Martin Journal Entry: No Sacrifice Too Great

By E. Scott Martin

I am in a meeting in an undisclosed country. I cannot post photos. With me here are the global leaders of the Church throughout the region. I am greatly humbled as I sit with these men and women and hear their courageous stories of suffering resulting from the fact that they are Christians and stories of their victories where their love for their enemies has conquered hate. I am greatly challenged.

One person shared their story in Iraq. They were arrested during the Saddam regime and put in prison. This prison was called the red building because the interior was completely painted blood red. They were told to surrender their name and they were given a number; they would never depart this place alive. Those who entered the red building left as a corpse.

This person was beaten and tortured for the cause of Jesus. But they remained faithful and shared the love of Jesus with their cellmates. The cell held six people and it was only 6-feet by 7-feet and completely dark. This person was stripped completely naked and was not permitted to wear glasses because “they wouldn’t be needed in the red building.” People came to Jesus in the red building because of the life and testimony of this person. Some of those who came to Jesus did not make it out of the red building alive.

When the United States of America military invaded Iraq, this person was set free as the Saddam regime tried to hide any evidence of human rights violations. Can I tell you that this Iraqi is grateful for the day that the U.S. invaded Iraq? Like Peter out of prison, my friend went home, surprising the family, as they had received no communication in four months. They did not know if their loved one was dead or alive.

Today, my friend is the leader of one of the greatest movements for Jesus Iraq has seen. Love conquers evil and there is no sacrifice too great for the cause of Jesus in their hearts and minds.

This is the region we live in and it is a privilege.