Tortured for Christ(The extraordinary story of 1 man's victory over Communism)

World Net Daily ^ | July 16, 2005 | Ron Strom

[kellynla]

He was an outspoken anti-communist with the scars to prove it, a former Jew who embraced Christianity with uncommon devotion, and a visionary whose life was dedicated to helping believers who suffer for their faith.

He was Richard Wurmbrand, founder of leading Christian-persecution organization The Voice of the Martyrs.

As WorldNetDaily reported, Wurmbrand began Voice of the Martyrs in 1967 after enduring years of imprisonment and torture at the hands of Communists in his native Romania.

As a young married man in 1937, Wurmbrand and his wife, then Jewish, traveled to a small village in Romania where Christian Wolfkes, an old carpenter who had been praying that he migth share the Gospel with a Jew, gave them a copy of the New Testament. Wurmbrand and wife Sabina eventually converted to Christianity.

Richard Wurmbrand

As a pastor in Romania during World War II, Wurmbrand sought to reach out to occupying soldiers with the Gospel. He and Sabina, however, suffered repeated beatings and arrest by the Nazis. Jewish family members perished in Germany's concentration camps.

A decision in 1945 would shape the rest of Wurmbrand's life. A bio on the Voice of the Martyrs' website states:

1945: Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand attend the "Congress of Cults" arranged by the Romanian Communist government. As many religious leaders come forward to swear loyalty to the new regime, Sabina Wurmbrand tells her husband to "wipe the shame from the face of Jesus." Richard, knowing the outcome of such an act, steps forward. The delegates believe he too will praise the new leadership, but, to their surprise, Richard tells the 4,000 delegates that their duty as a Christian is to glorify God and Christ alone.

[Tax-chick]

My 5-year-old is named for Sabina Wurmbrand. VOM is one of my favorite ministries.

However, since both the Wurmbrands are dead, I wonder why WND is running their story as news right now?

[anonymoussierra]

Ping thank you

[nmh]

VERY impressive!

"In his book "In God's Underground," Wurmbrand describes the various horrors he suffered in prison: sleep deprivation; starvation diet; forced to race around his tiny cell for hours until he collapsed; beatings with truncheons and boots; water funneled down his throat until it filled his stomach, which was then violently kicked; the soles of his feet flogged Inquisition-style; guards urinating and spitting into his open mouth; drugged into delirium; and terrorized by dogs kept inches from his throat. "

I believe him when he states he saw Christ. TRULY a man of God. Voice of the Martyrs is a testament to what people will go through for Christ.

Maybe it is a slow news day for WND or maybe they want to remind us of what true Christians will endure for Him.

[kellynla]

better late than never... :-)

but I thought it was a very heart warming story

[SittinYonder]

ping

[Tax-chick]

they want to remind us of what true Christians will endure for Him

Which is always a good idea! We've been getting the VOM newsletter for 7 years, I guess, and it's really been life-changing for me and the kids.

[saint]

Th Voice of the Martyrs is one of the few ministries not weighed down by denominational and doctrinal baggage, in other words, religion. Just pure Christian service as it should be.

[Gucho]

Ping


Thank you.

[Eagles6]

Thanks. I read VOM every month. Always stories of decent, courageous people. Gives one hope.

[anonymoussierra]

:}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}"Be very vigilant"good friend thank you

[anonymoussierra]

:}}}}}}}ping

[blackie]

He sounds like a hero to me ~ Bump!

[anonymoussierra]

He is:}}}}}}}}}}}}thank you"blackie"

[anonymoussierra]

"As a pastor in Romania during World War II, Wurmbrand sought to reach out to occupying soldiers with the Gospel. He and Sabina, however, suffered repeated beatings and arrest by the Nazis. Jewish family members perished in Germany's concentration camps."translation pl-eng
"In goodness you'll find happiness; in Holy Cross you'll find salvation. Stories like this don't come out of nowhere. It gives you strength and example of what love is. Enjoy and think."thank you all

[blackie]

Thank you Sara!

[NYer]

"In his book "In God's Underground," Wurmbrand describes the various horrors he suffered in prison: sleep deprivation; starvation diet; forced to race around his tiny cell for hours until he collapsed; beatings with truncheons and boots; water funneled down his throat until it filled his stomach, which was then violently kicked; the soles of his feet flogged Inquisition-style; guards urinating and spitting into his open mouth; drugged into delirium; and terrorized by dogs kept inches from his throat. "

Surely, this Jewish convert is now before the Beatific Vision!

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

The Voice of the Martyrs is a wonderful organization, and their fight for the rights of Koreans trapped within the vast gulag known as the DPRK-probably this planet's most imperiled believers-is simply remarkable.

Something that always struck me about the Wurmbrand family is the depth of their compassion, which even extended to the likes of the Ceausescus, who presided over one of Eastern Europe's most loathsome, utterly ruthless Communist autocracies, which encompassed the Securitate, outside of the Stasi probably one of the Warsaw Pact's most devious internal security services.

They certainly embodied the best aspects of Christianity.

Let's hope that their glorious mission will be perpetuated for future generations of the faithful.

[Tax-chick]

Excellent post, G. I keep asking VOM to make available the portrait of the Wurmbrands that appears in the newsletter, so I could put it on the wall with Pope John Paul II and Father McGivney, but that haven't done it yet.

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you good friend"Do not dub me shapka broham"
"Love is pyramid of life; love dwells in heart; it unites with most Holy Divinity; for its love that brings peace in heart; hate is hell; love itself is sacrifice; for there is nothing else left."