Amazing Martyrs

“Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church." Acts 8:3

Chapter 8 of the Book of Acts begins with a lot of drama: "A great wave of persecution began that day (after Stephen was stoned). sweeping over the church in Jerusalem." Only the drama was very real, just as it is in the Middle East were people are being martyred, in China where the underground church flourishes in secret, in India, in Africa. 

Francis Chan tells of when he visited China, and visited an underground training place for young missionaries, aged 18-25 years old. He asked them to tell him stories. One young girl said that once she had to hide from government officials and she was so happy she was skinny, because she had to squeeze in between two boards. She could hear them looking around and she prayed hard her back pack would not be seen.  Another guy told him that there were 14 of them, and 3 govt. officials, and they just ran while they were being shot at.  They were puzzled that he was so hungry for their stories. 

"Why do you want us to tell you stories?" they asked. "Because you're all amazing!" he answered.  "Why are we amazing? Jesus said if we follow Him, we will be persecuted. Isn't it like that in your country?"  

And Francis Chan told them that where he comes from, people choose their church on the basis of how the songs are sung, or if there's parking, or if they like the people going there.  And while he was saying these things, the kids were laughing hysterically!

Yes, persecution and martyrdom are happening in many places of the globe today, just as it did in Jesus' time. This does not make sense to us. But Jesus did warn that "..if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...because they do not know Him who sent Me."  These martyrs willing to shed their blood for Jesus know Him, know their Father in a very real way.  Because of them, many Sauls are becoming Pauls!