Pentecostal Church Leadership Announcement Regarding Turkey and Syria Earthquake February 2023

Dear brothers and sisters,

The tragedy that struck Turkey and Syria this week reminds us once again that we are living in the end of times, when news about earthquakes, wars and other trials are coming even more often than before. We know there’s a war going on to the north of us, we see the millions of people who lost their homes because of the earthquakes to the south, and we are grateful that the Lord has protected us.

A Christian leader from Antioch, a city that once used to be Paul’s missionary center, said: `Everything is in ruins. The church has collapsed, my house is lost and we are left with nothing. People are cold, hungry and in need of shelter. There’s crying and yelling everywhere. Many are still trapped under the rubble, and help is still not here.`

For these people, the suffering is growing with each passing day. We have information of Christians who have died, and of others who are still trapped under the fallen buildings. Miraculously, a 10 year old boy named Yoel was saved, but both his parents, Hakan and Pola were lost. They were both faithfully serving in the church. There are tens of thousands of families that are living in awful conditions right now.

Things are no better in Syria, especially since Aleppo has been devastated by war for many years. There is a large Christian community living there, and they need our help.

The Romanian workers in Turkey are prepared to be a channel for the Romanian churches and others who want to send help. The Turkish church, although a persecuted minority, has been very effective in sending dozens of representatives in the places that were worst hit by the earthquakes. They immediately opened three mobile cafeterias from which they’ve been distributing food and water to those in need.

Here’s how we can help:

1. We can send donations to help support the food distribution. The daily expenses for feeding 500 people come up to 2000 Euro (2,140 USD).
2. Then, if our Turkish brothers and sisters will be allowed to distribute material aid, we can start sending items that are most critically needed.
3. Later we will work on sending short term teams to help the Turkish churches in other practical ways.

Initially, if you would like to send donations to help with the food distribution, you can use the following accounts. Please mention as purpose: Turkey Earthquake.

APME Foundation

Address: Cluj Napoca, Argintului St. no. 2, 400234

Bank information:

Transilvania Bank

Address: Cluj Napoca, Calea Dorobantilor St. no.30-36, 400121

Fundatia APME

IBAN:

RON: RO20 BTRL RONC RT00 G897 1802

EUR: RO32 BTRL EURC RT00 G897 1801

USD: RO45 BTRL USDC RT00 G897 1802

GBP: RO97 BTRL GBPC RT00 G897 1801

SWIFT CODE: BTRLRO22

Fiscal code (CIF): 18699557

May our light shine in these difficult days, and may the people praise God when they see the love and service of the Romanian churches!