Posted on 12/13/2003 7:02:01 AM PST by miltonim
Their first interview was with a group of young boys whose village had been attacked by Islamic soldiers. The elderly and infants were killed on the spot. Twenty-seven children, 14 boys and 13 girls, were taken to a military camp about 9 miles from their village. That evening, the boy's hands and feet were tied behind their backs and they were ordered to deny Christ. Each refused. Burning coals were piled on the ground in front of the boys. As they refused to deny their faith, they were held over the burning embers. Still, they refused to deny their faith.
-------------
MUSKOGEE, OK (ANS) -- "It is inconceivable to think someone would kill in a house of worship," Janet Reno said after seven people were fatally shot by 47-year-old Larry Gene Ashbrook at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Forth Worth, Texas. Think again, Janet.
More Christians have been killed for their faith in the 20th century than have been martyred in the total history of Christianity. As you sit in a comfortable pew and worship this beautiful Sunday morning, there are Christian men, women, and children in sixty countries around the world who are imprisoned, tortured, and sold into slavery for the same privilege.
In the last six months, more than 25 evangelical pastors have been killed and up to 300 churches destroyed in Colombia. In January of this year, Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons Philip and Timothy were brutally murdered. In Sudan, Christians are sold into slavery. In Sri Lanka, churches are burned and pastors fear for their lives.
A few months ago, members of Voice of the Martyrs, founded by Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned for fourteen years for his participation in the Romanian underground church, traveled to Sudan, Vietnam, and Indonesia to film testimonies. Their first interview was with a group of young boys whose village had been attacked by Islamic soldiers. The elderly and infants were killed on the spot. Twenty-seven children, 14 boys and 13 girls, were taken to a military camp about 9 miles from their village. That evening, the boy's hands and feet were tied behind their backs and they were ordered to deny Christ. Each refused. Burning coals were piled on the ground in front of the boys. As they refused to deny their faith, they were held over the burning embers. Still, they refused to deny their faith. The older boys escaped that night and were placed in a refugee camp. The younger boys died. No one knows what happened to the girls. These boys lifted their dirty shirts and showed t! he terrible scars on their stomachs
Another Sudanese Christian named Alex stopped the crew and begged for a Bible. He had been praying for two years to receive a Bible. He shared that in his village, there was one Bible for 200 believers. A difficult concept for American Christians who own several Bibles, which might be carelessly tossed under the bed or lie unread on the shelf.
November 14 marks the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. An estimated 100,000 churches will take part. Perhaps it can be taken a step further and taught in Sunday school or in our families. Blankets, clothing, medicine, and encouraging letters could be sent to organizations such as Voice of the Martyrs -- http://www.persecution.com). Others who work with the Suffering Church include Open Doors with Brother Andrew - http://odusa.org - and ASSIST Ministries --- http://assist-ministries.com.
In a day that Christianity is increasingly mocked and held up as intolerant and outdated, Janet Reno and even our towns and cities must understand that persecution has a new face in America. It is not inconceivable that there will come a day we have to prove we belief in our faith, especially in light of recent events -- events, which have caused me to look deep inside myself and at the state of Christianity in America. 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV) says "These (trials) have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." I wonder. If American Christians were put on trial today for our faith, would there be enough evidence?
Rod Parsley, the so-called televangelist, supports the Voice of the Martyrs.
Inconceivable indeed. Those 24 poor children in Waco.
Is that Janet Waco's idea of a bad joke? Mt. Carmel was a Christian commune.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.