Peter ·  8 years old · Philippines · 1992

“We have your nephew,” said the handwritten note. “If you surrender to us, we will return the boy to his parents.”  Brother MT stared a t the message.  It was from the leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.  People in many parts of the Philippines have been threatened and persecuted for years by this group of terrorists.

Brother MT is an evangelist in the Philippines.  He travels regularly into the mountains to preach to the terrorist groups.  Peter, his eight-year –old nephew, frequently went with Brother MT on his evangelistic trips.  He was a special help to him in children’s meetings in the mountain villages.

Because of pressure from the NPA, Brother MT was often forced into hiding.  Still, as a result of his ministry, some of the NPA soldiers had given their lives to Jesus Christ and left the organization.  MT had counted the cost and was prepared to give his  life for the Gospel, but he was not prepared for this!  He knew there was no hope that his surrender would save his nephew.  He knew they would both be killed; still, he hesitated.

The boy’s parent insisted that MT ignore this order and continue his evangelistic outreach.  As a result, the parents gave their son for the Gospel.  Peter was killed on Good Friday, April 17, 1992.  He was tortured for three hours and suffered very much.  His hands were tied with wire, and the terrorist struck him in the legs and head with an ax.  Finally he was beheaded.

The abductors have warned the boy’s parents and MT that if they do not stop their ministry, they will return and torture them.  Brother MT is continuing his dangerous work in the mountains among the terrorist groups

 

 

A minister I had heard of in Romania had been horribly beaten and was thrown back into the cell with the other prisoners.  He was half-dead, with blood streaming from his face and body.  As some of the prisoners washed him, others cursed the Communists.  Groaning, the minister said, “Please, don’t curse them!  Keep silent!   I wish to pray for them.” 

Richard Wurmbrand
Spent 14 years in a Communist prison
Romania
1940s, 50s, and 60s

Taken from "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs, Bethany House Publishers, 1999.

http://www.jesusfreaks.net