The Day of the Christian Martyr was commemorated on 29 June, remembering the 4,000 Christians a year (or 11 per day) killed for their faith.
Release International held a live Facebook event with a short video presentation featuring interviews with courageous Christians serving in Iran and Nigeria, where many believers are dying for their faith.
The interviews included Rashin Soodmand, the daughter of Hossein Soodmand who was the last Iranian Christian to be executed for apostasy – converting to Christianity.
Rashin’s father began his journey towards the Christian faith after an unexpected act of kindness by a Christian woman he was persecuting. As a child, he threw stones at the ‘unclean’ Christians who collected water. After breaking a woman’s bucket, he ran, tripped, and fell heavily. But instead of beating him, the woman cleaned up his injured knee and showed him love. When Hossein later became a Christian minister, he was arrested and tortured to try to make him renounce his faith. He was given the stark alternative: give up on Christianity or be executed. He was hanged in 1990. Shortly before his death, he wrote: ‘I am a follower of the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am ready to sacrifice my soul for my sheep. For me to escape from this persecution would cause the hearts of my flock to become cold and weak … I am ready … if necessary, to give my life.’
Release CEO Paul Robinson added: ‘On The Day of the Christian Martyr we remember our brothers and sisters in Christ who have given their lives for their faith – to be inspired by their example and make every day count. Please pray for Christians in Iran and Nigeria who are laying down their lives for Jesus.’
