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| Those suffering for Christ in prison must not be forgotten. They are our brethren, our friends. We must remember them as though we were suffering by their sides. (Hebrews 13:3) You are a Jesus Freak...I am a Jesus Freak...They are Jesus Freaks. We are Jesus Freaks I have re-deisgned this page to honor those suffering for Christ, but I have also re-designed this page to encourage you to also be willing to suffer for Christ's sake. The torture persecuted Christians face is nothing compared to the grace that will one day be revealed within us. (Romans 8:18) So, without further adue, I present the true Jesus Freaks. May their stories shape your life and their courage melt your heart. |
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| "We die with gratitude" Chiu-Chin-Hsiu and Ho-Hsiu-Tzu Jiangxi, Mainland China During the Red Guard Era, 1966-69 The two Christian girls waited in the Chinese prison yard for the announced execution. A fellow prisoner who watched the scene from his prison cell described their faces as pale but beautiful beyond belief; infinately sad but sweet. Humanly speaking, they were fearful. But Chiu-Chin-Hsiu and Ho-Hsiu-Tzu had decided to submit to death without renouncing their faith. Flanked by renegade guards, the executioner came with a revolver in his hand. It was their own pastor! He had been sentenced to die with the two girls. But, as on many other occasions in Church history, the persecuters worked on him, tempting him. They promised to release him if he would shoot the girls. He accepted. The girls whispered to each other, then bowed respectfully before their pastor. One of them said, "Before you shoot us, we wish to thank you heartily for what you have meant to us. You baptized us, you taught us the ways of eternal life, you gave us holy communion with the same hand in which you now hold the gun. "You also taught us that Christians are sometimes weak and commit terrible sins, but they can be forgiven again. When you regret what you are about to do to us, do not despair like Judas, but repent like Peter. God bless you, and remember that our last thought was not one of indignation against your failure. Everyone passes through hours of darkness. "May God reward you for all the good you have done to us. We die with gratitude." They bowed again. The pastor's heart was hardened. he shot the girls. Afterwards he was shot by the communists. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot Speared by headhunters in Equador while serving there as a missionary. 1956 "A Christian Is Chosen by Jesus Christ" Mehdi Dibaj Iran 1994 "Men choose a religion, but a Christian is chosen by Jesus Christ. To be a Christian means to belong to Christ. Jesus asked me to renounce even my life, to follow Him faithfully, not to fear the world even if my body must perish. I prefer to know that God, the almighty, is with me, even if it means that the whole world is against me. "I am in God's hands. For 45 years I have walked with the God of miracles, and His goodness is for me a shadow that protects me in His love. "The God of Daniel, who protected his friends, protected me during my nine years in prison, and all torments changed to my good, so that I have the fullness of love and gratitude. "Of all the prophets, Jesus alone was resurrected from the dead, and He remains our living Mediator forever. I gave my life into His hands. For me, life is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is the privilege of getting to be with Him." Pastor Mehdi Dibaj of Iran was on trial for his life, and these words were the defence he gave in court. An upper-class Muslim, he and his family had converted to Christianity. He had dared to translate Christian radio programs and books into the Farsi language. He was arrested in 1985 and accused of apostasy, denying the Muslim faith. For this, he faced the death penalty. In Iran, social and political pressure is sometimes used to force Christians to recant their new-found faith in Jesus Christ. Some are even tortured. Dibaj was imprisoned alone for two years in a cramped hole with no room to stretch his legs. While he was in prison, his wife, Azizeh, left Dibaj and was forced to marry a Muslim. When Dibaj steadfastly refused to deny his faith, the court condemned him to death. But after one month he was set free because of international attention that had been brought to his case. Soon after this, however, he was found dead in a park. It is believed by some that Islamic leaders had called for his execution. Despite losing their father, his four children remain faithful to Jesus Christ. As he faced the court that would sentence him to death, Pastor Dibaj said, "I prefer to know that God, the Almighty, is with me, even if it means the whole world is against me." He had learned the secret of being able to stand alone among men -- Standing with God. "Gospel Flames" Ten Christians Mainland China During the Red Guard Era, 1966-69 Ten brothers and sisters in Christ were imprisoned, beaten, and bound. They had preached with tears streaming down, causing the passers-by and street-sellers, Christians and non-Christians, to stand still and listen. Even the fortune-tellers were moved by the Holy Spirit and burst out crying. Many people hearing the Word forgot to eat, work, or even return home. The brothers and sisters preached until they were exhausted, but the crowd would not let them leave. The authorities, however, came and dragged the Christians away one-by-one, binding them with ropes and beating them with electric-shock poles, knocking them unconsious. When they revived, they continued to pray, sing, and preach to the bystanders. When they were bound and beaten, many people noticed a strange expression on their faces, and the crowd saw to their amazement that they were smiling. Their spirit and appearance were so lively and gracious that many were led to believe in Jesus by their example. When the brothers and sisters in that area saw them bound and forced to kneel on the ground for more than three days without food or water, beaten with sticks until their faces were covered with blood, their hands made black by the ropes - but still praying, singing, and praising the Lord - then they too wished to share persecution. In this area recently, the flame of the Gospel has spread everywhere! "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 there to worship. The communists shouted insults and threatened to kill the Christians. The leading officer pointed his gun at the pastor's 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 upi the Bible. She wiped off the spit with her dress. "What have they done to Your Word? Please forgive them," she prayed. The communist soldier put his pistol to her head. Then he pulled the trigger. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are. Peter the Apostle (Martyred in Rome, AD 65) "Employ Your Whole Power Upon Me!" Probius Roman Empire Circa AD 250 Probius was whipped until the blood flowed, then laden with chains and thrown into prison. A few days later, he was brought out and commanded to sacrifice to the heathen gods. He knew that he would be tortured and killed if he refused. Still he courageously said: "I come better prepared than before, for what I have suffered has only strengthened me in my resolution. Employ your whole power upon me, and you shall find that neither you, nor the Emporer, nor the gods you serve, nor even the devil, who is your father, shall compel me to worship idols." Probius was sent back to further tortures and eventual death by the sword. You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. C.S. Lewis [All of the above articles are from the book "Jesus Freaks," courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs.] ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Martyrs of a Different Time: 459: Death of Simeon Stylites who spent 36 years on top of a pillar praying, fasting, and preaching. His first pillar was nine feet high, his last more than fifty feet tall. 909: A French Duke offers Berno of Blaume the land for a monastery at Cluny. Cluny becomes a center of reform for three centuries. Crusader king, Richard Lionheart 1192: Richard I ("The Lionheart," who will become king of England) negotiates a treaty with Muslim general Saladin to allow access of Christians to the Holy City, ending the third crusade. 1415: Bohemian and Moravian nobles send a document to the Council of Constance upholding Hus and saying they will fight. 1636: John Brebeuf, Jesuit missionary, baptizes the first Iroquois ever to become a Christian. The man, a Seneca chief, is later tortured to death. 1857: Francois Coillard sails for Cape Town in Trafalger. This man of sweet disposition gave up scholarly pursuits to win Africans to Christ and did such brave feats as risking a hail of bullets to plead for the lives of Christians. 1973: Death of J. R. R. Tolkien, at age 81. A linguist and novelist, he was also a devout Catholic and created the fantasy favorites The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Fans of C. S. Lewis know that Tolkien helped lead him to Christ. [The above information, courtesy of "Martyr's Day Remembrance." _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death. Revelation 12:11 Martyrs of the Bible: Jesus Christ The very first martyr in the name of God is of course, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Of that there is no question. His death on the cross for all mankind, for all generations is the first, indeed most important, case of martyrdom for Christianity. Stephen The next martyr was Stephen. His deaths was a direct result of his preaching the Gospel and the faithful manner in which he exclaimed the glory of the Lord, even unto those betrayers and murders of Christ. Stephen was stoned to death in the street at Passover the Spring following Jesus' Crucifixion. The outrage Stephen caused was so great that there was great persecution of the Church through the regions of Judea and Samaria, particularly in Jerusalem. It is said that over 2,000 Christians suffered persecution and death as a direct result of Stephen. James (the Great) The next martyr was James, the son of Zebedee, elder brother of John. James' martyrdom was about 10 years after the death of Stephen. This occurred under the hand of the infamous Herod Agrippa who was determined not only to persecute the Christians but indeed annihilate them. James was undaunted when confronted with his impending death; when he was brought to the place of martyrdom, he continued to preach and exhort those around. His main accuser was so moved by the Apostle's conviction, this man repented and fell down at James' feet! Then, both men were beheaded at the same time! Philip Born at Bethsaida, in Galilee, he was one of the first to be called 'disciple'. He labored for Christ throughout Upper Asia and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison and then crucified. Matthew Matthew was the tax collector that left all when Jesus simply said 'Follow me.' He was born at Nazareth. He wrote all of his gospel in Hebrew, but thanks to James, Jesus' brother (actually step-brother), the Gospel of Matthew was translated into Greek. Matthew labored for our Lord in Parthia, and Ethiopia where he suffered his death being slain by chopping apart by halberd. James (the Less) This disciple of Christ was supposed by many scholars to have been the brother of our Lord by a former wife of Joseph. He was the head of all the Churches of Jerusalem and the author of the Epistle in the New Testament bearing his name. At the age of 94, he was beaten and stoned by the Jews, still not dying they bashed his brains out with a club. Matthias Less is known about him than most of the other disciples, but he was elected to fill the place of Judas. He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded. Andrew He was the brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations; but when he arrived at Odessa, he was seized and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground; hence the derivation of the term, St. Andrew's Cross. Mark Mark was a Jew, born of the tribe of Levi. Very important tribe in the Jewish nation. He was converted to Christianity by Peter. In conjunction with Peter, he wrote the Gospel of Mark in the Greek language (instead of Hebrew which was his natural tongue). Mark was literally dragged and torn to pieces by the people of Alexandria. Peter The blessed Apostle Peter, the one whom Jesus declared to build his Church upon, was condemned to death at Rome by Nero. However, Peter had several, indeed many opportunities to escape. Many offered Peter refuge. He refused all. Peter recounts that while he was at the Gate of the city, preparing to flee, he saw Jesus Christ come down to meet him; worshipping Christ, Peter said that the Lord indicated that he was come again to be crucified. By this, Peter perceived that he was to be crucified for the Lord, and returned to the city. He ask that he be crucified with his head down and his feet upward, he being unworthy to be crucified in the same form and manner as the Lord. Paul Paul also suffered persecution and ultimately death under the hand of Nero. Two messengers of Nero, Ferega and Parthemius, were dispatched to Paul to tell him of his impending death. When they got to Paul, he was preaching the Word of God and instructing people in the way of the Lord; these messengers indicated that they too wanted to believe and wanted Paul to lead them in prayer. As Paul bowed in prayer, they beheaded him. Jude The brother of James was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Odessa. Bartholomew He preached in many countries, often translating the Gospel into the native language, including India where he was cruelly beaten and crucified. Thomas Also called Didymus, preached the Gospel in Parthia and India, where the pagan priests killed him by thrusting a spear through him. Luke The evangelist and author of the Gospel that carries his name. He traveled with Paul through various countries. He was hanged to death from an olive tree in Greece. Simon Preached the Gospel in Africa and even Great Britain, where he was crucified. John The 'beloved disciple' was a brother to James (the Great). He founded many Churches, including Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira. Captured at Ephesus, he was taken to Rome where he was put into a cauldron of hot, boiling oil. By a miracle of God, he was taken out without any injury! Domitian immediately banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where John wrote the book of Revelation. He is the only disciple of Christ to escape violent death. [Courtesy of "Christian Martyrs."] ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Christian Martyr Links: Martyr Quiz. Do you know your history? Christian Web Ring. Find more Christian Martyr Links. JFII. Jesus Freaks! Voice of the Martyrs. Fabulous organization helping persecuted Christians. DCTalk. Christian band that wrote the true book of Martyrs,"Jesus Freaks." _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Got any tales/links of Christian Martyrs? Send them my way! [email protected] More stories & links to come soon. {home} All rights reserved. Courtesy of Patrick Levis: Our brother in Christ, 2001-2003. |
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