About Firm Foundation Trust and the Silas Project
The Trust has grown out of the activities in Turkey of Roger Malstead, who since 1988 has directed what is now Firm Foundation Trust. Firm Foundation Trust is a registered charity (No. 277298): authorised and approved by the Charity Commission of the United Kingdom Government. The Trust also complies with general good international accountability practice for non-profits.
Roger's activities started in 1961 when he took action on a 1959 challenge to go to Turkey - issued by world missions advocate George Verwer, the founder of Operation Mobilisation (OM). Roger spent 4 years in Istanbul teaching English, orienting to Turkish culture, and learning the language. He also became involved in evangelism based on Bible study correspondence courses and married Yvonne (Fittz). Turkey has been the continuing burden of both their hearts, though political difficulties kept them out of the country during the 1970s and 1980s, apart from short tourist visits.
After Turkey, Roger served with OM in the Middle East briefly before completing his MA studies in the USA and teaching there for 10 years. In 1978 Roger rejoined OM and served in the USA and UK for 8 years, while planning a return to Turkey - which he and Yvonne achieved in late 1989. During his time in the UK, Roger felt called to focus on publishing Christian books in Turkish. So Firm Foundation Trust was born - to help Turkish Christians grow by publishing relevant Christian material in Turkish.
Later Roger was struck with the need to support full time Turkish Christian workers in their task of pastoring and discipling Turkish Christians. As a result, the Silas Project was initiated, to help Turkish Christian workers in their service to Christian work in Turkey, through financial support and prayer.
Roger has been supported in all of this by his wife, Yvonne. They have 4 grown-up children, two of whom are in full time Christian service, and many grandchildren. Roger and Yvonne continue to be actively involved with Turkey. They liaise closely with organisations such as OM and are advised by four United Kingdom Trustees: Gerry Davey; Mike Lyth; David Greenslade; and Simon Gardiner.
The Associate Director of Firm Foundation Trust, Mrs Tülin Munro, along with her husband Ric, specialise in making, through Aslan Video, Turkish language videos and DVDs for teaching and encouraging Turkish Christians. Ric and Tulin first went to Turkey in 1981 and served with OM for six years. They have three adult children.
Also closely associated with this work are our friends at 'LoveTurkey.org'. Their LoveTurkey website gives much useful information for anyone considering Christian work in Turkey.
Firm Foundation Trust work is supported by these churches and ministries (each link opens in a new window):
- Abbey Church is an evangelical Christian church in Abbeydale, Gloucester, UK. Abbey has supported the Silas Project for several years and has particularly close links with a church in eastern Turkey.
- Cartsbridge Evangelical Church is lively independent church in Busby, Glasgow, UK. The church has been pleased to support the work in Turkey over a number of years.
- Gilcomston South Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in Aberdeen, UK. Gilcomston is a strong supporter of the Silas Project.
- New Heights Chapel is a growing independent nondenominational church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, US and has been a long-term supporter of Roger and Yvonne Malstead and their Silas work in Turkey.
- Turkish World Outreach is an evangelical, non-sectarian Christian mission in Grand Junction, Colorado, US, which shares Jesus Christ with Turkic peoples throughout the world. TWO supports Silas by acting as a collecting agent for gifts in North America.
- Vine Evangelical Church is an independent lively church in Sevenoaks, Kent, UK. Roger and Yvonne attended VEC while living in the United Kingdom to facilitate their children's education, and they are Supported Workers of VEC. VEC has close links with a church in Istanbul.
