said:
Hello everyone,
I would like to share something that happened at my school.
I am a respectful and calm student in all my classes. I treat my teachers politely and I do not cause any problems. When I first started 11th grade, I did not openly share that I am Christian. I know some may see this as wrong, but I live in Turkey, and being Christian here is genuinely very difficult.
Over time, I told a few close friends about my faith. Unfortunately, this information spread throughout the school. If I were atheist, it probably would not have attracted much attention, but being Christian somehow became a big issue.
Last week, I was absent from school. During that time, my mathematics teacher was talking to my closest friend and asked him if he prays (namaz). My friend said yes. Then the teacher asked whether I pray as well. My friend replied that I have a different belief. Someone from the class then said, “Yusuf is Christian.”
After that, the teacher seriously told my closest friend to stop being friends with me and to cut all contact with me. This deeply affected me, because in that teacher’s class I am one of the most well behaved and attentive students. In fact, during the first week of 11th grade, this same teacher told me that I am polite, respectful, and a good student.
My friend explained that we do not discuss religion, that I live my faith privately, that I am calm and kind to everyone. Despite this, the teacher said something shocking:
“You should actually be afraid of people like Yusuf.”
This experience showed me once again how difficult it is to be Christian in Turkey. No matter how good or respectful you are, prejudice can still appear.
I feel tired, but I believe this is a test allowed by Christ.
I have been studying Forex trading for about a year. I follow a single strategy with discipline, but I have not yet reached the freedom I seek not only financial freedom, but also the freedom to live my faith openly and peacefully.
I pray every day and I trust that Christ will guide me toward the life He has prepared for me.
Please keep me in your prayers.
May the Lord protect you and bless you all.
Click to expand...

I pray for persecuted Christians from time to time. I've not had Turkey specifically on my list. I'll add you to my list now.
 
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yusufiyras said:
Hello everyone,
I would like to share something that happened at my school.
I am a respectful and calm student in all my classes. I treat my teachers politely and I do not cause any problems. When I first started 11th grade, I did not openly share that I am Christian. I know some may see this as wrong, but I live in Turkey, and being Christian here is genuinely very difficult.
Over time, I told a few close friends about my faith. Unfortunately, this information spread throughout the school. If I were atheist, it probably would not have attracted much attention, but being Christian somehow became a big issue.
Last week, I was absent from school. During that time, my mathematics teacher was talking to my closest friend and asked him if he prays (namaz). My friend said yes. Then the teacher asked whether I pray as well. My friend replied that I have a different belief. Someone from the class then said, “Yusuf is Christian.”
After that, the teacher seriously told my closest friend to stop being friends with me and to cut all contact with me. This deeply affected me, because in that teacher’s class I am one of the most well behaved and attentive students. In fact, during the first week of 11th grade, this same teacher told me that I am polite, respectful, and a good student.
My friend explained that we do not discuss religion, that I live my faith privately, that I am calm and kind to everyone. Despite this, the teacher said something shocking:
“You should actually be afraid of people like Yusuf.”
This experience showed me once again how difficult it is to be Christian in Turkey. No matter how good or respectful you are, prejudice can still appear.
I feel tired, but I believe this is a test allowed by Christ.
I have been studying Forex trading for about a year. I follow a single strategy with discipline, but I have not yet reached the freedom I seek not only financial freedom, but also the freedom to live my faith openly and peacefully.
I pray every day and I trust that Christ will guide me toward the life He has prepared for me.
Please keep me in your prayers.
May the Lord protect you and bless you all.
Click to expand...

I was born in Albania during communism, which had a dictator and a state-sanctioned atheism.
When i was in kindergarten i said something offensive towards the dictator and the secret police came to my grandfather's house (where i was living) who was a World War 2 hero and told him "we respect you but please take care of your nephew".
Here i learned for the first time about how the world works.

Then the cold war ended, and churches (and mosques) were open again.
After i became a Christian and got baptized in a church, a lot of family members were making fun of me about going to church, but i ignored them pretty much all the time.

A lot of what people have done, has always had a reverse effect on me.
When communism kills the free spirit, i always want to follow the free spirit.
When my friends were doing drugs, i never wanted to do any drugs after seeing them passed out on the floor. "I don't want to be like that" - i said to myself.
When people and family told me "The church is for stupid people" i laughed at them and told them about their programming in communism.

Jesus Christ told his apostilles "Be wise like serpents and innocent like doves".
This means that there will be times in your life where you have to be more silent and there will be times where you will have to be more loud.
Pray and use the best judgment after prayer.

May God bless you in your life and give you the best path!
 
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yusufiyras said:
Hello everyone,
I would like to share something that happened at my school.
I am a respectful and calm student in all my classes. I treat my teachers politely and I do not cause any problems. When I first started 11th grade, I did not openly share that I am Christian. I know some may see this as wrong, but I live in Turkey, and being Christian here is genuinely very difficult.
Over time, I told a few close friends about my faith. Unfortunately, this information spread throughout the school. If I were atheist, it probably would not have attracted much attention, but being Christian somehow became a big issue.
Last week, I was absent from school. During that time, my mathematics teacher was talking to my closest friend and asked him if he prays (namaz). My friend said yes. Then the teacher asked whether I pray as well. My friend replied that I have a different belief. Someone from the class then said, “Yusuf is Christian.”
After that, the teacher seriously told my closest friend to stop being friends with me and to cut all contact with me. This deeply affected me, because in that teacher’s class I am one of the most well behaved and attentive students. In fact, during the first week of 11th grade, this same teacher told me that I am polite, respectful, and a good student.
My friend explained that we do not discuss religion, that I live my faith privately, that I am calm and kind to everyone. Despite this, the teacher said something shocking:
“You should actually be afraid of people like Yusuf.”
This experience showed me once again how difficult it is to be Christian in Turkey. No matter how good or respectful you are, prejudice can still appear.
I feel tired, but I believe this is a test allowed by Christ.
I have been studying Forex trading for about a year. I follow a single strategy with discipline, but I have not yet reached the freedom I seek not only financial freedom, but also the freedom to live my faith openly and peacefully.
I pray every day and I trust that Christ will guide me toward the life He has prepared for me.
Please keep me in your prayers.
May the Lord protect you and bless you all.
Click to expand...


Amen. May God keep you both safe and strong in your position. You have the spirit of the one who created everything living in you. You have a strong leader in you who can guide you through everything, lean on Him and trust in His ways. Preach boldly, the wise will listen. Pray God gives you the wisdom to know when to speak up in this way and when to bide your time. God knows why you're there and how He wishes you to act. I'll pray for His hand on your life, your strength and safety.
You're blessed and loved. God doesn't abandon anyone who loves His son and follows in His ways. Be ever blessed, in Jesus' name, amen!
 
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Standard said:
Amen. May God keep you both safe and strong in your position. You have the spirit of the one who created everything living in you. You have a strong leader in you who can guide you through everything, lean on Him and trust in His ways. Preach boldly, the wise will listen. Pray God gives you the wisdom to know when to speak up in this way and when to bide your time. God knows why you're there and how He wishes you to act. I'll pray for His hand on your life, your strength and safety.
You're blessed and loved. God doesn't abandon anyone who loves His son and follows in His ways. Be ever blessed, in Jesus' name, amen!
Click to expand...
Thank you all for your prayers.
Normally, I don’t remember experiencing this many negative events in my life, but over the past year I’ve been going through a really difficult mental period.

Now I understand something clearly: the life I dream of is very close.
Christ first tested me through greed and pride, and now I’m facing another test many people have become hostile toward me for no clear reason. Even though I’ve done nothing wrong, I’m being judged.

Still, I know this is also a test. If I respond with love, choose forgiveness, and don’t let bitterness take over, I believe I will pass it. And in the end, I will reach the life that Christ has prepared for me. I believe this with 100% certainty.

If there is anyone here who is also a day trader and would like to chat, I’d be happy to connect.

God bless you all.
We are truly children of God, and talking with you, my brothers and sisters, makes me very happy.
Thank you to everyone.
 
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Magenta said:
I thought you said it was because you are Christian in a Christian-hostile environment. The vast majority of Turks are Muslim.
Click to expand...
I don’t want to make anyone think that people here are against Turks. I am Turkish myself, and honestly, I have never seen a society as helpful as the Turkish people. We are very kind and supportive among ourselves problems usually start only when topics like religion, politics, or history come into the conversation.
 
yusufiyras said:
I don’t want to make anyone think that people here are against Turks. I am Turkish myself, and honestly, I have never seen a society as helpful as the Turkish people. We are very kind and supportive among ourselves problems usually start only when topics like religion, politics, or history come into the conversation.
Click to expand...

You also have very good coffee, halva and good food in general.
During a regular table discussion in Albania, people talk about religion, politics and history to properly enjoy our delights too in the coffee shops.
:LOL:
 
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yusufiyras said:
I don’t want to make anyone think that people here are against Turks. I am Turkish myself, and honestly,
I have never seen a society as helpful as the Turkish people. We are very kind and supportive among ourselves
problems usually start only when topics like religion, politics, or history come into the conversation.
Click to expand...
Yes, I understand you live in Turkey. It is largely Muslim. Islam and Christianity are at odds with each other.
In some Islamic dominated countries, Christians are openly persecuted and murdered.
 
yusufiyras said:
Thank you all for your prayers.
Normally, I don’t remember experiencing this many negative events in my life, but over the past year I’ve been going through a really difficult mental period.

Now I understand something clearly: the life I dream of is very close.
Christ first tested me through greed and pride, and now I’m facing another test many people have become hostile toward me for no clear reason. Even though I’ve done nothing wrong, I’m being judged.

Still, I know this is also a test. If I respond with love, choose forgiveness, and don’t let bitterness take over, I believe I will pass it. And in the end, I will reach the life that Christ has prepared for me. I believe this with 100% certainty.

If there is anyone here who is also a day trader and would like to chat, I’d be happy to connect.

God bless you all.
We are truly children of God, and talking with you, my brothers and sisters, makes me very happy.
Thank you to everyone.
Click to expand...


God may well be building you up for something great. Stay yoked to Him, He will see you through anything and everything. Always expect resistence from the world, but we're not from it and will always be out of place until we're home in eternity
 
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