I recently spotted something amazing along the waterfront in Hamburg: branches growing out of seemingly dead pier pilings. Have you ever noticed how God sometimes brings life to things that look dead? *** At Riga Luther Academy’s Intensive Study Weeks, I chatted with our student Rev. Bahadir Argönül from Turkey. He is a Lutheran pastor in a country where less than 0.2% of the population is Christian. I asked him how he came to the faith. Although born and raised in Islam, he explained, he had always been attracted to Jesus, who plays a prominent role in the Qur’an, even though He is described only as one of many prophets—and not as God Himself. As a teenager, he found a Bible in Turkish, which he started to read.
Unbeknownst to him, the Holy Spirit started to work in him: “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:4-5). Bahadir looked for a church but found only Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or charismatic Protestant churches—all of which, to his dismay, didn’t proclaim the Gospel clearly. But he kept on reading the Word of God and the Holy Spirit continued to work in him—much as sap came to life in the seemingly dead pier pilings. Years later, Bahadir discovered a small Lutheran congregation led by Finnish missionary Rev. Ville Typpö, who proclaimed the Good News loud and clear: Jesus Christ took all your sins upon Himself, died for your sins, and rose again from the dead, guaranteeing eternal life to all who are baptized and believe in Him. Bahadir finally heard what he had been yearning for. After instruction, he was baptized, years later ordained a Lutheran pastor, and then even appointed as Rev. Typpö’s successor. Now he is refining his skills at Riga Luther Academy to better serve his flock. Praise God for bringing life to things that look dead!
The Tiews in Germany 