LATEST UPDATES

Dear friends,

As I write these words, Buse is running around finalizing preparations for our upcoming trip to the U.S. This season has been full in every way—personally, spiritually, and in ministry. We are thankful for God’s presence through it all and excited to share what He’s been doing.

This season brought some big milestones for our family. Josiah completed high school and recently took his university entrance exams—things are looking very promising for his next steps. David finished elementary school and will begin middle school in the fall. Amid all this, Buse and I managed a short getaway to Side—just the two of us—which brought much-needed rest and joy. We’re truly grateful for God’s grace in every part of this journey.

At Antalya Protestant Church, we continue to see God at work. Many new visitors are exploring the Christian faith, and we’ve been offering basic doctrine classes for seekers. A few have already come to faith, and many more are asking thoughtful questions.

Our leadership team is serving in beautiful harmony, and we’re thankful for their commitment and unity. In May, we hosted a church retreat—a refreshing time of worship, fellowship, and encouragement. Though some couldn’t attend, those who came were deeply blessed.

We also mourned the loss of our dear brother Levent, a man transformed by the gospel. Once an alcoholic, he became a faithful servant and supporter of the church. In his later years, when he could no longer attend services, we live-streamed them just for him. He affectionately called me his “golden mouth pastor.” His absence is deeply felt.

In April, we hosted a pastors and families retreat in Çıralı. Dr. Tim Savage taught through Ephesians, bringing fresh encouragement and clarity to those leading churches across the region. It was a rich time of rest and renewal.
We also welcomed Dr. Ryan Boys from New Jersey, who taught an Old Testament Survey course and led additional sessions on biblical languages. These deeper studies are rare for Turkish pastors, and the sessions were met with great enthusiasm and gratitude.

We recently launched a new certificate program through Via Christus Academy. This program is designed for active church members, including pastors’ wives, and potential deacons and elders. It expands our reach beyond pastoral training, offering solid biblical education to those faithfully serving in local congregations. Our staff has worked hard to develop this resource, and we’re excited to see how God will use it in the years to come.

We are now preparing for an extended stay in the U.S. to focus on the Miletus House vision. With more foreign gospel workers being expelled from Turkey, the need to train and support local leaders has never been greater.

Miletus House will be a permanent ministry hub in Antalya, bringing together pastoral training, church planting support, a theological library, publishing work, and a place for Christian leaders to rest and be renewed. We’ve currently raised $108,915 of our $1,000,000 goal. We’re trusting God for the remaining support and for open hearts as we share this vision.

As part of this journey, I’ll be traveling across all 48 mainland U.S. states to share the vision and invite others to join us in building this essential ministry center. Please pray for safety, fruitful meetings, and God’s provision.

Thank you for standing with us through your prayers, encouragement, and support. We press on with hope, knowing that the work is His and the fruit is eternal.

Grace and peace,
Kerem Koç