FROM THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS PRESIDENT:
COLE RICHARDS

We are blessed to live in circumstances in which we are protected in many ways against those who might harm us. We have access to security measures, which include police forces at various levels of government, security guards, protective fences, secure doors and locks, and even the availability of weapons for personal defense. In order to fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters in northern Nigeria, however, we must understand that they live under constant threat of abduction and murder at the hands of Islamist militants and enjoy none of the security measures we often take for granted.

Our Christian family members in northern Nigeria are completely outnumbered and outgunned. Their government lacks both the power and the will to defend them. If this were not the case, a discussion about their courage would include their fight to defend their homes, families, and churches. But what does courage look like when there is no means of defending family and property?

“Because of their special courage and inexplicable (supernatural) victory over fear, they are a powerful example of faith for us.”

COLE RICHARDS – VOM PRESIDENT

Living in an extremely dangerous and violent environment — utterly defenseless in this world — has freed our Christian brothers and sisters to focus on the singular pursuit of eternal objectives. Because of their special courage and inexplicable (and therefore truly supernatural) victory over fear, they are a powerful example of faith for us. They have gained this freedom by dying to the desires of this world. They are, as the Apostle Paul describes himself, crucified to the world (Galatians 6:14). This phrase follows Paul’s explanation in Chapter 5 that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (v. 24).

When we are tempted to cling too tightly to comfort, safety, and security in this fallen world, we should remember that we can be truly free only when our desires are anchored in eternity. Otherwise, we are subject to intimidation and fear, which leads to the opposite of courage — cowardice. The enemy desires to incite and use cowardice to silence our faithful witness for Christ.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will use the stories in our magazine to defeat any stronghold of fear in your life. We can be like Emmanuel, who responded to a radical leader’s threats by saying, “I have given myself over to God, and I am ready to die.” When the battles of this world are unwinnable, we can joyfully pay any price to fight the eternal battle. Like our brother Elijah, we can say, “We have made up our minds that it is better to die in battle for God than to die as a coward.