Turk in Italy


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Turks originated in Turan, a region that lies between the Caspian Sea and the Mongolian Desert. They arrived in Anatolia, Turkey (Asia Minor) in the 11th century as conquering warriors. By the year 1299, the Ottoman Dynasty began ruling over what would become a vast empire, greater in area than the Roman Empire. It was the last caliphate, an Islamic political state. Today Muslim militants lament its downfall. Over 20 states fell under Ottoman rule, including southern Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom of Hungary. The huge Ottoman Empire lasted until Turkey became a republic in 1923.

Since the 1920s modern Turkey has become a secular, developed nation that sits, literally and symbolically, between the Christian West and the Muslim world. Turkey is considered to be a "link" between the Orient (Chinese and Mongols) and the Occidental (Anglo-Saxons, Slavs, Goths, and Latins). The Turk, therefore, have a knowledge and mixture of both Eastern and Western cultures.

During the days of the mighty Ottoman Empire, some Turks settled in Italy, but they have since blended in with the Italian population in places like the predominantly Turkish village of Moena where Ottoman culture is celebrated each year. There have been a couple thousand Turks who have slowly migrated to Italy in recent decades.
Today many Turks would like to join the European Union, but there is considerable resistance from Europeans who are reluctant to allow a Muslim nation to join them. That setup would allow many more Turks to migrate to Europe with far fewer restrictions.


Where Are they Located?

The majority of Turks live in their home country, but significant numbers live in Europe, especially Germany. There are Turks living in other European countries like Italy. Those who live in Italy are usually in the northern regions. There are Turks in Turin, Brescia, Milan, Venice, and Rome.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though traditional ways continue to exist in some areas, the typical Turks lives a secularized, modern urban life, with all the materialistic advantages and temptations that go with it. Much cultural sexism remains as women are often viewed through traditional Islamic beliefs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Turks of Italy are predominantly nominally Sunni Muslim, believing in one god (Allah), and an eternal heaven and hell. However, they also have many ethnic beliefs as well. For example, they believe that men have the power to curse others by giving them the "evil eye." They believe that one is protected against such a curse by wearing blue beads, which the evil eye cannot face. Another way to avoid this cursing glare is to spit in a fire and pray to Allah. They also believe that if a woman puts fish oil around a door and a man walks through it, he will love her for the rest of his life.


What Are Their Needs?

Although the Turks of Italy have Christian resources (both the Bible and the JESUS Film have been translated into Turkish) available to them in their language and mission agencies have worked among them, they remain Muslim. Prayer alone has the power to break through the strongholds of Islam. Intercessors are needed to daily stand in the gap and pray for the salvation of these precious people.

There are negative attributes of modern urban life that can lead to an identity crisis among Turks. This can lead individuals to Christ, to fundamentalist Islam, or to destruction.


Prayer Points

Pray that many Turks living in Italy will be reached with the gospel and will take it back to Turkey.
Pray that more churches and mission organizations will accept the challenge of adopting and reaching the Turks in Europe.
Ask God to give Turkish believers boldness to share the gospel with their own people.
Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Turks in Europe who will boldly declare the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Turk in Italy.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turks_in_Italy
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18274/TU
http://www.worldbulletin.net/ottoman/137222/a-forgotten-turkish-village-in-italy
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18274/IT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_diaspora


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Turk
People Name in Country Turk
Pronunciation terk
Alternate Names Anatolian; Baharlu Turk; Masakhastian; Meskhetian Turk; Osmanli; Ottomon Turk; Rumelian Turk; Urum; तुर्क
Population this Country 17,000
Population all Countries 67,070,000
Total Countries 68
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18274
ROP3 Code 113818
ROP25 Code 308375
ROP25 Name Turk
Country Italy
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Italy
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Turkish (17,000 speakers)
Language Code tur   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Turkish (17,000 speakers)
Language Code tur   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Turkish

Primary Language:  Turkish

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1782-1985)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1819-1993)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2009)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Turkish Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Turkish YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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