Bringing Easter to the People
Antalya Evangelical Church in Turkey continues to grow. Last year, they reported 17 new believers being baptized. So far this year another 15 have been baptized.
This Easter, the church in Antalya gathered 600 visitors for their grand annual Easter performance, in addition to regular attendees.
Antalya Evangelical Church continues to grow. In 2025, 17 new believers were baptized – after they attended 16 baptismal preparation classes.
On May 17 this year, 15 new members were baptized, and there will likely be another baptism service before the year is over.
Before this year’s baptism services began, nearly 70 have been baptized in the last five years. Around 25 of those no longer attend the church. Some are students or professionals who have moved, bringing their faith to other churches. Around 20 have likely stopped attending altogether.
“Some may have disappeared because of family and community pressure. It may be worthwhile to study how many new people remain and why some disappear,” says pastor Ramazan Arkan.
New fellowship
The church, which has three locations in different parts of Antalya, is now establishing a fellowship in Isparta, two and a half hour to the north. In Acts chapter 23, the city is described as Antioch by Pisidia. Isparta has no church or known organized Christian presence.
Representatives from the church in Antalya travel a couple times each month, to direct Bible groups for the 15 people who are interested.
In Christmas 2025, the church arranged Christmas parties for women, youth, and students. Approximately 250 people heard the gospel and accepted Bibles.
Many reached at Christmas and Easter
On December 28 the church arranged a major Christmas celebration at an event space in Antalya.
“We invited people from all over the city. A choir, theater performance, dancing, live music and reading of the Christmas story, we shared a clear gospel-centered message. The approximately 650 attendees, in addition to our own people, were genuinely open to hearing about the hope we have in Christ. We also had an opportunity to give copies of God’s word as a gift,” Ramazan reports.
In Easter 2026 a similar event gathered nearly 600, in addition to regular attendees. Easter 2025, the church gathered 800. New Testaments are given out freely to anyone who wants one.
Originally written by Johannes Morken.