Some of the bravest martyrs this generation may ever know are teenagers—and perhaps even younger.
When Islamic State militants threatened four children in Iraq—all under the age of 15—with death if they did not promise to follow Islam's "prophet" Muhammad, they defiantly stated, "No. We love Yasua (Jesus). We have always followed Yasua."
Andrew White, an Anglican priest known as the "Vicar of Baghdad," has seen violence and persecution against Christians unprecedented in recent decades. In a CBN News video embedded on this site, he recounts the story of the Iraqi Christian children who were told by ISIS militants to convert to Islam or be beheaded.
"ISIS turned up and they said to the children, 'You say the words that you will follow Muhammad,'" White says on the video.
"The children, all under 15, four of them, they said, 'No, we love Yasua. We have always loved Yasua. We have always followed Yasua. (This spelling is similar to the Hebrew name, Yeshua, which is translated "Jesus" in English and Spanish.) Yasua has always been with us,'" White recounted. "[The militants] said, 'Say the words!' [The children] said, 'No, we can't do that.'
"They chopped all their heads off."
White's account does not make clear whether he personally witnessed the children's martyrdom, nor does it say where in Iraq this occurred.
"How do you respond to that?" he asked rhetorically. "You just cry. They are my children. That is what we have been going through. That is what we are going through."
"[Militants] say to one man, an adult, 'You say the words of conversion or we will kill all of your children.' He was desperate. He said the words. Then he phoned me and said '[Father], I said the words, does that mean Yasua doesn't love me anymore? I have always loved Yasua. I said those words because I couldn't see my children be killed.' I said, 'Jesus still loves you. He will always love you.'"
Find out more about White's ministry, The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, which provides humanitarian assistance to many of the Christians under attack by ISIS.
Want to get involved and help out? Here are 8 Ways You can Help Victims of Christian Genocide today.
-Shares
-
See an error in this article? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Related topics: Christians | Iraq | ISIS | Islam | Islamic State | Islamist terror | martyrMyles Egbert Munroe discovered his life's purpose at age 13, not long after a school teacher ...
"Sometimes Protestants think that Catholics worship Mary like she's another god," ...
The pop star talks about the "ritual of prayer" and how her song "Devil Prays" ...
First, actor Christian Bale calls Moses barbaric and schizo. Now this ... will you be paying ...
With Nativity scenes going up across the country, you can expect some atheist backlash. Here's ...
"As soon as I took the piece of red tape that said 'LIFE' on it, I started shaking."
Not all signs related to the Second Coming are negative. Here are seven encouraging and exciting ...
It is good for us to examine ourselves and ask the hard questions: Are we rightly representing our ...
Parents, are you sure your teens aren't sexting? Studies show most are. Here's what you ...
"Those who hate Christ want to eradicate anything that reminds Americans of Christianity."
It is essential for us to know how to receive and activate God's supernatural (and often ...
See all the specials on the top 12 Christian gift ideas for Christmas 2014.