Richard Wurmbrand grew up an atheist in Romania. He said, “…it was just not that I did not believe in God or Christ- I hated the notions, considering them harmful for the human mind. So I grew up in bitterness towards religion.” After being given a Bible drenched in prayer by an old carpenter and his wife in a Romanian mountain village, Richard realized that God accepted him as his own and surrendered his life to Christ. Soon afterwards, his wife Sabina also surrendered her life to Christ.
Pastor Wurmbrand said, “In the first days after my conversion, I felt that I would not be able to live any longer. Walking on the street, I felt a physical pain for every man and woman passed by. It was like a knife in my heart, so burning was the question of whether or not he or she was saved. If a member of the congregation sinned, I would weep for hours. The longing for the salvation of all souls has remained in my heart and the Communists are not excluded from it.”
On February 29, 1948 Dr. Wurmbrand was kidnapped by the secret police on his way to church. Describing the torture inflicted by the secret police, Dr. Wurmbrand said, “We Christians were sometimes forced to stand in wooden boxes only slightly larger than we were. Dozens of sharp nails were driven into every side of the box, with their razor sharp points sticking through the wood. We were forced to stand in these boxes for endless hours; when we became fatigued and swayed with tiredness, the nails would pierce our bodies. If we moved or twitched a muscle- there were the horrible nails.”
“It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners, as it is in captive nations today. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us- so everyone was happy.
"The following scene happened more times than I can remember. A brother was preaching to the other prisoners when the guards suddenly burst in, surprising him half way through a phrase. They hauled him down the corridor to their "beating room." After what seemed lie an endless beating, they brought him back and threw him- bloody and bruised- on the prison floor. Slowly, he picked up his battered body, painfully straightened his clothing and said, 'Now, brethren, where did I leave off when I was interrupted?' He continued his gospel message!"
Pastor Wurmbrand was imprisoned from 1948 to 1956 and then again from 1959 to 1964 for his mission work to the Russians and Communist Romanians. Sabina was imprisoned in a labor camp from 1948 to 1951. In December 1965, they left Romania and moved to the U.S. where they began being a voice for persecuted Christians to the Western world. In October 1967, Pastor Wurmbrand published the first issue of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter. Pastor Wurmbrand died on February 17, 2001 and Sabina died on August 11, 2000.
Pastor Wurmbrand was imprisoned from 1948 to 1956 and then again from 1959 to 1964 for his mission work to the Russians and Communist Romanians. Sabina was imprisoned in a labor camp from 1948 to 1951. In December 1965, they left Romania and moved to the U.S. where they began being a voice for persecuted Christians to the Western world. In October 1967, Pastor Wurmbrand published the first issue of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter. Pastor Wurmbrand died on February 17, 2001 and Sabina died on August 11, 2000.
The Voice of the Martyrs
1815 SE Bison Rd.
Bartlesville, OK 74006
www.persecution.com
Excerpts and information from Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand. To purchase a copy of Tortured for Christ visit Persecution.com.
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