Finally, the frustration was too much. “All my time is spent in slave labor!” complained the Czech prisoner, Brother Zavarsky. “Ten hours a day I weave baskets, which the Communists sell for good money. Why did I study so much to be a pastor? Those miserable ones in the service of Communism have high positions at the church now. They preach, they advise, they feed the flock. And I suffer.”

In a forest one day, three young trees all agreed to pray that they would be used for some noble purpose rather than decay from old age.

Since we shared a few stories about Vietnam last week and how our sisters and brothers are being persecuted there, I wanted to open up this week with a story from Extreme Devotion and the importance of our prayers and letters.

“You are lying!” Lieutenant Grecu screamed at the imprisoned pastor, Richard Wurmbrand. “Tell us the truth about your Christian activities and about others in your church! Here, you must write out for me all the rules that you have broken in the prison.”

Though he was being burned at the stake on the order of Spanish authorities, Antonio Herrezuelo’s pain was in his spirit. He realized his wife had renounced her faith in Christ to escape a similar death.

“I spent many years in Soviet gulags,” began the handwritten letter. The text was neat, yet evidenced a small shake in the hand—a reminder of old age and years in prison.

Since it is Monday, I wanted to share with you this beautiful entry from the book Extreme Devotion. I love this story because it reminds me that there is always hope when we are praying for someone who is hostile towards Christ, and it also reminds me what can happen when that soul finds Him. God bless you all today as you serve our King.

Today I'd like to share with you this excerpt from the book Extreme Devotion, and in light of the fact that some of our great The Voice of the Martyrs staff are attending the National Religious Broadcasters Convention this week, I find it appropriate to share how this one sister heard the gospel through radio. Pray for all of those at NRB this week.

“O most merciful Christ,” John Huss wrote while awaiting his execution, “give us a courageous spirit, so that it may be ready. And if the flesh is weak, may your grace go before it, for without you we can do nothing, and above all, without you we cannot face a cruel death. Give us a bold courage and upright faith, a firm hope, and perfect charity, that we may give our life for you in all patience and all joy. Amen.”

When Stenley got off the boat on the remote Indonesian island, he felt the spiritual darkness. The people practiced a combination of witchcraft and Islam. Stenley was fresh out of Bible school and ready for the work to which God had called him, reaching these island people for Christ.