They Forgave Their Husbands' Murderers
 I recently watched Malatya, a documentary released earlier this year about the first modern martyrs of the Turkish Church.

A little over two years ago in Malatya, Turkey three men, Necati Aydin and Uğur Yuksel (two of the first Turkish Christian converts from Islam), along with Tilmann Geske (a German Christian living in Turkey), were tied up, tortured with butcher knives, and murdered in their own office at a Christian publishing house.

The Malatya film gives gritty, realistic, unassuming access into the lives of the widows and families, as well as into the church-body that is still grieving in Turkey.

This very small community of Turkish Christians has been thrust into a national spotlight. Now the faith that they live to proclaim has been put on display for the whole nation to witness, a nation that is taught from childhood “to be a Turk is to be a Muslim.”

It is very clear that God is using these times of suffering and affliction for his glory. The clearest evidence of this is the widows of the martyrs, who made front-page news and shocked the nation by publicly forgiving the men who murdered their husbands, echoing Christ's words: “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”

We know that God regularly turns the most difficult suffering into joy and salvation for many.

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)

May God use this event to strengthen, gather, and multiply his church in Turkey as the nation watches the portrayal of Christ’s love through the pain and suffering of his bride.

For more information, or to watch the trailer, visit the documentary's website.

By: Seth Magnuson - Desiring God