August 2023 Persecution Magazine

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AUGUST 2023
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Contents
AUGUST 2023
ON THE COVER
Baby Ruth and her caretaker. Read
more of her miraculous survival and
the care we provided the orphaned
baby on page 10.
Photo: International Christian Concern
FEATURES
10
THE MIRACULOUS
BABY RUTH
The heartbreaking and
heartwarming story of baby
Ruth’s survival.
12
RESURRECTING
HOPE
ICC’s impact on Behnam’s
Iraqi chicken farm.
14
A NEW LIFE IN AN
UNFAMILIAR LAND
Following up on an Afghan
family’s journey to freedom.
RECURRING
04
06
08
16
18
ICC NEWSROOM Your Source for Persecution News
WEST WATCH Issues Involving Christianity in the West
YOUR HANDS AND FEET ICC Projects Made Possible by Our Supporters
CROWNS OF COURAGE Inspiration from Memorable Martyrs
HOPE FOR THE PRESENT Find Hope and Victory in the Message of the Persecuted
@persecuted @persecutionnews @internationalchristianconcern International Christian Concern
OUR MISSION: Since 1996, ICC has served the global
persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of
advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage
the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church
in the toughest parts of the world.
DONATIONS: International Christian Concern (ICC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) (all
donations tax-deductible). ICC makes every effort to honor donor wishes in regards to
their gifts. Occasionally, a situation will arise where a project is no longer viable. ICC
will redirect those donated funds to one of our other funds that is most similar to the
donor’s original wishes.
© Copyright 2023 ICC, Washington, D.C., USA. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce all or part of this publication is granted
provided attribution is given to ICC as the source.
STAFF
Publisher Jeff King
Managing Editor Alex Finch
Editor and Designer Hannah Campbell
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Persecution | AUGUST 2023

Then and Now
I’m so thankful that we help persecuted Christians long-term.
We don’t just pour money into a family or project and then
bail. Much of our in-country work takes months and years of
cultivation.
We meet Christians at their lowest when tragedy has pierced
their soul. We bind their wounds and broken hearts, put them
on a better path, and walk with them during their healing.
That’s what Jesus does for us, picking us up time again, like toddlers
learning to walk through life and faith obstacles.
There are many outstanding humanitarian groups. I have found,
however, after decades in this ministry that it is vital to stay and
invest in lives and regions.
So, while we give emergency supplies to families after attacks in
Africa or the Middle East, what about their schooling? Children
are doomed if we don’t do something about the latter. And that
takes years of rolling up our sleeves with Hope House and Generation
Transformation.
In Nigeria we come alongside persecuted Christians after Fulani
militant attacks. Women often see their husbands butchered.
The widows need food and shelter, but how will they support
their families in the coming months? We set them up with small
businesses like a grocery store or salon thanks to your support.
In this issue, we look back at several people we helped and find
out how they are doing.
Many of you fell in love with Baby Ruth when we shared her
story of hope and tragedy in Nigeria. Did she survive? And how
about Sukru, who had a harrowing escape from the Taliban. We
also look at a chicken farmer – just one aspect of our global communal
farms’ initiatives.
This is just a sampling of the thousands of Christians we successfully
help annually – because of you.
Please join us in praying for the children and families, the widows
and widowers, and the many survivors who so desperately
need the love of Christ. We will continue to walk by their side
through the battle until they plant their feet on solid ground.
God bless each one of you.
JEFF
Jeff King, President
International Christian Concern
Author: The Last Words of the Martyrs and
Islam Uncensored
“For I am with you, and
no one is going to attack
and harm you, because I
have many people in this
city.” - ACTS 18:10
PERSECUTION.ORG 3

ICC Newsroom
YOUR SOURCE FOR PERSECUTION NEWS
Crisis in the Congo: DRC’s Humanitarian Crisis
Escalating Allied Democratic
Forces (ADF) attacks have
created an orphan crisis in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC). When orphaned children
escape to safe havens like Bunia,
they face a wave of refugees and
limited supplies. One orphanage
was built to house 100 occupants.
When ICC visited the center, it was
sheltering 300 children with more
arriving daily.
These young survivors live with
intense trauma from watching
the ADF destroy their homes and
slaughter their parents, siblings,
and friends. Some of them
suffered brutal physical or sexual
violence from ADF captors. If
they escape or are rescued, these
children confront the chance of not
receiving the physical, mental, or
spiritual care they need.
The lack of resources can lead to
devastating consequences that
compound these children’s trauma.
One orphanage supported by ICC
experienced an electrical fire in
one of the buildings, forcing more
than 20 children and workers
to evacuate. While no one was
injured, this event placed a terrible
strain on the already limited
resources of the Christian couple
running the ministry.
“This is an incident we were not
prepared for. It is an emergency
that has thrown us into a panic, and
we are asking that you pray for us
as we adjust to the occurrence and
start the long journey to recovery,”
said the orphanage director.
ICC has already pledged to rebuild
the destroyed property and is
working to raise funds for the
necessary supplies and labor.
ICC has long partnered with this
ministry by providing emergency
funds for necessities like food,
water, medicine, and mattresses.
The road to recovery for these
children and many others is long
and harrowing as they come
to grips with everything they
have endured. ADF continues
terrorizing the DRC, with local
and international governments’
attempts to curtail them proving
unsuccessful. According to the
Congressional Research Service,
the resulting conflict has led to the
deaths of thousands of civilians
and the displacement of more than
6 million people.
Yet, even in the darkness of the
situation, glimmers of goodness
remain. The director recalls,
“We have seen babies grow into
teenagers and get absorbed back
into the community. We have
seen others getting educated and
coming back to assist us… all in all,
we have seen the hand of God in all
this work, and we are determined
to continue rescuing orphans of
war.”
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Persecution | AUGUST 2023

VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PERSECUTION.ORG, FOR THE LATEST NEWS
Bible Possession
Leads to
North Korean
Toddler, Parents
Imprisoned for Life
Killings Continue in Nigeria Farming Communities
Despite Curfew
The Fulani militants, who killed 42
Christians during a night attack last
month in north-central Nigeria, continue
their killing spree despite a curfew
imposed by the government.
Witnesses have told ICC staffers that
at least 100 Christians were killed in 16
villages in the Mangu district of Plateau
State. One survivor who fled with other
villagers watched as the militants killed
her husband, father-in-law, and four
siblings and burned her home. “We did
nothing to them, but the Fulani militants
killed us because of our faith,” she said.
“We don’t have guns to defend
ourselves,” another survivor, who
sustained a gunshot wound, told ICC.
The man lost five family members,
including his wife and father, in the
attack. “The military and police came
when the Fulani militants finished
attacking the village and killing 27 from
my village,” said the man.
Fulani militants attacked another
neighboring community in Kiwi Village,
killing at least 10 people and burning
and destroying homes. “We received
an early sign warning, but the security
officials refused to listen to us,” said
a community member who saw the
attack. “They came after the attack and
carried 10 dead bodies for burial.”
Witnesses said the attacks were wellplanned
and designed to chase Christians
from their farming communities.
North Korea has reportedly
sentenced a family, including a
two-year-old, to life in prison after
the parents were arrested for
possessing a Bible, according to the
U.S. Department of State’s 2022
International Religious Freedom
Report. The child’s parents were
taken into custody after being
found with a Bible, something that
is considered contraband in North
Korea.
North Korea’s government, known
for its tight information control
and religious suppression, faces
widespread criticism for its human
rights record. This latest incident
adds to concerns about the regime’s
opposition to Christianity. As many
as 70,000 Christians and other
religious minorities are imprisoned
in camps.
“The right to freedom of thought,
conscience, and religion [in North
Korea] also continues to be denied,
with no alternative belief systems
tolerated by the authorities,”
António Guterres, the United
Nation’s secretary-general, said in
the report outlining liberty religious
atrocities that have occurred in
North Korea in the past years.
PERSECUTION.ORG 5

West Watch
ISSUES INVOLVING CHRISTIANITY IN THE WEST
Arizona School District Bans All Student-Teachers
Associated with Local Christian University
The Washington Elementary School District in Glendale,
Arizona, ended an 11-year agreement with Arizona Christian
University (ACU) that allowed students to serve as studentteachers,
due to the university’s commitment to its Christian
convictions.
The district board said, “While we recognize the right of individuals
to practice their faith, public schools are secular institutions.
To that end, the board unanimously voted to discontinue its
partnership with ACU, whose policies do not align with our
commitments. This is not a rejection of any particular faith, as
we remain open to partnering with faith-based organizations that
share our commitment to equity and inclusion.”
The board alleged that having student-teachers from the Christian
university would hurt LGBTQ-identifying students.
Nikkie Gomez-Whaley, the president of the board, said she was
concerned that student-teachers would not be able to separate
their work from their religion. She says her hesitation is not
because the students are Christian but because they attend ACU.
“Even though they may not … do anything illegal, where they are
preaching or using Bible verses, how do you shut off an essential
part of your being and not be biased to the individuals in which
you are in charge of nurturing and supporting unconditionally?”
said Gomez-Whaley, according to the Christian Post. “I don’t see
how that disconnect is possible.”
6
Persecution | AUGUST 2023

Student-Led Prayer Protected
at Sporting Events in Florida
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a law – HB
225 – allowing sports teams to provide brief opening remarks
before high school athletic contests. This law protects the
right of students and coaches to lead prayers before their
sporting events, a religious practice and tradition commonly
used by many athletic teams nationwide.
This law comes when Christians face backlash for praying
at sporting events, such as in the case of Coach Kennedy, a
Christian football coach fired from a Washington high school
for praying on the field after games. At the passing of HB 225,
Governor DeSantis stated, “You have a right to free expression
of religion. If the government is denying your right to say a
prayer before the game, they are infringing your speech.”
Christian Loses Job after Refusing to Attend Training Session
that Violated His Religious Beliefs
A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling which supports the
termination of an employee who was fired for his religious beliefs.
Raymond Zdunski, a senior account clerk who served seven years at the
Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in New York, was fired
in 2018 after refusing to attend a training session that violated his religious
beliefs. This state-mandated training was titled “LGBTQ Cultural Competency”
and was presented by a local pride center. After Zdunski told his bosses that he
would not attend the training because it conflicted with his religious beliefs,
Zdunski was let go from the organization.
In his initial letter to the company’s human resource department, Zdunski said
he “… loves all people and does not treat any coworker or any other person
differently from anybody else based upon their sexual orientation” but that
the training contradicted “… the [core] tenets of his faith.”
PERSECUTION.ORG 7

Your Hands and Feet
ICC PROJECTS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR SUPPORTERS
USE YOUR MOBILE
DEVICE TO SCAN THE QR
CODE TO CONTRIBUTE
You Are Making a Difference
In June, we shared the pressing issue of low funds in certain
areas. Your response to the call has been a blessing. Together,
we have made significant strides in alleviating the suffering of
our persecuted brothers and sisters.
One area where your support has made a profound difference is
in India. As you may recall, we witnessed a wave of violent attacks
during the holiday season, leaving hundreds of believers displaced
and traumatized. Radical Hindu nationalists orchestrated these
attacks, resulting in the looting and vandalizing of homes and
churches.
Chhattisgarh and neighboring Uttar Pradesh, the central Indian
states affected by these atrocities, are enduring a severe food
crisis. We need your help to provide vital support to these
suffering families. Our primary goal is to supply 90,000 meals.
Each meal costs just 50 cents.
To date, we have already made a tremendous impact, but there
is still work to be done. We invite you to continue your support
by contributing $25, providing 50 meals to a persecuted family in
need. Your donation will nourish their bodies and remind them
that they are loved and cherished in the face of adversity.
Through your generosity, we can continue our vital work. The
journey is challenging, but with your continued partnership, we
can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.
Here are four more ways you can help:
$20
$100
$500
$20
SUPPLIES 50
MEALS TO A
PERSECUTED
FAMILY IN
INDIA.
CONTRIBUTES
TO HELP
REBUILD A
CHURCH AFTER
AN ATTACK.
HELPS LAUNCH
A COMMUNAL
FARM FOR A
PERSECUTED
COMMUNITY
COVERS ONE
STUDENTS’
ANNUAL
TUITION, BOOKS,
AND UNIFORM.
VISIT WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG/YOU-CAN-HELP TO DONATE AND LEARN MORE.
8
Persecution | AUGUST 2023

Retreat for Church
Leaders Affected by
Turkey Earthquake
The devastating earthquake in Turkey
and Syria earlier this year left physical
destruction and took an emotional toll
on church leaders who were called to
care for the injured and traumatized.
SOUTH ASIA
Distributing 2,000 Bibles
GOSPEL: BIBLES & BROADCASTS
In remote villages in India, access to
transportation and biblical resources
can be challenging. ICC embarked on a
mission to empower local pastors and
their congregations by distributing 20
bicycles and 2,000 Bibles to 20 pastors in
rural India.
Upon their return, the pastors will
distribute the Bibles to members of their
congregation, kindling a flame of faith
and unity within each household.
ICC started the Bikes and Bibles program
to empower local Christian leaders
to provide biblical resources to their
congregations in rural areas.
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took
power in 2014, persecution incidents
among Christians have greatly increased.
In 2014, there were 144 recorded
incidents of religious violence according
to civil society leaders in India. In 2022,
there were over 600 incidents, and 2023
is trending similarly.
Many states have also enacted anticonversion
laws since 2014, statutes
that criminalize most minority religious
activity and embolden mobs to
attack peaceful Christian and Muslim
gatherings.
Working closely with our partners on
the ground, International Christian
Concern (ICC) recognized the need
for crisis leadership training to equip
pastors for future crises and to
provide them with an opportunity
to refresh themselves spiritually and
emotionally.
Last month, we successfully conducted
our first training session. Priests from
various denominations gathered to
discuss and share their experiences.
The course served as a platform for
self-reflection where they discussed
the challenges they faced and
brainstormed strategies for the future.
“The course has been as we expected
and much more,” said one participating
priest. “For me, it has been something
new. In addition to my personal
spirituality, I am now enriched with
knowledge, experience, and skills.”
Thank you for helping us nurture these
resilient and compassionate leaders.
PERSECUTION.ORG 9

The Miraculous
Baby Ruth
The heartbreaking and
heartwarming story of
baby Ruth’s survival.
By Alex Finch
February 2022
..erhaps it’s her
P
captivating eyes –
or the puffy cheeks
and impish smile.
Brimming with cuteness, Baby
Ruth tugged at our hearts and
souls amid an unspeakable
tragedy when we met her two
years ago.
She was perfect and beautiful
in a tangle of violence in northcentral
Nigeria – a glimmer
of goodness and redemption
surrounded by unbearable
suffering and tragedy fueled by
none other than Hades.
Ruth’s mother, Hannatu,
and other villagers fled from
gun-wielding Fulani militants
hunting them in the darkness
just before dawn. Her escape
route cut off by unseasonably
high rains, Hannatu faced her
attackers at a muddy riverbank,
desperately clutching twomonth-old
Ruth.
10
Persecution | AUGUST 2023

“My command is this:
Love each other as I
have loved you ”
JOHN 15:12
Witnesses said the militants demanded
to know the whereabouts of village men.
The mother refused to reveal anything and
pleaded with the attackers to spare her
child. They yanked Ruth from her arms,
shot Hannatu dead, and left the infant in
the mud to die an agonizing death in the
cold. The Fulani extremists continued
their pursuit, finding and killing Hannatu’s
husband, three other family members, and
other villagers – a flood of blood and tears
in a drowned landscape.
It is hard for us in the West to comprehend
the horrors that take place regularly for
Christians in Nigeria. The headlines scream
by us with the number of Christians
slaughtered in the latest attack. It can
October 2021
July 2023
be easy to feel detached because this
hardscrabble place is thousands of miles
away. Killings are so frequent that we
can become desensitized. After the initial
attacks, survivors are left shellshocked,
their homes burned to ashes, and the
clothes they wear their only possessions.
The decades-old violence affects survivors’
families for generations and leaves behind
a torrent of hurt, anger, and hopelessness.
Desperate, Christians do the only thing
they can: call out to the Lord for His
presence and strength with cries of pain to
a loving, heavenly Father. And He answers
and strengthens them, walking by their
side.
A FACE AMONG THE FALLEN
Thankfully, Ruth was plucked from the
ground by survivors that night – a pearl
found at the water’s edge. God bless
them.
Thanks to our supporters, when we
heard about Ruth in 2021, we gave
emergency aid to her caretakers – food,
clothing, and medicine. If we could, we
would tap the storehouses of heaven for
this beautiful soul. ICC staffers checked
in on Ruth over the months. The visits
filled their hearts and cemented their
resolve to serve persecuted Christians in
the Middle Belt region.
Ruth, now 2, gets excellent care from
Hannatu’s surviving younger sister. An
ICC staffer recently visited the aunt and
child in bustling Jos.
“Baby Ruth is doing fine and is healthy,”
said the aunt, playing with the girl. “I’m
taking her to school this September and
to [doctors] because her leg is bent due
to a lack of calcium.”
Ruth was treated at a local governmentfunded
hospital until it closed due to a
worker strike. ICC will help the aunt find
better, private medical care for Ruth
and provide her with food, clothes, and
emergency funds.
Unlike the adults in the village, Baby
Ruth has no recollection of the savagery
that robbed her of her parents and
altered her childhood. She is a joyful,
happy-go-lucky toddler who loves to be
held. The aunt and others in the village
are beyond grateful for the support.
Thank you for sending your love and
prayers to a tiny girl you’ve never met
who lives an ocean and more away.
PERSECUTION.ORG 11

Resurrecting Hope
ICC’S IMPACT ON BEHNAM’S IRAQI CHICKEN FARM
By Hannah Campbell
12
Persecution | AUGUST 2023

“PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. I DO NOT GIVE
TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES. DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE
TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.” - JOHN 14:27
In the war-ravaged city of Qeraqosh, Iraq, where darkness consumes the
once vibrant Christian community, Behnam’s story stands as a testament
to the spirit of resilience.
“The help you provided to me is not forgettable,” he shared. “I was in dire
need because I was drowning in debt.”
Three years ago, Behnam received assistance from ICC, an opportunity that
breathed new life into his struggling chicken farm. The grant allowed him to
weather the storms of loss, enabling him to persevere even when the odds
seemed insurmountable.
“It is not the right thing to abandon the farm without chickens. You saved
me,” Behnam expressed. “I was on the verge of giving up on farming when
you crossed my path three years ago.”
Looking back to 2020, we unraveled the
harrowing tale that brought Behnam
to this point. Before the invasion
of ISIS in 2014, the predominantly
Christian city of Qeraqosh was a hub
for agriculture, particularly chicken
farming. When ISIS swept in, however,
countless farms were ransacked and
the once-thriving economy was left in
ruins.
Behnam had embarked on his chicken
farm just before the ISIS invasion,
driven by a desire to spend more time
with his family. Tragically, his dream
was shattered as he and his family
were forced to flee from the advancing
terror. In the years that followed,
Behnam toiled relentlessly, scraping
together meager savings with the
hope of rebuilding his farm one day.
Behnam was dealt another cruel blow
when his daughter was involved in
a severe car accident. Miraculously,
she survived, but the exorbitant
medical expenses wiped away the
family’s savings. As the dust settled
and Qeraqosh regained a semblance
of safety, Behnam returned to find his
house in ruins, leaving him destitute
and devoid of the means to resurrect
his cherished farm.
ICC partnered with Stand With Iraqi
Christians to provide Behnam with
chicks, fodder, and essential farming
equipment, alleviating the initial
financial burden that had haunted his
dreams. This lifeline enabled Behnam
to rebuild his farm and allowed him to
provide for his family independently in
the long run.
Beyond being a source of sustenance
for Behnam’s family, the resurrected
farm breathes life into the heart of
Qeraqosh. By reviving the agricultural
backbone that once defined the city,
there is renewed hope for restoring a
thriving community.
PERSECUTION.ORG 13

A New Life in an
Unfamiliar Land
FOLLOWING UP ON AN AFGHAN FAMILY’S JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
By Alex Finch
When we last spoke with Sukru toward the end
of 2021, he and his family of three were living
on a U.S. military base, waiting to be placed
somewhere. For four months, a hanging
bedsheet was their only privacy in a drafty Army
barracks shared with other refugees.
However, there was no hint of frustration – only
overwhelming relief and joy. Whatever temporary
hardships they faced were replaced by a gratitude for
freedom and the ability to worship freely. They, unlike
many of their friends back home, were safe.
Sukru and his Christian family had narrowly escaped
the Taliban in Afghanistan.
ICC worked tirelessly to get Afghan Christians out
of the country just before and after the disastrous
takeover two years ago this month and shepherded
many to safety in neighboring countries. Getting
them on planes at the crowded, chaotic Kabul Airport
proved a minefield of trouble.
Sukru and his family spent hours in a dirty canal to
reach the airport, were beaten, and had personal
items stolen. They walked away from their home,
their possessions, and their friends. It eventually took
a kind American soldier, a few friendly contacts, lots
of bureaucracy, and the favor of the Lord for them
to finally board a plane to Kuwait, then to Spain, and
finally to the Army base in the States.
“I count that as one of the biggest miracles,” said
Sukru. “Usually when something hard hits my life, I
say, ‘Oh God, you take the steering wheel.’ The same
thing happened when Kabul fell to the Taliban. I lost
everything. I had no hope and just said there is no
way I can escape this situation on my own. I just put
everything on God … getting out of Afghanistan was
a miracle.”
After months of waiting at the Army barracks, the
family was placed in a small, rural Texas town where
they struggled to carve out a new life in an unfamiliar
land.
“Some of the people I used to work for, Americans,
they take care of us a lot,” said Sukru. “I applied
for food stamps and would go to the food bank.
I had to raise money to buy a car because without
transportation there was no job in our rural area.”
Sukru spent hours learning about the American
banking system, government programs, citizenship,
politics, and education. Still, the paperwork and
bureaucracy for getting services were daunting. But
he slowly laid the foundation for a better life and is
waiting for his green card, which will allow him to live
and work in the U.S. permanently.
“One by one, I must follow these things to be
independent, to make an easier life for my family
here; I knew Afghanistan was not going to be my
country for a long time, so I had to put all my focus
here. What am I going to do, and what future is going
to be here.”
The family recently moved to another, more
cosmopolitan city with greater opportunities and
resources. Sukru’s wife, Helena, will soon take classes
at a university (she gave up a lucrative career and
needs re-schooling to get recertification). Their son
was less than a year old when they fled Afghanistan.
He will soon start pre-K and make new friends.
Sukru works for an organization that helps refugees
like himself settle in America. He walks with them
along the same road he just traveled, helping them
secure housing and find jobs.
The family found a church five minutes from their
14
Persecution | AUGUST 2023

“I just put everything
on God … getting out
of Afghanistan was a
miracle.” - Sukru
2023 UNITED STATES
2021 U.S. MILITARY BASE
2021 AFGHANISTAN
home. Sukru also plans to open a place of fellowship for other
refugees. It will double as a place of worship and a resource
center where refugees can apply for food stamps, learn how to
get a driver’s license, and more. “We want to make a bridge to
their heart as a ministry to God, to help and show them God’s
love.”
So, how are his friends doing back home? What is life like for
everyday Afghans?
“Most of them say, ‘Who knows if we have a tomorrow?’” said
Sukru. “The Taliban don’t have minds set on running a country.
People are dying of hunger and don’t have food. Many have lost
their jobs and are looking for any way to get out of the country,
to go to Pakistan or Iran… anywhere except Afghanistan.”
Most Christians “feel like a sacrificial lamb or sheep tied to a
tree… they don’t know when the Taliban will come for them.”
TOP LEFT: Sukru’s son sits atop of the military vehicles on
the U.S. military base. TOP RIGHT: Sukru and his family in
the United States. BOTTOM RIGHT: Sukru rests after he
and his family spent hours in the dirty canal outside the
airport, with no success at escaping.
PERSECUTION.ORG 15

Crowns of Courage
HIGHLIGHTING THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR CHRIST
United in Life
United in Martyrdom
SISTERS IN FAITH: PERPETUA AND FELICITY
Saints Perpetua and Felicity came into the world from very different backgrounds but left as equals.
Despite their differences, they departed this life as fellow mothers, friends, sisters in Christ, and
ultimately, martyrs.
In the early third century in North Africa, 22-year-old Perpetua was a well-educated noblewoman with a
baby son. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she chose to follow Christ, well aware of the risks that would
come from the Romans – namely Emperor Septimus Severus. Under his rule, it was forbidden to convert to
Christianity, and converts were often subject to public executions by wild animals.
Unlike Perpetua, Felicity was a young slave. At the time of her arrest, Felicity was eight months pregnant.
These women’s testimonies were recorded in a diary that Perpetua kept while she and her fellow sisters in
Christ lived in a dungeon, awaiting execution for their faith. Accounts of this nature are rare for this period,
but even more so from women. Perpetua’s account was prefaced and completed by a firsthand witness.
Leading up to her death, Perpetua was allowed to bring her infant into the dungeon with her. This allowed
her to care for and wean him so that she could safely give him to her family upon her execution. In light of
Perpetua’s looming execution, her father pleaded with her to renounce her faith, but she remained firm in
her convictions.
As for Felicity, during her time in prison, she gave birth to a baby girl who a fellow Christian woman adopted.
Amid the throes of labor, a Roman soldier mocked Felicity, questioning her ability to withstand the painful
execution to come. Defiant against her captors and faithful unto the end, she replied, “Now it is I that suffer
what I suffer; but then there will be another in me, who will suffer for me because I also am about to suffer
for Him.”
On the way to their execution, the women entered the amphitheater singing. While the animals failed to kill
the women, Felicity was knocked down at one point, and Perpetua grabbed her hand and helped her to her
feet. It was eventually decided that the women would be beheaded instead. The witness who concluded
the diary entries noted that Perpetua herself helped guide the gladiator’s weapon to her neck as his own
hands shook.
These courageous believers set an example of fearless defiance against the tyrannical Roman leaders. They
knew that no matter what the Roman guards took from them, from their freedom to their lives, it would all
fall short of earning Jesus’ praise, telling them, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
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Persecution | AUGUST 2023

Photo: The Virgin and Child with Ss Perpetua and Felicity, by an anonymous Polish painter, ca. 1520
PERSECUTION.ORG 17

Hope for the Present
FIND HOPE AND VICTORY IN THE MESSAGES OF THE PERSECUTED
Shipwrecked
WE’RE ALL SHIPWRECKED ON AN ISLAND,
LONGING TO BE RESCUED.
By Jeff King
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Persecution | AUGUST 2023

As strong Christians, we’re living as victims of a shipwreck – as
castaways on a desert island.
A lot of the time, we spend our days watching the horizon, hoping we
will be rescued. We have this feeling that we know we don’t belong
here. And that feeling is absolutely correct.
The problem is, a lot of the time, we begin to think like the island
inhabitants that have no means of rescue. They only live for the island
life. They have to provide for every need because they know they’re
not being rescued. Life is just here on this island and life is going to end
someday.
But of all people, we have something different.
Proverbs 4:18 says the life of the righteous is like the approaching
dawn. What the text is saying is that this life, right now, is in the
darkness. We’re journeying toward the light, and as we get closer, we
see more and more of the dawn that is rising in the night.
Photo: Andreas Dress/Unsplash
PERSECUTION.ORG 19

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