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how it works

TITLE: Safely Home | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
09/07/15
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Daniel first encountered the concept of martyrs for Christ in a small group setting with others from his church. He’d recently come to the Lord as a new Christian and was still feeling his way, moving from a life apart from God to one of relationship with Him. “What’s a martyr?” he asked when the term came up in discussion.

His friends explained, and suggested he read **Jesus Freaks** and **Foxe’s Book of Martyrs** to learn more. Those books began a journey of learning and awareness. They led him to a broken heart for those who suffered for Jesus’ sake and a desire to serve them even as they served the church through the persecution they faced for standing boldly in their faith. He worked as a volunteer with Voice of the Martyrs and encountered a painting they reproduced that changed him forever. When Daniel saw the image depicted in **Safely Home** conviction overcame him. This portrayal of Jesus holding a martyr who was now in His presence while a ministering angel looked on was almost more than Daniel could bear. He resolved to travel from the comfort of his country to come alongside his brothers and sisters who endured so much.

It proved difficult for Daniel to travel directly to areas of intense persecution. Implementing his Plan B he took an extended vacation from work, volunteering to assist with medical relief in a country bordering one where people fled persecution. He’d once flirted with becoming an EMS Technician and had basic skills to offer. With those he assisted doctors and nurses in a refugee camp. He spent his days holding back tears as they treated victims of machete attacks who had lost limbs, many who were sick from debilitating diseases, and others starving from their flight to safety. At night he visited around campfires and, through either broken English or an interpreter, he came to know the people he’d helped. With his few precious minutes remaining in the day he taught those who desired to gain a better command of English by reading Scripture with them.

As Daniel’s vacation drew to a close rumors swept the camp that a large force of Muslim attackers was near. Because of what they’d already escaped, great fear arose among the refugees. People listened to the wind more intently and the whites of their eyes were the most prominent feature Daniel saw in their faces. Those administering the camp communicated to the nation’s government requesting armed assistance, but none came. Late in the night before his scheduled flight home, horrific shouts arose. Gunfire drowned out the accompanying screams. Daniel emerged from his tent to see hundreds of men raising machetes to strike or mercilessly gun down innocents before them. The last thing he saw was the barrel of an AK-47 erupt in his face.

The government force that arrived the next day found few survivors. They rushed the one white man still alive to the nearest city hospital a hundred miles away. After a week doctors determined that the severity of his wounds required his treatment in an American hospital and Daniel was flown home. With the best of care he teetered on the edge of death. In a semi-conscious state he had the wherewithal to realize where he was being treated and how that contrasted with the fate of his new friends who might have survived.

Mourning, grieving, weeping Daniel slipped from brief lucidity to raving anger to unconsciousness. A worker in the hospital neglected to wash her hands after visiting a particular patient and passed on the MRSA virus to Daniel. His fever rose and his body wasted away.

Daniel’s pastor came to pray over him and spend time by his bedside reading the psalms. God’s Word brought comfort even in his comatose state. But it didn’t bring healing. Daniel lost his battle and slipped away.

At his funeral the pastor spoke of Daniel’s fervent love for the Lord and how he’d served Him to his last breath. Those gathered in mourning and celebration viewed the painting that had inspired Daniel so much he felt compelled to lend aid and comfort to the martyrs he’d come to love. Daniel had gone on his dream vacation. He hadn’t returned the way he’d planned, but now he was safely home.

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To learn more about Voice of the Martyrs, go to: www.persecution.com

To view **Safely Home** by Ron DiCianni, go to http://www.tapestryproductions.com/_productimages/121051.jpg

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