Free Republic

Istanbul (Agenzia Fides) - The Turkish Protestant Christian Pastor Orhan Picaklar, 42, of the "Agape Church" was arrested by the police in the town of Samsun, on the Black Sea, on charges of organizing human trafficking and prostitution. The Christian community in Turkey, refer the faithful of the Turkish community "Agape" in a note sent to Fides, asks for prayers and support in order to prove his innocence. The allegations, it says, are entirely instrumental, as the Pastor was under observation for suspected "illegal missionary activity". On November 11, the pastor was summoned to the local police headquarters for questioning...

Pastor Oginni's small church had rented a day care facility for more than two years because they didn't have enough money yet to build a building of their own. They were celebrating their church's birthday when a local police officer arrived and began asking questions. Three days later, the owner of the day care center was summoned to appear in court! A police officer again arrived during a Sunday morning service. The policeman claimed he wanted to speak with the pastor in private and have him fill out a form at his office. The officer's patrol car was blocking the...