Mission Trip to Turkey By Pastor Rob Miller Over the past twenty-five years, Pastor Firouz, pastor of the Persian Church of Calvary Chapel Mission Viejo, has been used of God to lead many Farsi speaking people (Iranian) from around the world to Christ and to help them as new believers to grow in their relationship with Christ through Bible teaching and discipleship. The Lord has opened the door over the years for Pastor Firouz to plant many churches worldwide through his online ministry of teaching and preaching. Many of these churches can only exist as underground churches without the local government's knowledge due to safety concerns for its members. Pastor Firouz's desire is to help as many Farsi speaking people as he can. He desires to see people grow to maturity in Christ through online church services, Bible classes, biblical discussion and discipleship. In addition, to meeting individuals and groups of people online, Pastor Firouz also believes it is vital to spend time with these churches in person where they are located, regardless of the potential threat to himself. Because of this, Pastor Firouz makes every effort to visit these underground churches once a year to personally teach and encourage them as their pastor. Pastor Firouz has just returned to the United States from a three-week trip visiting a church he planted in Turkey in the city of Nigde. I had the distinct honor to spend the first week with him there. Turkey is a Muslim nation that does not look favorably on those who worship and follow Jesus Christ. As such, this small church of thirty people meets in the private home of one of its members twice per week for worship and teaching from Pastor Firouz as it is streamed in live online from the United States. I had the privilege to spend one week with pastor Firouz and this loving Persian church. As traveling to this location requires nearly 18 hours, a full day is lost before finally arriving in Nigde, Turkey, from Texas where I live. After a day of rest, we then began a three-day Bible conference for the church members. The plan was to have six hours of teaching and discussion each day as well fellowshipping with one another. Pastor Firouz, myself and Mahyar (a friend and ministry partner of Pastor Firouz) shared in the teaching and discussions each day and enjoyed a couple of meals each day with the people of the church. Although the city Nigde is a modern city, I would describe it as dirty, lacking the beauty of many modern-day European cities. I saw very few houses as most people live in tenement housing in large, gray buildings, often 10-20 stories high. The church meets in one of these tenement structures in a 3d floor apartment which is rented by one of its members. The first thing I noticed as I met the people of the church was their genuine warmth and welcome. Although I could not speak Farsi, the members of the church made me feel loved and welcomed. The lives of these people is truly difficult by American standards. None of the members own a car, and they had to rely on walking, public transportation or a small motorcycle if they could afford one to get about. In addition, no one in the church has a professional career. Having escaped religious persecution in Iran, they are considered to be refugees and are not allowed to have a decent paying or professional job. They are only allowed manual labor jobs in factories that pay very low wages in addition to very difficult working conditions. As refugees, these people have very little money, no home country, no recognized language, and no status in that culture. Not only are they considered refugees, but worse, Christian refugees! They are mistreated and looked down upon by the locals; however, their faith is STRONG! Even though their circumstances are difficult, I found each person to be warm, kind and joyful. These brothers and sisters were an amazing example to me of Christlikeness in character, and I realized how soft I am when compared to them. I saw in the members of the church a deep desire to learn and grow in their understanding of the Bible. I taught in English with Mahyar serving as my Farsi-speaking interpreter. The people were so hungry for the Word of God they wanted me to continue teaching well past my allotted time. It was such a joy to share God's word with them and to answer their excellent follow-up questions. It gave me great joy to share with them. Firouz has been their pastor for the last nearly three years. He has been teaching them twice per week from the beginning of their formation as a church. He is well loved and respected by these people. After my time there was completed, he remained with them an additional 2 weeks to continue to teach them through the books of Romans, Corinthians 1 and 2. He also wanted to meet individually with each one to further minister to and mentor these dear people. He understands fully that each one of them have been rescued from the lies of Islam and the sacrifices they have made fleeing professional careers and comfortable lives from another country as they could not deny their newfound faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. They are now continuing to grow in their walk with Jesus Christ because of what God is doing through Pastor Firouz. I consider Pastor Firouz a close friend and more importantly a true man of God. He is a man passionate to share the grace and goodness of God with this often-forgotten people. He works tirelessly to reach many here and around the world for the One who saved him from this same false religion. With the help of the Lord, he has overcome much adversity throughout his life in this call on him. We, too, have a wonderful and greatly needed opportunity to come alongside him and his dear family to support and encourage them as he/they continuously work to further the Good News of the gospel to this very special people group. Please consider: * Praying for God's strength, wisdom, health and opportunities for Pastor Firouz and his family * Please consider Financial support for Pastor Firouz to further the reach of the gospel to many around the world. * Pastor Firouz and his ministry is soley supported by doner giving. * Here is a link to his website to support his ministry:
https://www.discipleship4christ.com/about-2
 Sincerely yours in Christ,
 Pastor Rob Miller