Lives Given, Not Taken: 21st Century Southern Baptist Martyrs

The title, "Lives Given, not Taken" by Erich Bridges and Jerry Rankin is the story of 8 Southern Baptists missionaries killed in the last three years by terrorist bombs and drive-by shootings in Yemen, Philippines and Iraq. It is a strong reminder of the cost of following Jesus and serving in some of the most challenging places. I needed something from God in light of recent deaths we have had recently in our organization. God spoke to me through the commitment of all of these missionaries. Reading this book was very helpful for me and was very important to be reminded of the cost of service. These were lives that were gladly given in service to God. From Page 223, " The pain is deep, the grief prolonged. We do not readily get over the abrupt loss of a colleague and a friend. The death of a son or daughter, husband, father or brother, wife, mother or sister, leaves an ache in the depth on one's soul. The vibrant smile is gone; the hearty laugh is silent. The intimate sharing with a mentor and encourager has ceased. We cannot understand why one devoted to serving the Lord would have his or her ministry cut short or why the light of a testimony in a dark world would be extinguished. Yes, we grieve. A missionary team feels a glaring gap when one of its members is no longer there. A family who has been accustomed to separation and only occasional fellowship during a periodic furlough, struggles with the reality that the loved one will not be coming home again. Our Lord identified with our grief in the loss of a friend, and we know that He identifies with us still. It is not incidental that His abiding presence in the person of the Holy Spirit would be identified as the `the Comforter', the One who comes alongside us and brings peace to our troubled hearts and grace to minister to our need." He goes on to talk about grieving, hope and obedience to God that underlined why we do what we do and why we live the way we live. It reminded me not just of the most recent deaths but of those who have died during our organizations short history. I think that we all need find ways to better remember and honor those who have served with us. The Southern Baptists have had 18,000 missionaries in 160 years of history and fewer than ninety have been killed, mostly in accidents. Twenty-nine have been murdered, many in the course of robbery or shooting that had nothing to do with their Christian witness. Jerry Rankin's introduction, " Why Do Missionaries Go to Dangerous Places?" and his epilogue, "May We Who Follow Be Found Faithful." are worth the entire book. This book is highly recommended.