Afraid
Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Saviour’s face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid – of THAT?
Afraid? Of what?
A flash – a crash – a pierced heart!
Darkness – Light – O Heaven’s art!
A wound, of His a counterpart!
Afraid – of THAT?
Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not –
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid – of THAT?
While students at Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute in the early 1930s, Americans John Stam and Betty Scott individually sensed God’s call to serve as missionaries in China. The country was enslaved by idol worship and torn apart by a violent Communist uprising. After leading them separately to China, the Lord brought their lives together in marriage and a shared ministry.
But just three months after the birth of their daughter, Helen Priscilla, John and Betty were captured by Communist rebels. Helen’s remarkable deliverance led to her being dubbed “The Miracle Baby.”
This poem was written by Betty Stam, just before being martyred together with her husband in December, 1934. They were paraded through the middle of town naked, led to the town square where the Communist regime forced everyone to watch.
There they were decapitated for the whole world to see.
The Stams’ powerful testimony was carried around the globe by secular newspapers that featured front-page stories about the young couple’s faith, dedication and martyrdom.
As a result of their deaths, many unbelievers turned to Christ and numerous Christians were moved by the Stams’ sacrifice to become missionaries themselves.
Like the Lord they served, John and Betty Stam reached more people through their death than in their short ministry.
