Turkey - Antakya
Our Mission
Antakya (ancient Antioch) is around 2000 miles from Hemel Hempstead as the crow flies. The streets, sights, sounds and culture may not be as we know it, yet the basic heart of humanity is; we laugh at the same things and cry for the same reasons.
In spite of all the differences it is the same Good News that changes lives from the inside out. This Good News that is at work in Hemel Hempstead is likewise at work in Antakya. Together we are part of what God is doing there
Biblical Antioch was once the premiere city of the early Christian church. From there, the Good News of Jesus Christ was shared with the Gentiles, and the apostle Paul was sent forth to share the Good News.
Today, the aftermath of the multiple earthquakes in 2023 has left the city a shadow of what it once was. The streets remain, but the majority of buildings are gone.
As the city is a pale reflection of its former self, so too is the state of the church, which is a pale reflection of the early church. But God has not forgotten nor given up on our world—and He reaches out today, as in generations past, even to those living in Antakya.
God has raised up a wee church in the city. In the devastation and destruction of the physical city caused by the earthquakes, God continues to build His church—even in the ruins.
Today, God is working in our world and in Antakya.
South Hill supports the Antakya fellowship of believers through prayer and finances. We also provide on-site encouragement and support. This is the joy of being part of the family of God worldwide. Whilst we seek to encourage, we also find ourselves being encouraged by what God is doing.