by Angela Girdley

Powerful. Emotional. Inspirational. Overwhelming. These are some of the words that quickly come to mind when I think about my reaction to reading, Daughters of Hope: Stories of Witness and Courage in the Face of Persecution.

I’m reminded of my experience with seeing Saving Private Ryan in the theater. I thought, “Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks . . . must be an interesting, feel-good movie.” Oh man, was I startled. I think it was through about the third handful of popcorn that I realized I was quite mistaken. The Omaha Beach invasion scene did not go well with my buttered popcorn and Kit-Kat bars. To add to the experience, I constantly heard the little voice in my head say, “This really happened to people.”

The introduction to Daughters of Hope was its own sort of Omaha Beach invasion scene. The writers, Kay Marshall Strom and Michele Rickett, along with a team of partners, actually traveled into countries where Christians are persecuted to hear the stories of women who sacrificed many things to follow Christ. OK, stop and think about that last phrase. I’m not talking about the type of sacrifices most of us are accustomed to. I’m talking about real life and death, never see your family again, social outcast kinds of persecution. Twenty-three stories from women across the globe provide a perspective on following Christ that most of us will never experience.

One of the stories is about Zhang Yuan in China who witnessed door to door. The authorities warned her to stop. They imprisoned her husband. When Zhang Yuan continued to witness, even in the face of this pressure, the authorities crushed her feet to prevent her from walking to spread the message of Christ. In a reference to Isaiah 52:7, the authors close the story of Zhang Yuan by telling of her courageous witness even after her feet were crushed, “Today, her crushed feet are more beautiful than ever on the mountain of God” (p. 64).

The little voice in my head reminded me, “This really is happening to people!” My personal inconveniences, bad attitudes, and silly complaints about life and church suddenly began to look petty. I needed to hear these stories. I needed to be shaken up a little. I needed to be reminded that life is not all about my experiences and perspectives. It’s a big world and God is a big God. I also needed to be reminded that the Acts 1:8 “Great Commission” sends us to the uttermost parts of the world. I suspect you may need these perspectives, too. The light of Christ is incredibly bright in the hearts of these faithful Christians in these faraway places. But they need our prayers, support, and encouragement to spread that light to their nations. As the book reminds us, they are our sisters!

I recommend this book. These are true women of God. They are “Every Woman.” They are “Survivors.” Their stories will touch you in your deepest heart, soul, and mind.

Angela Girdley teaches Leadership Studies at Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky. She is humbled when she thinks about the God who knows all hearts, all lives, all experiences in every corner of the world.