We are being called into the gap to join in high-level intercession for the release of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been held for 18 months in a Turkish prison. Andrew is being charged with terrorism.
I and others in PRMI have a direct relationship with Andrew and his family, who are members of Christ Community Church. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Andrew and his wife Norine have had a remarkable ministry in Turkey for years, with dramatic fruit for the Kingdom of God, which, I believe, is the real reason he has been imprisoned.
This is all part of Satan’s plots against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the advance of the Gospel, through the demonic strongholds based on Islam.
On April 21, 2018, as part of our Dunamis Project equipping event we were called into a high-level engagement concerning Andrew, his family, and this broader situation.
The guidance we received from the Holy Spirit is directing me in getting this Discerning The Times out to you. We are facing a Kairos moment of opportunity, both for the Lord to work to defeat Satan’s plans, and to advance the Kingdom by sending great waves of the Holy Spirit upon Turkey, bringing millions of Turks to faith in Jesus Christ.
At the same time, it is an “hour of the power of darkness” in which human actions, if not prevented through Jesus’ intervention, will have the effect of multiplying evil.
A global concert of prayer has been mobilized by the Holy Spirit, for Andrew and against the dangerous growth of the stronghold of Islam in Turkey. Much of this prayer has been general. In a phone call with Andrew’s wife in Turkey, she confirmed what I with other intercessors had been discerning—
The Lord is now calling us into a time of specific, focused prayer and the application of specific prayer and spiritual warfare tactics.
The Holy Spirit has been revealing to us Satan’s strategic plans for Turkey. Satan may be trying to establish the Islamic Ottoman Caliphate. If you know your history, you will understand the terrible potential for evil that such a development could bring.
The call to intercession for Andrew and for defeating of demonic strongholds and the advance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Turkey
In 2015, I (Brad Long) met and prayed with them at the Community of the Cross before they went back to Turkey. For years they have been witnesses to Jesus Christ in the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.
The occasion for this call to focus intercession is the next phase of Andrew Brunson’s trial which will begin on May 7th at 9:00 AM (2:00 AM EDT). His first hearing took place on April 16th and despite his defense did not go well. It was obvious to the American observers present, including our North Carolina Senator, Republican Tom Tillis and representatives from the United States Embassy, that trumped-up charges were being brought against Andrew by the Turkish government.
The Pastor of Christ Community Church, Richard White, has received the strong guidance that he is to fly to Turkey this Friday, May 4th, to be at the trial on May 7th. He will be accompanied by Sam Thielman, also a member of Christ Community Church. Richard will be representing the many intercessors from around the world who have been praying for Andrew. We really need to pray for protection and guidance for this team as they go to Turkey.
Here is a video from Richard White and Brad Long providing some direction for prayer.
Is the Lord calling you to join in this prayer mobilization?
You can join us in this prayer work by using the prayer guide Richard White has written. A PDF version of the prayer guide is available here
This prayer guide includes some of the guidance that we received during the prayer engagement on April 21.
Forming a Cohort to Engage in High-Level Intercession – Sunday, May 6, at 3:00 pm EDT
We are forming an ad hoc cohort, gathered to apply the strategies and tactics we are being led by the Holy Spirit to employ just before the trial takes place.
Martin Boardman and I will be leading this. If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, calling you to this, please sign up through this link http://eepurl.com/dtny7b
Martin will send out the information about how to join the prayer call on Sunday. We will also send some proposals of the tactics we believe the Holy Spirit may be calling us into.
In Christ,
Brad and Martin
Learn More: Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International
I’m so glad this intercession is taking place for Andrew, that he be released from this unjust imprisonment in Turkey. My husband, Roger Malstead, and I lived in Izmir in the 1980s and have traveled back there numerous times. We were put out of the country a few times, but finally got off their black list with the help of a good lawyer. We’ve attended Andrew’s church there in Turkey and been very blessed with God’s work there. It’s definitely a battlefield. We’ve prayed for Turkey for over 50 years now, and feel privileged to know about Andrew’s home church. Praise God for your faithfulness in upholding them in prayer. We will be praying from our home in Washington State, where we’ve retired to be with our son and grand children. We continue to connect with Turkey almost daily as we have good friends there, and pray with you that the country be totally evangelized.
Praying Psalm 35:15-27 over this trial
We are continuing in prayer for Andrew and against the demonic forces of Islam bent on destruction and the establishment (or should I say re-establishment) of the Caliphate. For some time we have been lead to pray for courage for Donald Trump and VP Pence to stand up to Turkey on behalf of Andrew and for right and righteousness. We pray for “His will to be one on earth as in heaven”. Such countries (as Turkey) should not be considered as allies of the US and should be given notice of impending retribution if they continue! Certainly they should not nor receive support from US or NATO unless they pursue justice. For us to consider Turkey as a friend is tantamount to treason. I pray for conviction and courage ofr those is leadership of our country.