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Martyred missionaries in China - John and Beth Stam, 1934

Recently, we discovered a young missionary couple who were beheaded by Communists in the early 1930's. Martyred in their early 20's, they orphaned a 3-month old baby girl. Being in China for just a year or so, their lives ended just like that. Sometimes we wonder why God takes away people's lives so quickly, especially those who have dedicated their lives for the Gospel. To us, it seems logical that God keep such fervent, passionate, kingdom-driven people to reach out to the unreached of this world...but sometimes, these are the type of people God does take home at an early age. One blessing of this provision of God is the inspiring life stories these martyrs leave behind for us modern day Christians. It is true that the blood of the martyrs are the seed of the Church.

Beth Stam was such a lady. As a child growing up in China with missionary parents, she wrote a lot of poetry. One in particular seems to be well known. She wrote this at the age of 18, just years before her death. When being chased by Communists in China, she snuggled up her infant and lay her under a pile of pillows and blankets, tucking two $5 bills in the blanket. When a poor Chinese national heard of the Stam's execution, he quickly searched for this orphaned babe. Can you imagine after 3 days of no sleep, no comfort of the mother's breast, no food, this little girl survived! And those two $5 bills allowed this poor man and his family to flee and find refuge for the babe. She was later adopted by her aunt, but wanted to be kept anonymous.

We want to share Beth Stam's poetic prayer. I had the privilege of sharing this with our women in the church. And now, each woman has a nicely crafted bookmark with this prayer. We pray this would be the cry of our hearts...

Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes
All my own desires and hopes
And accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all
Utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit
Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt
And work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost now and forever.

"At any cost" meant a bloody death for John and Beth Stam. What cost are you willing to pay for God to fulfill His purposes and will in your life?

Posted by Ted on November 16, 2005 07:50 AM