21st Century Christian Martyrs

Revelation 6:9-11

The Seals

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice,

“How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”

11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

New International Version (NIV)

About the Martyrs

Ever since I can remember, I have always had a love for the saints and martyrs, that willingly gave themselves to God. This must have been a direct gift of grace, because as a child I did not have a Christian upbringing and never once heard a ‘saint’s story’. My parents never attended church. The only prayer that I prayed as a child was “Now I lay me down to sleep”. I remember, at age 10, wanting a Bible for my birthday, and there I learned of Christ’s death on the cross for me. Greatly shaken and after many tears, I decided with childlike resolve that I would also be willing to die for Him.

Unfortunately, this holy desire was buried deep in my heart by the cares and woes of a broken family, the teen years, wrong choices and life’s circumstances. I was so far away from God by the age of 14 that I forgot my First Love. Still I thirsted and searched in all the wrong places. I found my way back to Him at age 24 and entered into the Orthodox Church, where He fed and refreshed my heart and soul. There I remembered these holy seeds planted long ago: love of God and truth, love of His saints and a small child’s desire to be counted as one of them.

Today I hope to share with you in some small way my love for God and His saints by compiling a chronicle on these holy ones. It is my prayer that they will always be remembered by the Church Militant. These are the modern day saints and their martyrdom is now. You will find they are Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. These are the martyrs that have come out of the Small Tribulation. These are the 21st century martyrs. These men, women and children endured to the end and received their crowns of Eternal Life. Perhaps together through their prayers and with the help of God, we can make a small beginning in holiness and emulate them.

Grant it O Lord, according to Your will, that through Your grace, (not on our own merit, power, strength, or any such thing) that we may become lovers of truth, filled with the Holy Ghost. Grant us to trust wholly in You and not fear life’s circumstances. Grant that we may remain steadfast and faithful to You at all costs, even unto death.

O Holy New Martyrs of the modern times, pray unto God for us!

Prayers of a Martyr

God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.

Words of a Martyr

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Jim Elliot, 1949

Written in Africa by a man imprisoned for his faith who was later martyred:

“The dye has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, or back away. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future secure. I’m done with low living, sight walking, small planning colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals: I no longer need pr-eminence, prosperity, positions, promotions, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer and labor with power. My face is set, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of the lord Jesus Christ.”