You suffered along with those in prison. (Heb. 10:34)
Expanded Passage: Hebrews 10:32-39
A few years ago I took a group of students with me to China. While there, we heard about Christian men who were being beaten and thrown into jail. Their jail sentences would last up to three years. However, instead of seeing their time of imprisonment as wasted time, some of them used it to preach God’s Word to the other inmates. One of these men shared, “The government thought they could stop me from starting up a church, but little do they realize that there is a church right in their own prison.”
We were told that one of these prison churches had over three hundred people attending worship services. Upon being released from prison, some of these Christian young men would go home and spend a period of time with their families, getting reacquainted and enjoying being with each other. Then they would boldly go to the marketplace and preach the gospel, even though they knew that it was very likely that they would be thrown into prison again.
The wife of one of these men shared, “I am willing to make the sacrifice of having my husband imprisoned again, especially because I know he is able to go back and disciple those who have been converted. No sacrifice is too great for Christ!”
Thank God for believers who willingly suffer to spread the gospel.
Jim “Umfundisi” Lo is a retired professor from Indiana Wesleyan University, cross-cultural leader, intercessor, and author of several books published by Wesleyan Publishing House.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
