Courageous (The Voice of the Martyrs)

He defended the faith and became Christianity's first martyr. Stephen lived a life full of faith, performing miracles, boldly telling others about Jesus and even serving with others to help widows in their time of need. Then, his courageous witness was silenced. However, the gospel could not be stopped, as his martyrdom caused the gospel to be pushed outside the city walls of Jerusalem and into the surrounding region. Written to inspire children to witness boldly for Jesus Christ, God's Courageous Witness is a reminder of the Holy Spirit's power when we face opposition for the Lord's sake.

Jesus' disciple Thomas rightly earned the title "Doubting Thomas" by refusing to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. He told the disciples, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, I will not believe." Soon after, Jesus appeared to Thomas, shattering his unbelief. Thomas became so convinced of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that he took the gospel to India, where he is believed to have died as a martyr at the hands of Hindu priests. Children will be inspired by his courage to take the gospel to a strange land where his legacy of faith lives on today.

He hunted down the followers of Christ and threw them into prison. However, as he made his way to Damascus to arrest more, Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light. Soon Saul the persecutor became one of Christ's boldest apostles, whom we know as Paul. God's Courageous Apostle highlights some of the dramatic events in the life of the apostle Paul, who founded many of the first "underground" congregations and spent time in prison for his witness. His story will inspire children to share Christ with the lost. THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS is a non-profit interdenominational organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned by Communist Romania for fourteen years for his faith in Jesus Christ. Today VOM spreads the message of the persecuted church and sends help through a network of international offices. VOM is located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and can be found at www.persecuted.com.

Go beyond the St. Patrick's Day symbols of shamrocks and leprechauns and hear the story of a man determined to share the message of salvation with the people who had made him a slave. When Patrick was a young boy, pirates invaded his home and made him a slave on the island known today as Ireland. While there, he recalled the Bible stories that his father had told him and dedicated his life to the Lord. Although he later escaped and returned home, he knew the Lord was calling him back to share the gospel with his captors. Your children will be inspired by the story of this courageous man who returned to Ireland with the gospel despite great opposition.

Buried beneath the sentimental cards and candy hearts lies the story of a man named Valentine who defied an imperial order prohibiting marriage. The emperor, known as Claudius the Cruel, needed all strong young men to enlist in Rome's military, so he forbade them from getting married. When Valentine was caught marrying couples in secret, he was brought before the emperor. Valentine saw an open door to share the gospel with the emperor. Did the emperor choose to place his trust in Christ? Children will be inspired by Valentine, a courageous evangelist who dared to share the gospel with a cruel emperor. THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS is a non-profit interdenominational organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned by Communist Romania for fourteen years for his faith in Jesus Christ. Today VOM spreads the message of the persecuted church and sends help through a network of international offices. VOM is located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and can be found at www.persecuted.com.

Look behind the legends and tales of Santa Claus to learn the true story of a steadfast, godly man who refused to deny Christ and then suffered for His sake. When Nicholas was a young boy, both of his parents died and he used his inheritance to help others. As a grown man, he became a leader in the church. He was later imprisoned under the Roman emperor Diocletian, who imprisoned church leaders in an effort to stop the spread of the gospel. After Nicholas was released, he faced a new challenge: A wrong teaching had infiltrated the church. Nicholas had to stand for truth, but that, too, came with a price. However, it did not deter him from generously giving to those in need until his death. God's Courageous Gift-Giver will inspire children to give gifts to others.