What It Takes to Lead Violent “Sauls” to Christ

Insights From Cole Richards, President Of The Voice Of The Martyrs, On Persecutors Coming to Faith

The following reflection is written by Cole Richards, President of The Voice of the Martyrs. In this insightful passage, he dives into the profound power of the gospel to reach even the most violent persecutors.

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about [Saul], how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.” 

Acts 9:13–14

The only significant difference between Saul’s violent campaign against Christians in Acts 8 and that of radical Muslims today is their method of execution: Saul’s band killed by stoning, while radical Muslims publicly behead their captives. Both are examples of religious zealots pursuing and killing Christians to eliminate what they view as blasphemy and heresy (John 16:2). And like Ananias in Acts 9:13, we see the attacks against our brothers and sisters in Christ and cry out to the Lord, Look how much evil they have done to your saints! 

The violence of Acts 8 continues today, but I am pleased to tell you that the miracle of Acts 9, Saul’s conversion and transformation into the Apostle Paul, also continues. It is our joy to share testimonies from among the many persecutors coming to faith in Christ. Each testimony is a display of God’s glory, and together, their stories serve as a witness of the gospel’s truth and power. 

The story of every persecutor who comes to Christ includes a believer who, like Sheikh, had the courage and compassion to share their faith and commit to disciple someone others feared. Their examples of bold obedience provide inspiration to help us become biblical disciples. If we love Christ, we will obey His commandment to proclaim His truth to all people — including those who violently oppose us (see John 14:15, 21 and Mark 16:15). 

Paul writes that we are meant to be “controlled” (constrained, compelled) by Christ’s love (2 Corinthians 5:14). His love gives us the courage to move forward in obedience, and that love is deepened through understanding that fosters compassion. While we do not excuse the persecutors’ sin, we are compassionate toward their lostness. 

What would it be like to be lost? Think of a Burmese boy growing up deceived by the falsehoods of Buddhism and entirely without access to the truth that will set him free. Do I have compassion for him? It is an important question for those of us who have lived our entire lives with access to or even full knowledge of the gospel message. 

“It is not enough for us to understand that persecutors are living without truth. We must realize they are living without the truth that our Lord commanded us to take to them.”

COLE RICHARDS – VOM PRESIDENT

It is not enough for us to understand that persecutors are living without truth. We must realize they are living without the truth that our Lord commanded us to take to them. 

As we prayerfully seek to obey Christ in this regard, it is important to remember that even the worst persecutors are reachable. Fierce devotees of ideologies that underlie the world’s worst persecution are coming to Christ. I have been blessed by meeting and getting to know many who had once committed violent acts against Christians in the name of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Communism; once our enemies, they are now our brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity.

In Christ,

 

Cole Richards
President of The Voice of the Martyrs

Concluding Insights from Cole Richards, President of The Voice of the Martyrs, On Persecutors Coming to Faith

In conclusion, Cole Richards, President of The Voice of the Martyrs, draws attention to the Great Commission and the power of the gospel to reach even the most violent persecutors. Powerful testimonies of transformation, like Saul’s conversion into the Apostle Paul, continue and are showcased in our free magazine. Cole Richards calls for a commitment to staying true to Christ’s teachings and standing boldly alongside persecuted Christian family members.