[2026 Ramadan] Day 18: The Beginning of the Final Revival that Will Complete History, Turkiye! The Beginning of Gentile Missions and the Global Mission Outpost that Will Complete It, Cyprus!

<Türkiye>

Turkiye, meaning “the land of the Turks,” is located on the Anatolian Peninsula (Asia Minor), the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The Turkic peoples, who originated in Central Asia, began settling in Anatolia in the 11th century. Through the Seljuk Turk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire, this land eventually became the modern Republic of Turkiye.

The Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkiye, was a powerful Islamic empire that once dominated much of the world. The Ottoman sultan also held the title of Caliph, the supreme leader of Islam, serving as both the protector and propagator of Islam for nearly 600 years. During this period, Islamic culture and traditions became deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of the Turkish people, and they still form a significant foundation of Turkish identity today.

Especially during the past two decades under the long-term leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish government has increasingly implemented Islamic policies. Key examples include lifting the ban on wearing the hijab in public institutions (2013), reconverting Hagia Sophia into a mosque (2020), and expanding religious education through the state Directorate of Religious Affairs. In this context, during Ramadan the government actively promotes the importance of the season through media campaigns, encourages fasting, and organizes large-scale free iftar (the evening meal that breaks the fast).

In Turkiye, Ramadan is more than a religious obligation—it is a time that strengthens national identity. By fasting together, the equation “Turkish = Muslim = one community, one nation” is reinforced. Most participants are either unaware of or uninterested in the origins or spiritual meaning of Ramadan and instead participate as part of a collective cultural and political event. Nevertheless, the impact of these 30 days is powerful. Through the annual repetition of fasting, a sentence becomes deeply engraved in their minds and subconscious: “All Turks are Muslims—and must remain Muslims.”

Turkiye has recently struggled with severe inflation due to failed economic policies. This intense rise in living costs has particularly burdened young people who lack financial assets. As a result, many young people harbor dissatisfaction toward the current government and often feel indifferent or even resistant toward the Islamic identity it promotes. Yet just as light shines more clearly in darkness, the darkness of Islam paradoxically reveals more clearly what truth truly is.

Türkiye is experiencing revival. The number of cities with church plants and the number of believers continue to increase. At the same time, there has been a rise in the deportation of Christian workers. This is evidence that the Turkish government senses—and fears—that the gospel is spreading widely in this land.

<Story of Brother G>

Brother G grew up in an unstable family environment and carried deep wounds and loneliness. During his university years he immersed himself in worldly pleasures, and after experiencing the pain of a breakup he turned to drugs. Eventually he developed serious mental health struggles and difficulty controlling his anger, leading to hospitalization. His life was falling apart, and even his family had nearly given up hope. At that time, through his aunt who believed in Jesus, he heard the gospel. As he began reading the Word, a small sense of peace started to enter his heart. Later, while praying together, he experienced the darkness that had bound him leaving in the name of Jesus. He confessed, “The bad thing inside me has gone out.” It was the moment God broke the chains of deep wounds and addiction in his life.

Through Vision School training, he came to understand God’s heart for the nations and boldly shared the gospel for the first time. Repenting of his life of addiction, he committed to living a holy life and began reducing his smoking while returning to worship. Most of all, he experienced the grace of leading his grandfather—who was on his sickbed—to accept Jesus after sharing the gospel with him. Through this, he witnessed the power of the gospel with his own eyes. The battle still continues today, but Brother G now prays daily and intercedes for his people and the nations. God is raising up a broken soul and shaping a young man who once lived in darkness into a witness of the gospel.

Amen, there is hope for Türkiye. The tree of the gospel planted in the days of the early church still has a remnant like a stump in this land. With the scent of water, a great tree will rise again in Türkiye as though newly planted. Lord, use the prayers of our faith as that life-giving water. Grant revival in this land once again.

Rise up, Turkiye!

[Today’s Prayer]

1. Although Turkiye is officially a secular state, Islam internally forms a powerful spiritual stronghold combined with politics and nationalism. May this stronghold crack and be broken through prayer, worship, and the power of the gospel. Raise up true worshipers, grant the grace of repentance, and pour out the fullness of Your presence upon this land.

2. Churches must be planted in all 81 provinces of Turkiye. Disciples must rise up. Protect local believers and ministry workers from falling into compromise, and awaken them to faithfully carry this calling. Grant repentance. Send faithful laborers for the harvest. Lord, give revival!

< Cyprus >

Cyprus, the land that marked the beginning of Gentile missions and will complete the final revival to bring about its end, is an island in the Eastern Mediterranean. It stands at a crossroads: to the north lies Turkey (75km); to the west, Greece (400km) and Europe; to the east, Israel (200km), Lebanon (100km), and the Arab world; and to the south, Egypt (380km) and North Africa.

Known as "Kittim," the grandson of Noah’s son Japheth, Cyprus has historically served as a strategic stronghold. It has seen the rise and fall of the Mycenaean and Phoenician civilizations and has been ruled by many empires, including Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Rome, the Arabs, Byzantium, Venice, the Ottoman Turks, and Britain. Today, centered around its capital Nicosia (Lefkoşa), it remains divided into South Cyprus (Greek) and North Cyprus (Turkish)—making it, along with Korea, one of only two divided nations in the world.

Following independence from Britain in 1960, the majority Greek Cypriots led a nationalist military revolt seeking union with Greece. In response, the Turkish military invaded in 1974 under the pretext of protecting Turkish Cypriots, leading to North Cyprus's declaration of independence in 1983. However, the international community defines the Turkish intervention as illegal and does not recognize North Cyprus as an independent state; only Türkiye recognizes its sovereignty.

Cyprus came under Arab rule in the 7th century, leading to its Islamization, and was later ruled by the Ottoman Empire for approximately 300 years starting in the 16th century. With the influx of Turkish people, Islam spread; today, 99% of the population in North Cyprus is Muslim, while 90% of South Cyprus is Greek Orthodox.

Because North Cyprus is an unrecognized state internationally, its primary industry is education, attracting many international students. It hosts 24 universities of various sizes, where young people from the 10/40 Window—including Türkiye, Persia, the Arab world, Central Asia, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Africa—reside as students. Consequently, in a population of only 500,000, university students make up one-fourth of the inhabitants, and if other young adults are included, over one-third of the population consists of young people.

Through the hardships and martyrdom faced by the Early Church—who daily confessed Jesus as the "Christ"—the Gospel reached Cyprus. As a fruit of this, believers moved toward Antioch, planting the Antioch Church and opening the doors to world missions. It was there that believers were first called "Christians." Later, Barnabas (a native of Cyprus) and the Apostle Paul formed a team and were sent from Antioch back to Cyprus by the Holy Spirit, beginning the testimony of the Gospel to all nations. Hallelujah!

In February 2026, the season of Ramadan arrived in the Muslim regions of North Cyprus. Large, ornate mosques are situated near universities and tourist hubs. During Ramadan, many international students visit these mosques because they offer free meals. In this season, many Muslim YGs from the 10/40 Window reflect on their faith and identity; even Christian students from Africa struggle with questions about the "True Truth," sometimes feeling a sense of gratitude toward Islam for its apparent kindness in providing food. While this region appears more liberal than other Islamic areas, it is a time when the spiritual thirst of Muslims and the loneliness of foreign students are revealed quietly yet strongly.

Currently, worship services are being held on campuses to preach the Gospel to the YGs of this land. Every week, international students from various nations gather not to dream of their own success, but to dream of the revival of the Kingdom of God.

Notably, during this Ramadan, a sister named 'P' from Iran received the grace of accepting Jesus as her Savior. Sister 'P' was someone who deeply longed to know the Truth. Last year, after experiencing seizures and numbness in her right arm, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She returned to Iran for surgery, but amid the fear of the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, she remembered a message from a worship meeting in Cyprus: "If you pray in the name of Jesus, you will be healed." She prayed in His name, underwent surgery, and experienced the grace of recovery. Upon returning to Cyprus for her studies, she heard that her cousin in Iran had the same illness and was told by doctors that recovery was impossible. Remembering her own prayer, Sister 'P' prayed for her cousin in the name of Jesus. Her cousin underwent surgery and recovered so completely that the doctors called it a miracle. God answered Sister 'P’s prayer! Hallelujah!

After a campus united worship service, during small group time, Sister 'P' confessed, "I believe that Jesus is my Savior. I want to become a Christian too," and accepted Jesus. We praise the Lord who touched the heart of this "poor in spirit" sister and saved her!

Just as Jesus—the true goodness and Savior—came to Sister 'P' during this Ramadan (where Islam masquerades as goodness), He will meet even more international students and thirsty souls in Cyprus. As young believers in this land rise up with a passion for the Gospel through recent Vision Schools and domestic mission trips, we believe God will work even more powerfully during this Ramadan season!

Just as the forces of Kittim broke the pride of kings who sought to overthrow God's people, the army of YGs in Cyprus will not only break the powers of this world but will stand firm, knowing their God, and raise the final army of all nations!

[Today’s Prayer]

1. May the land of Cyprus, which was the beginning of Gentile missions, rise up as a global mission outpost together with the young generation of the nations gathered here, to complete the final chapter of the Great Commission.

2. May the many multi-ethnic Muslim youths in Cyprus encounter Jesus Christ—the source of true freedom—during this Ramadan. May they be saved, transformed, and rise as an army that brings about the final revival.