A year in Turkish prison: US works for return of WNC missionary

BLACK MOUNTAIN – When the Rev. Richard White was helping write a prayer for the release of local Christian missionary Pastor Andrew Brunson from a Turkish prison, he had plenty of material.

Members of Christ Community Church in Montreat have prayed repeatedly for Brunson in groups large and small since he was taken into custody just more than a year ago.

Thousands of members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church denomination around the country were expected to pray for Brunson during Sunday services, using a prayer based on White's notes from prayers his members have offered over the past 12 months.

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"Strengthen Andrew in body and mind. Expose and confuse all the lies that stand against him. Break the power of evil and cause truth to prevail. ... Set our brother free," it reads in part.

Turkey's charges against Brunson say he was involved in efforts to overthrow the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Supporters say the accusations are absurd, and some worry Brunson has become a political prisoner or even a hostage Erdogan wants to use as a bargaining chip with the U.S.

Two vice chairwomen of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal government body appointed by elected officials of both parties, visited Brunson recently and reported Saturday that he has lost 50 pounds in prison.

"He lives in a world of psychic and physical dislocation," said Vice Chairwoman Sandra Jolley. "Despite a public veneer of a legal process, the truth is Pastor Brunson has had no due process, no true information about the charges against him, unreliable court dates, and no idea when he ever again will see his children or his country."

"The government of Turkey has fabricated charges against Pastor Brunson, largely based on purported 'secret testimony,'" said Vice Chairwoman Kristina Arriaga. "He should be released immediately."

Recent events have increased concern among his supporters that the day of his release may still be some time ahead.

A long year

The anniversary of the day Brunson was first incarcerated was Saturday. The son of missionaries, he was leading a small church in Izmir, in Turkey's southwestern corner, as he had for 23 years.

Brunson, a Black Mountain native, was initially charged with belonging to a terrorist organization. In August, Turkey added charges of "gathering state secrets for espionage, attempting to overthrow the Turkish parliament and government and to change the constitutional order," according to The Wall Street Journal.

And last month, Erdogan raised the possibility of a trade of Brunson for Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric and former Erdogan ally.

The Turkish government blames Gulen for a failed 2016 coup attempt aimed at removing Erdogan from office and wants the U.S. to extradite Gulen to Turkey.

Erdogan reportedly referred to Brunson in a speech at a Turkish police academy last month.

"You have a pastor, too," he said, referring to the United States. "You give us that one and we'll work with our judiciary and give back yours."

Gulen has denied any involvement with the coup. The U.S. has so far declined to send him to Turkey. Law and precedent suggest the decision on whether to do so is to be based on an assessment of whether he has committed any crime, not on whether extraditing him would bring some benefit to the U.S.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Sept. 28 that Turkey had made multiple requests that Gulen be handed over, but she had nothing new to say on the matter.

"We continue to evaluate it, take a look at the materials that the Turkish government has provided us," she said at a press briefing.

Asked about the prospects of a swap like the one Erdogan seemed to suggest, Nauert said, "I can’t imagine that we would go down that road."

Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, who has worked for Brunson's release, was more emphatic.

"President Erdogan’s suggestion that the U.S. should make a hostage-style prisoner swap for an innocent American imprisoned in Turkey is appalling and will not be taken seriously," Lankford said in a statement. "Turkey has long been a U.S. ally, but has chosen to complicate and weaken its relationship with the U.S. and other free nations of the world through its increasingly autocratic policies. The U.S. will not stand idly by as these oppressive tactics target American citizens."

He said the U.S. should ban Turks involved in Brunson's detention from entering the country. 

Nauert also made it clear that the government continues to believe the charges against Brunson are false.

"That is a very important issue for us, to try to get Pastor Brunson home," she said, saying President Donald Trump had raised the issue with Erdogan recently. 

Brunson, she said, "was wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey, and we’d like to see him brought home."

Geopolitical currents 

Erodogan has cracked down on civil liberties in Turkey and imprisoned thousands of citizens on charges that critics and many in the international community say are entirely political.

Trump and Erdogan sat down together in September in New York, with the American leader telling reporters at the start of the meeting Erdogan has "become a friend of mine."

"He’s running a very difficult part of the world. He’s involved very, very strongly and, frankly, he’s getting very high marks. And he’s also been working with the United States," Trump said.

"We have a great friendship as countries. I think we’re, right now, as close as we have ever been," Trump said.

There are other points of disagreement between the two nations, but Turkey is a member of NATO and has been on the same side as the U.S. on a number of issues in the Middle East. The United States' ability to use Turkish facilities and air space is important to U.S. military power in the region.

Trump and other officials in his administration have pressed for Brunson's release.

White, the pastor, said it is worrisome to see Erdogan link Brunson's case to Gulen's.

"We've had a sense all along that that's what was behind this, and it is discouraging because it looks like the president of Turkey has dug his heels in," he said.

The American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative group involved in Brunson's legal defense, says Brunson has been among as many as 22 people held in a prison cell designed for eight.

Brunson's daughter at first postponed her wedding because she wanted him to be able to walk her down the aisle, but White said she finally went ahead earlier this year.

His mother is in Turkey to support Brunson's daughter, Norine, White said.

There has been no word on when Brunson might be tried.

Members of Christ Community Church held a 24-hour prayer vigil for Brunson on Saturday in which at least one person was to pray for him at all times from midnight Friday to midnight Saturday.

He said it has been difficult for church members to see so many prayers for Brunson's release offered but not granted.

"It feels like all of our prayers are still out in front of us, unanswered," he said. "We don't know why that is."

But White said he takes comfort from knowing so many are praying. He attended a church service in California in June and was surprised to hear a prayer for Brunson there.

During the visit from members of the U.S. religious freedom commission, Brunson expressed thanks for those who are advocating and praying for him.

"Knowing that I am not forgotten is important to me," the commission quoted him as saying.

White said, church members will keep praying.

"God is sovereign. He's got a plan, we just don't see it yet," he said.

'A prayer for Andrew'

Here is the complete text of the prayer the Rev. Richard White and other members of Christ Community Church in Montreat wrote for Pastor Andrew Brunson. It was offered to the 600 churches of the Evangelical Presbyterian Chuch to be inserted in bulletins for their services Sunday.

"Gracious Father, Lord of the nations, You are the only wise and good sovereign of our times.

"We praise you for Your greatness and mercy.

"While we have not yet seen the answer to our prayers for Andrew's release, we trust You still, that You are at work in ways beyond what we can see or understand.

"You have invited us to come boldly into Your presence, and so we come before Your throne of grace asking that out of Your glorious riches You would strengthen Andrew with power through Your Spirit, so Christ may dwell in his heart by faith.

"Root and establish him in love that he may grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is for him.

"Let Your Word be a spring of living hope, the presence of Jesus an oasis of joy, and the power of the Holy Spirit Andrew's constant source of wisdom and comfort.

"Strengthen Andrew in body and mind.

"Expose and confuse all the lies that stand against him.

"Break the power of evil and cause truth to prevail.

"Let accusers become advocates.

"Set our brother free.

"Cause your gospel to spread widely.

"Grant endurance and comfort to his family.

"Glorify the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom we pray.

"Amen."