Tortured for Faith
After eight days of being forced to chop wood from sunrise to sunset, Kazim hardly recognised the ax. Once ash white, its handle was now red from his bleeding hands. “Now, will you cast aside this Christ love?” asked Mohammed Shafiq, a village elder. “Now will you come to your senses?” Kazim was bent over, exhausted, thinking of his wife, Yasmeen. Sweat dripped from the tip of his nose; his clothes reeked. He shook his head and exclaimed, “No. Never.”
“You are a fool,” said Shafiq, raising his beating stick high as if he too were chopping wood. His face reflected a blend of satisfaction and frustration. With an audible ‘oomph’, he slammed the stick across Kazim’s well-blistered back. “Ahhh!” Kazim yelled, grimacing and trying to find the will to withstand yet another blow. “Quit loafing,” the elder said. “We need more wood.” Then he swiftly kicked Kazim into the dirt.
A Life Devoted to Christ
Before this persecution began, Kazim farmed by day and evangelised by night. After one of his twelve-hour days, he bicycled home to share a quick meal of chapati and rice with Yasmeen. “You are wearing yourself thin,” she said to him. “You cannot do it all.” He looked at her – the woman whose smile still melted his heart. “The sooner I spread God’s Word, the sooner I am back with you,” he answered, and teasingly took hold of her shawl and pulled her close.
Standing Firm
Another day, while Kazim bicycled to the market, Shafiq forced him to stop. “We know you have prayed in the name of Jesus,” he said. “Our prophet, Muhammad, is a true prophet: your prophet is a liar.” “Jesus Christ is the true and living God,” Kazim replied. “I worship Him and preach His message to other people.” “Is this true?” the elder asked, his eyes squinting in mock threat, he continued, “Well, let’s see what other people think of your worshipping and preaching this Jesus dung.”
To be continued…
Date: 11th January 2025
Martyr: Kazim (Part One)
Location: Pakistan
Source: The Voice of the Martyrs “I am n”
Author: Not Specified
Suffering Saturday 125
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