One day I mourned; it could have been any day and in many places in our broken world. I simply mourned and prayed to the Father of all comfort, because of the martyrdom of three young Christian men, one a pastor, in Izmir, Turkey. This hit me on several levels, not the least of which is that I visited this beautiful, historic city just a little over five months previously.

In the city (ancient Smyrna - one of the 7 cities of the Revelation churches) where Polycarp, the disciple of St. John and fa ollower of Jesus, made his final confession of faith and loyalty to Jesus in word, fire and blood, there continues today opposition, hostility, evil and fear, engendered in the hearts of some men and women, revealing darkness but also the shining stars of hope and of good. It is when the night is darkest that the stars shine most bright. "And the darkness has never been able to put it out" - the Light that has come into the world.

Those martyrs of that month were the first known recent martyrs in Turkey since the more recent founding of the republic. There was an assault, gruesome and with hideous atrocities attending, barbarities reminiscent of medieval times. Two of the victims, Necati, 36, and Ugur, 32, were converts from Islam. The third man, Tilmann, 46, was a German citizen.

Four of the five young men arrested for the murders, all between 19 and 20 years of age, admitted during interrogation that they were motivated by both "nationalist and religious feelings" and they had done this '"for our country." A note in the pockets of all five young men read, "They are attacking our religion."

There is a need for constant prayer for justice, mercy and the ability to forgive others who cause so much needless pain. The spouses, families, a fiance and the church had shown remarkable forgiveness. We need courage to face the times that may yet come to any of us who are faithful followers of Jesus.