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Ester pipes in quietly, "My daddy died in his office."

The family lives for now with relatives in western Turkey. Cramming two households into one apartment is a squeeze until Semse can work out a plan for their future.

"Both Necati and Semse have had a genuine desire to serve the Lord, knowing it could be costly," says Pastor Tanyar.

Semse has no regrets about their ministry in Malatya. She talks about a harvest of souls there. They saw 15 people come to faith in three years, which is impressive in Turkey's hard soil. "I see my family as victorious," she says.

In the meantime, the extended family copes day by day. Her brother-in-law, also a pastor, has received threats on his life. Their landlord asked them all to move, citing concerns about the neighbors' safety. They hope to find two apartments close to each other.

The Aydin family will receive financial support through most of 2008. Semse is quickly finding the venues and the confidence to tell her story publicly. In early November, she traveled to the United States and spoke publicly in Holland, Michigan, at an event for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. "Though Semse has only a minimum of education, she is an excellent speaker, extremely articulate and expressive," says Tanyar.

"Christ said the road is narrow and difficult," says Semse. "If you choose this road, it won't be easy. If you get too comfortable, it can take your faith. The hard times can also crush your faith. I want to be on the narrow road."

Denise McGill is assistant professor of visual journalism at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida.

Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

How you can help:

Open Doors USA has a campaign to send letters of encouragement to the martyrs' families.

Funds for the families are being collected by the Alliance of Protestant Churches of Turkey. (Please be warned that there are scams being circulated by other entities.) Inquiries can be sent to silastr@gmail.com or jarvie@post.com, or to Turkish World Outreach, 508 Fruitvale Court, Grand Junction, CO 81504, United States. Donors should designate "Survivors Fund" on their checks.

Articles on the Malatya killings last April include:

Milking Martyrdom | Turkish Mission accused of sending false report. (September 14, 2007)

Faith Perfected | Recent martyrdoms sadden us but cannot make us despair. A Christianity Today editorial (July 12, 2007)

Young Muslims in Turkey Murder Three Christians | Deaths mark first known martyrdom of Turkish converts since founding of republic. (April 20, 2007)

From CT Liveblog: On Trial in Turkey | Malatya murder trial defense finds footing by playing to anti-missionary sentiments. Also: the roots of anti-Christian violence in Turkey. (November 30, 2007)

Our January 2008 articles on Turkey also include a slideshow and:

Justice Delayed | Security worries stall recognition of Armenian Genocide. (January 4, 2008)

Inside CT: Greatness Is in Heaven (January 4, 2008)

Jesus in Turkey | After 550 years of decline, a bloodied church is being reborn. (January 3, 2008)

Accidental Outreach | Christian leaders avoid targeting Kurds, but reach them anyway. (January 3, 2008)

The BBC and the New York Times have sections with recent news and information about Turkey.

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January 2008, Vol. 52, No. 1