Revelation 20:4 “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
Kenny and I began serving at Emmanuel Faith high school ministry as “core group leaders” in 2011. For the next 12 years we made dear friendships and had the privilege of knowing some incredible teens through Sunday mornings, mission trips and camps/retreats. So many faces, so many memories over the years.
Spring of 2015, the youth group staff tried something . . . instead of meeting at the church building each Wednesday night, we met one week of the month in small groups, divided by grade, in local area homes. The goal was to foster a stronger sense of community within each class—seniors, juniors, etc. A group of 16-17 year olds crowded onto our couch and living room floor one evening.
There was bible study, discussion, and ample time for the kids to share prayer requests and pray together. Typical high school prayer requests were made: a sick family member, an upcoming test, tryouts for sports teams. And then, one young man hesitantly raised his hand. I’ll never forget where he sat, nor the words that came out of his mouth that evening,
“It’s been on the news; four days ago some Egyptian Christians were killed, ISIS kidnapped them and beheaded them . . . for their faith in Jesus. Two of the men were my Dad’s cousins.”
I struggled to process the teenager’s words. Two of his family members had just been BEHEADED——FOR FOLLOWING JESUS.
So we did the only thing that made any sense at that moment. We prayed aloud to God Most High, who sits on His throne, but who was also present with 21 disciples, faithful men in orange jumpsuits, on a sandy desert ridge, killed ruthlessly that February Sunday. They had not renounced their faith, they had not denied their Lord. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. God pulled back the curtain and showed the Apostle John a picture of hope. John’s big brother James had also been beheaded! (Acts 12) I bet John clasped his hand over his mouth and tears sprung in his eyes at the sight of his brother James, alongside 21 Egyptian Christians, as they “came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
Donielle Winter
EFCC Member