Modern Day Martyrs

As I sit in my home on a beautiful day in Midwest America it is difficult to grasp that this kind of thing is going on somewhere else for the sake of the gospel.  We often find it difficult to show up for a worship service or to give a little more money, the cost of the gospel for these men was the ultimate price.

On Wednesday April 18 many people in America were still focused on the aftermath of the massacre at Virginia Tech and had already moved on to inane debates about who to blame (besides the gunman) for the awful tragedy there. On the same day in Turkey, 46 year old German missionary Tilman Geske made his way to his office along with two other Turkish Christians, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel. The three men were heading to a previously arranged bible study with some Islamic “seekers” who had expressed interest in the Christian faith.

It turned out that the five “seekers” weren’t interested in Christianity at all. After Necati read a chapter from the Bible, the five men assaulted the three Christians. The assault turned into a gruesome three-hour torture session.

For more of the details of the story you should read The Voice of the Martyrs or Deny Burk’s Blog.  The details are graphic, but ought to motivate all Christians to more readily take up the cross.  It is also a reminder to pray for the spread of the Gospel and our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are hated for their love for Christ.  I don’t know these men, but I am thankful for them and look forward to meeting them someday. 

(HT:  Justin Taylor)