Look at this Scripture with me:
“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” -Acts 8:1-4
When I think about the church being persecuted like in Afghanistan, Nigeria, North Korea, and Somalia, I think about Stephen the first willing Christian martyr. Jesus stood at the right hand of God in his honor.
Think about this, the persecuted and scattered church flourished despite even being dragged out of their house by Saul and imprisoned and killed. Saul was doing what is being done in places in Afghanistan today. And then God saved him!!! He can even save those doing the persecuting! Don’t tell me the gospel isn’t powerful! Don’t tell me Jesus doesn’t save. Don’t tell me the Spirit of God doesn’t radically change lives!
Even scattered and persecuted, they kept on preaching Jesus! May we do the same! For His glory! I’ve counted the cost and Jesus is worth it and He is standing with us!
stephen R Harrison 
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