By now you have probably heard of the tragic story of Mariam Ibrahim, a Sudanese Christian.

The Sudan says that she must die because she is Christian.

Mariam has been sentenced to hang. Before they hang her, they will punish her with 100 lashes because she is married to an American Christian. Apparently, her condition–she is pregnant–will have nothing to do with her punishment or her sentence.

Mariam also has a 20 month old boy who is being forced to suffer with her in prison.

Her Sudanese judge gave her three chances to renounce her faith, but she refused. She said, “I am a Christian, and I will remain a Christian.”

Christians are facing persecution and martyrdom around the world. We know this story, but most of those who die are unknown to Christians in America. How could you know of the names and circumstances of thousands of people who die because of their faith? It has been estimated that more than 150,000 Christians are martyred for their faith each year.

What can we do?

First, we can pray. We should not minimize the power of prayer. We often say, “All I can do is pray.” We should view prayer as the most powerful thing we can do. While we hope our president or the Department of State will intervene, we should pray for the power of God to work on behalf of His children who are suffering daily because of His name.

Second, we can ask our government to intervene in other lands and to protect religious liberty according to our constitution in our land. Many in our government are advocating granting freedom of worship but not freedom of religion. This is not acceptable. The first amendment guarantees the right to practice our faith and to make it as much a part of our Monday through Saturday as it is our Sunday.

View the letter of Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention to Secretary of State Kerry here: http://erlc.com/article/ltr-kerry-sudan-ibrahim

Finally, we can thank God for Mariam Ibrahim and so many other faithful believers who counted their faith greater than their lives.

The writer of Hebrews told us about them: “But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world” (Hebrews 11:36-38).

John the Apostle received a vision of heaven. Part of his vision revealed the martyrs of God beneath the heavenly throne. These were those who had been martyred for the word of God and being faithful in their witness. John’s vision indicated that there will be others until our Lord comes in victory and in glory (Revelation 6:9-11).

May we be faithful to the very end.

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