Domed mosques and slim minarets silhouette the vivid skyline. Ferries navigate the Bosphorus waterway, darting between Europe and Asia. Ancient city walls stand beside the looming intercontinental bridge. People stroll along the water and play backgammon to pass the evening hours. A Turkish girl wearing a headscarf sips çay at a restaurant where a racy music video plays on a big-screen TV. The call to prayer reverberates from nearby mosques as car horns honk and busses whiz 
down the street.

Istanbul, Turkey literally connects Europe and Asia — the country borders Greece on one side and Iran on the other. The city is also split between East and West, trying to preserve its Muslim heritage while looking to its future in the secular world. 

Istanbul boasts nearly 3,000 active mosques, but many of the 13 million people in the city are less than devout. Some in Istanbul consider themselves Muslim yet never attend a mosque, read the Qur’an or pray to Allah. Others reject the title altogether and seek fulfillment in work and wealth. 

For many, Istanbul is home. For some it is a destination — the place they dream of coming and work hard to reach. For a few, it is merely a temporary stay along 
life’s journey.


Istanbul unites people from around the world, bringing together every language, religion and culture. However, most of the city’s residents claim Islam. In fact, 99 percent have declared Allah as God and Muhammad as his final prophet.

But God is doing great things in this city. People are hearing God’s Word and accepting His Son. People are finding true joy in Jesus, where they once sought satisfaction in rules, achievements and worldly things. These stories could be like your own. Is this your story? Could this be your story? 

MeetIstanbul.com profiles the history, people, culture and spiritual state of Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey. The site also features video Christian testimonies, biblical prayers for Muslim unbelievers and ways you can get involved in your area.