There are many people who were martyrs of Jesus. As far back as the death of Jesus to now. Paul was a man of God. One of Jesus' Apostles. He wrote a good portion of the New Testament in the Bible. Who would think that before he came to know Christ he was a persecutor of the ones who strongly believed in God. He made martyrs out of those who loved Jesus. Pauls real name was actually Saul. After he gave his life to Jesus he changed his name to Paul. He killed and imprisoned thousands of believers and was on his was to do so in Damascus when Jesus met with him and changed his life. From then on he went around speaking the word of God and Telling people the name of Jesus.

• Jesus said in Matthew 10:21,22- "Brothers will give their brothers to be killed, and fathers will give their own children to be killed.  Children will fight against their own parents and have them put to death.  All people will hate you because  you follow me, but those who keep their faith until the end will be saved."
• "I was in the central highlands in Vietnam when someone remarked about how the Christians suffer there. One Vietnamese Christian remarked, 'Suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to us. Disobedience to God is the worst thing.'"   --Tom White-- Director of The Voice of the Martyrs Imprisoned in Cuba for 17 months for distributing Christian literature. 1979-80.

Her Last Prayer

Girl - 16 or 17 years old - Asia - 1970's

     The Communist soldiers had discovered their illegal Bible study.

     As the pastor was reading from the Bible, men with guns suddenly broke into the home, terrorizing the believers who had gathered to worship. The Communists shouted insults and threatened to kill the Christians. The leading officer pointed his gun at the pastors head. "Hand me your Bible," he demanded.

     Reluctantly, the pastor handed over his Bible, his prized possession. With a sneer on his face, the guard threw the Word of God on the floor at his feet.

     He glared at the small congregation. "We will let you go," he growled, "but first, you must spit on this book of lies. Anyone who refuses will be shot." The believers had no choice but to obey the officer's order.

     A soldier pointed his gun at one of the men. "You first."

     The man slowly got up and knelt down by the Bible. Reluctantly, he spit on it, praying, "Father, please forgive me." He stood up and walked to the door. The soldiers stood back and allowed him to leave.

     "Okay, you!" the soldier said, nudging a woman forward. In tears, she could barely do what the soldier demanded. She spat only a little, but it was enough. she too was allowed to leave.

     Quietly, a young girl came forward. Overcome with love for her Lord, She knelt down and picked up the Bible. She wiped off the spit with her dress. "What have the done to Your Word? Please forgive them," he prayed.

     The Communist soldier put his pistol to her head. Then he pulled the trigger.

• You're familiar with the old written law, "Love your friend," and its unwritten companion, "Hate your enemy." I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best...to everyone.   ~Jesus~  Matthew 5:43-45

I Will Go Straight to God

Jack Vinson - Kiangsu Province, Mainland China - 1931

     The bandit told the missionary, "I'm going to kill you. Aren't you afraid?"

     Jack vinson replied simply, "Kill me, if you wish. I will go straight to God."

Jack Vinson's courage inspired his friend E. H. Hamilton to write this poem:

Afraid? Of What?

To feel the spirits glad release?

To pass from pain to perfect peace,

The strife and strain of life to cease?

Afraid of that?

Afraid? Of What?

Afraid to see the Saviors face

To hear His welcome, and to trace

The glory gleam from wounds of grace?

Afraid of that?

Afraid? Of What?

A flash, a crash, a pierced heart;

Darkness, light, O Heavens art!

A wound of His a counterpart!

Afraid of that?

Afraid? Of What?

To do by death what a life could not

Baptize with blood a stony plot,

Till souls shall blossom from the spot?

Afraid of that?

• Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those bein mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.  --Hebrews 13:3--
• "If you knew what I know about Jesus, I'd want you to tell me!"  --A favorite saying of a teenage girl who boldly approaches other teens.
• Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count...find out what the Lord wants you to do.    --Paul the Apostle martyred in Rome, 65 AD  (Ephesians 5:15-17)--
• He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.  --Jim Elliot-- speared by headhunters in Ecuador while serving there as a missionary. 1956
• For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. --2 Corinthians 4:17,18
• For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." That is why we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" --Hebrews 13:5,6--
• Some Christians haven't even attempted to think about whether or not they would die for Jesus because they haven't really been living for Him. --DC Talk--