Tortured for Christ by Victoria

Tortured for Christ by Victoria - May 2017 Scholarship Essay

This radical book was written by a man named Richard Wurmbrand, missionary during World War II. He was a leader for an underground church in Romania, where practicing and even just believing in Christianity was thought of to be a crime punishable by torture.
Government officials were well aware of the fact that there was underground mission work happening and were on the constant lookout for the church's leaders. Eventually, they found him. Once Richard was captured, he still held true to his beliefs, never once denying the fact that he was a Christian. Outraged, the authorities took him to prison
He was tortured in every sense of the word, for several years. Kept alone in an un-insulated, rat infested prison cell, he was given only enough bread and water necessary for keeping him alive. He was placed standing up in a wooden box, with nails all on the interior, a single movement resulting in the piercing of the nails into his worn out, weak skin. He had no choice but to stand, immovable for hours. If all of this wasn't horrible enough, there was the constant thought that the rats would eventually eat him in his sleep to provide food for themselves.
After many horrid years, he was eventually let go, reunited with his wife and children. Even after all of this, he still continued God's plan for him by serving and teaching God’s word in Romania as well as parts of Russia. He was later caught a second time and tortured once again, with no promise of being released. Instead, an act from God. The prison was attacked and all the prisoners were set free by the attackers. That is when Richard was set free, and when he began to write this book telling of his trying times.
This story inspired me because a lot of time in life I get too comfortable with what I’ve been given. It seems as though being raised in America you can do, say, and get what you want and it becomes so easy feel entitled to every want and desire. This is such a humbling thought though because in most other countries it is a fight to even say “this is what I believe in.” Richard shows a lot of endurance and dedication to who he is, this is something I personally lose sight of because I used to be comfortable with being lazy, and often took for granted the great life I’ve been given. Richard Wurmbrand was and is so inspiring I can hardly think of another word to describe his story, still knowing that if he can get through all that physical pain then I can persevere through any other trials life can give you. Finally, and most importantly, this book pushed me to raise my own bar of character.