Be Strong and Courageous

On March 21, 1556, Thomas Cranmer was put to death for his Protestant beliefs. Cranmer was an influential leader during the English Reformation. He helped promote the translation and use of the Bible in English and played a key role in producing the Book of Common Prayer, which guided Protestant reforms in the English church and continues to influence worship in many churches today.

When Mary I of England came to power, she sought to restore Roman Catholicism throughout England. As a result, Protestant leaders like Cranmer were placed in great danger. He was eventually arrested and martyred for his faith.

When I read about the lives of Christians who faced such persecution, I often reflect on my own walk with the Lord and wonder how it would hold up under intense pressure. At the same time, I am filled with gratitude for the freedom we have to worship openly—something many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world still cannot do. Many believers continue to gather quietly and courageously, worshiping under the threat of imprisonment or worse.

In the coming days, two teams from our church will be going out into the harvest to encourage fellow believers abroad and to serve as ambassadors for the hope we have in Christ. As we take these trips, we recognize that there are always risks involved—from travel itself to the challenges we may encounter along the way. We also know we have an enemy who would love to see these efforts fail. I ask our church family to pray that we would stand firm in faith, much like Cranmer and many others who have gone before us.

My heart is especially drawn to the closing words of the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus teaches us to pray for protection from temptation and deliverance from the evil one. While we are away, we will face many decisions, both big and small. Our prayer is that in every moment and every choice, Christ would be honored in all that we say and do.