The church in this province had only existed for mere months. And that’s not just this denomination or specific gathering; it was the first and only gathering of believers for a hundred kilometers. And now the fledgling group of Christ-followers was facing a test: persecution. Some new believers had been followed through streets and alleys. Others had received threatening phone calls. One was called in for a meeting with the secret police, who covered his head and drove him to a different city to interrogate him.

Things had been peaceful during the initial months. This was something very new. We ceased meeting as a large group. It was difficult. I couldn’t escape thinking about it. It consumed my thoughts.