Episode Summary:

Picture walking into a neighborhood bakery and sensing something deeper than the smell of fresh bread - an atmosphere charged with love, peace, and transformation. What if that bakery wasn’t just a place to satisfy your hunger, but a place where heaven meets earth, and lives are transformed daily?

In this episode of the As in Heaven podcast, we uncover how one woman, Deniz Koprulu, went from opening a small bakery in Toronto to becoming a beacon of hope and spiritual transformation, turning her bakery into an Ecclesia—a gathering place where Jesus shows up every day.

Her story invites us to consider how we can bring the presence of heaven into our everyday spaces.

Key Takeaways:

1. God shows up in unexpected places: Deniz’s bakery became a place where heaven touches earth, showing that God can use any space as a meeting place with Him.
2. Love is the most powerful tool for transformation: Deniz’s testimony highlights how her acts of love, through her baking and interactions, opened doors for people to experience the love of Christ.
3. The Ecclesia is not just a Sunday gathering: Deniz’s story challenges the traditional view of the church, showing that the body of Christ can gather and worship in everyday spaces like a bakery.
4. God answers specific prayers: Deniz’s journey shows how God spoke to her through people, events, and even customers, answering her prayers and guiding her in both spiritual and practical matters.
5. Boldness in faith leads to impact: Deniz stepped out in faith to make Jesus known in her community, transforming not only her life but also the lives of those she encountered.

Pull Quotes:

1. "Why limit Jesus to a church building? He’s everywhere - He’s in me, and He’s in my bakery." - Deniz Koprulu
2. "I’m just a simple baker, but God is using my little bakery to impact my whole neighborhood." - Deniz Koprulu
3. "Heaven is not just for church on Sundays; it’s meant to show up in our everyday lives and spaces." - Bryan Elliott

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 - Introduction: Meeting Deniz Koprulu and her story
• 02:07 - Deniz’s background: From Turkey to Toronto’s bakery scene
• 07:27 - Discovering the presence of God in the bakery
• 12:33 - The turning point: Deniz’s first encounter with Jesus through prayer
• 16:47 - Surrendering to Jesus: Deniz’s journey to faith
• 22:21 - The bakery as an Ecclesia: A place of ministry and community transformation
• 26:57 - Deniz’s dream of "The Table" and creating spaces of testimony
• 31:59 - Deniz’s message to business owners: Bringing heaven into everyday spaces