Martyrs Episodes

In this episode, we discuss The Devil in Pew Number 7 by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo, a powerful true story set in rural North Carolina that explores tragedy, faith, fear, and forgiveness. We dive into the shocking events that unfolded in the small community of Sellerstown, NC, the devastating impact they had on one family, and the remarkable journey that followed. This story raises difficult questions about evil, resilience, and what it really means to forgive when the unthinkable happens.

In this gripping true crime episode, we explore the harrowing and heartbreaking story of Graham Staines, an Australian missionary who was burned alive along with his two young sons by a radical mob in Odisha, India, in 1999.  Even in the face of horrific violence, forgiveness and faith can speak louder than hate.

The trials began in 1692 when a group of young girls in the Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts claimed they were being tormented by local women who were practicing witchcraft. Male Narrator: Curtis Hildreth Music by Isaiah Hildreth Sources: Killing Witches by Bill O’Riley O'Reilly, B., & Dugard, M. (2023). Killing the Witches: The Horror of Salem, Massachusetts https://salemwitchmuseum.com/my-account/history-education/ https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=357...

In December 1934, a young missionary couple, John and Betty Stam, were beheaded by Communist soldiers in Anhui Province along with a Chinese Christian brother named Chang Shushing. Listen to their story here. Male Narrator: Curtis Hildreth Music: Sherry White Sources: By Life or By Death: The Life and Legacy of John and Betty Stam By Andrew Montonera newspapers.com findagrave.com Christianfocus.com https://www.christianfocus.com/blog/2014/12/08/triumph-through-tragedy-the-martyrdom Wheaton Col...