Philippi was superbly situated between Europe and Asia. Although it was in Greece, it was effectively a Roman city. Latin rather than Greek became the language of the city. Its Roman citizens enjoyed the same legal privileges as those in Italy. A businesswoman like Lydia could profit greatly from this base of operations between the two continents. Philippi was a political, economic, and cultural hub.

Istanbul, Turkey is similarly positioned between Europe and Asia. With a population of 15.5 million people, it is a dynamic hub that exercises a huge influence across the region. It is a modern, cosmopolitan city that continues to have a complicated relationship between its democratic neighbors in Europe and its dictatorial neighbors in Asia. While 96% of the country is Muslim, only 0.2% are Christian. The odds seem stacked against the Christians.

And yet, as we read in the book of Acts, God is at work. The Apostle Paul  had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). The Lord had already prepared Lydia, a worshipper of God. “…The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” (Acts 16:14). Though a huge global city like Istanbul seems overwhelming, the Lord is still at work. There are a number of small churches and fellowships today that meet across the city. There are summer mission teams of Christian students who visit each year. There are Christian refugees from Syria, Iran, and Iraq who reside in the city. It’s not always obvious what God is doing in such places, yet the Lord is always at work.