Since the first century, Christians have endured persecution. Yet in the midst of death, the Church remained alive and hopeful remembering Jesus’ promise, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
“Persecution of Christians wakes a slumbering church. This call to remembrance and prayer reminds us that the blood of the martyrs has always been the seed for a revived church. May we remain sober-minded and fall to our knees in prayer for God to stir our hearts to obedience.”
(Gabe Lyons, World Magazine, Christian leaders unite in call to prayer for persecuted church: http://www.worldmag.com/2015/02/christian_leaders_unite_in_call_to_prayer_for_persecuted_church, 21 Martyrs: http://21martyrs.com)
21 Martyrs
Twenty-one lives
Kneeling on sand
Twenty-one fell
At his command
Twenty-one prayers
On Rock, they land
Twenty-one souls
They kneel; they stand
Twenty-one call, “Jesus!”
His blood cries from the sand
Twenty-one take His hand
© February 21, 2015, Robbie Pruitt
“We give thanks to you, O Lord our God, for all your servants and witnesses of time past: for Abraham, the father of believers, and Sarah his wife; for Moses, the lawgiver, and Aaron, the priest; for Miriam and Joshua, Deborah and Gideon, and Samuel with Hannah his mother; for Isaiah and all the prophets; for Mary, the mother of our Lord; for Peter and Paul and all the apostles; for Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene; for Stephen, the first martyr, and all the martyrs and saints in every age and in every land. In your mercy, O Lord our God, give us, as you gave to them, the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the first-born of many from the dead. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 838)
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