God's Courageous Witness

He defended the faith and became Christianity’s first martyr. Stephen lived a life full of faith, performing miracles, boldly telling others about Jesus and even serving with others to help widows in their time of need. Then, his courageous witness was silenced. However, the gospel could not be stopped, as his martyrdom caused the gospel to be pushed outside the city walls of Jerusalem and into the surrounding region. 

Jesus’ disciple Thomas rightly earned the title "Doubting Thomas" by refusing to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. He told the disciples, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, I will not believe." Soon after, Jesus appeared to Thomas, shattering his unbelief. Thomas became so convinced of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that he took the gospel to India, where he is believed to have died as a martyr at the hands of Hindu priests.  

He hunted down the followers of Christ and threw them into prison. However, as he made his way to Damascus to arrest more, Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light. Soon, Saul the persecutor became one of Christ’s boldest apostles, whom we know as Paul. God’s Courageous Apostle highlights some of the dramatic events in the life of the apostle Paul, who founded many of the first "underground" congregations and spent time in prison for his witness. His story will inspire children to share Christ with the lost. 

When Patrick was a young boy, pirates invaded his home and made him a slave on the island known today as Ireland. While there, he recalled the Bible stories that his father had told him and dedicated his life to the Lord. Although he later escaped and returned home, he knew the Lord was calling him back to share the gospel with his captors.  

Buried beneath the sentimental cards and candy hearts lies the story of a man named Valentine who defied an imperial order prohibiting marriage. The emperor, known as Claudius the Cruel, needed all strong young men to enlist in Rome’s military, so he forbade them from getting married. When Valentine was caught marrying couples in secret, he was brought before the emperor. Valentine saw an open door to share the gospel with the emperor. Did the emperor choose to place his trust in Christ?  

When Nicholas was a young boy, both of his parents died, and he used his inheritance to help others. As a grown man, he became a leader in the church. He was later imprisoned under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who imprisoned church leaders in an effort to stop the spread of the gospel. After Nicholas was released, he faced a new challenge: A wrong teaching had infiltrated the church. Nicholas had to stand for truth, but that, too, came with a price. However, it did not deter him from generously giving to those in need until his death.