French forces prepared for a violent response
Terror in Paris—A Different Response
How do we bring Christ into the terror equation?
Dear Friends,
It happened again. More than a hundred senselessly lost their lives and hundreds more were wounded a little over a week ago from horrific terrorist violence. Paris mourns in the aftermath of the cruelty; so many robbed of loved ones. Beirut, Lebanon was targeted just a day after the Paris attack, leaving more causalities. Then came Mali.
Our hearts have felt heavy for those left sifting through the ashes. Prayers for peace and healing rang out around the world.
Now, if we are honest, the mourning has turned to anger. And for good reason. We demand justice for those responsible. We demand a death sentence for those who brought death. I confess that part of me cheered at the photos of French air force jets taking off to strike back at ISIS strongholds.
But is this the most effective method of ending an enemy’s reign of terror? Or should our hearts pause to consider a different response?
The book of Acts reveals an interesting war tactic employed by Jesus after His resurrection. Saul was one of the greatest persecutors of early believers in Christ, but during one of his campaigns to destroy the church, Saul had a life-changing encounter with Jesus on a road leading to Damascus (Syria). His name was changed to Paul, a man who then became one of the greatest missionaries of all time (Acts 9).
Jesus could have killed Saul on that road, ending a wave of terror against the Church. Instead, Jesus changed the root (heart), and the resulting fruit of Paul’s life actually caused the Church to grow exponentially!
Can this happen again? What if there was a way to change the heart of ISIS?
Most of you know that Heaven’s Family has been on the front-lines, meeting the attack of ISIS head-on with rescue and relief initiatives. It’s also time you were made aware of a much more covert assault on the enemy, one that disarms his forces and transforms the very people he controls into great heroes for the Kingdom of Light!
That assault is being led by my friend Thomas, who operates a very special safe house that is turning modern-day Sauls into Pauls. Residents at the safe house are former Muslim radicals who have had incredible conversions to Jesus. And like Saul, many of these converts were forced to flee the very persecution they once perpetrated on others.
At the safe house, these former persecutors first receive the counseling and restoration they so desperately need to cleanse their past. The greatest part comes next when most of these new believers then begin training so they might return to the very areas where their former evil lives were manifested. But this time, they don’t go to kill. Instead, they seek to infiltrate the dark strongholds and offer the same transformation through Jesus that was offered to them.
Join the Movement
As a result of the Persecuted Christians Ministry, Thomas and his safe-house team—along with the many other undercover missionaries Heaven’s Family supports—have resources to bring light. There are many more persecutors who, like Saul, are on their own roads to Damascus. Let’s continue to change their stories.
With a grateful heart,
Ben Croft
Director, Persecuted Christians Ministry
