Richard Wurmbrand: A Voice in the Dark

Christians in America, England and Western Europe know little, if any, persecution; this is not so for Christians elsewhere in the world, even today. Thanks to the faith and perseverance of Richard Wurbrand, his wife Sabina and countless others, the modern persecuted church has a voice in the dark. This book is very well written, captivating and bittersweet. Catharine Mackenzie is adept at drawing the reader in. The details of Richard's imprisonment and faith come alive; the reader gets a real sense of the agony, fear, sadness and unspeakable joy that comes when a soldier of Christ walks faithfully, even thankfully, with his Lord in times of great trial. You get a sense of how Richard's deep understanding of Scripture and memorization of God's Word was immensely helpful to him and others during his imprisonment and after his release. He touched countless lives while imprisoned and his legacy continues today with organizations like Voice of the Martyrs and others. The suggested age for this book is 9-14 year olds; the material is at times difficult to read as it details the squalid conditions, torture, Godless heartlessness and times of despair. There are also lighthearted moments and respites of joy and laughter. It is a gripping story, one hard to set aside and one that will stay with you. One that will hopefully move you to prayer and evaluation of your own faith. The back of the book contains a helpful timeline as well as discussion talking points. It would make a great addition to any homeschool curriculum studying this period and the effects of communism. Footnotes within the book explain a few key terms.

In addition to the material previously written I would just like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the work of Richard and Sabrina Wurmbrand. They have both now gone to be with Jesus Christ in heaven - yet they have left behind them a legacy of strength, honor, friendship and an uncompromising faith in Christ. Many will follow in their footsteps as they have followed in Christs. They both suffered, they were both persecuted, they both endured and in the midst of the darkness their joy in Christ was beautiful. I only met them through the printed page yet from a young age I was changed by their witness, the strength they received from God, their love for Christ and their love for other believers... the suffering church.