Kids of Courage

Eric Liddell was a superhero athlete in Scotland. His nickname was “the flying Scotsman” because he ran so fast. When he earned the right to compete in the Olympics as a runner in the 100 meter race, the people in his country were proud and excited.

But Eric decided not to run the race, because it would require him to run on Sunday. As a Christian, Eric believed God did not want him to run on Sunday.

What do you think might happen if an American football superstar refused to play in the Super Bowl because the game is held on a Sunday? Do you think the fans would be angry?

Some people in Scotland were angry with Eric. He was called a disgrace, a traitor, and a “letdown to his own people.”

Eric did win a gold medal in the 400 meter race at the Olympics. He later served as a missionary teacher in China during a time of war. He faced serious difficulties, but continued to surrender to what he believed God was calling him to do. Many people were encouraged to surrender their own lives to God through his example.

The Torchlighters: The Eric Liddell Story is produced by Christian History Institute and The Voice of the Martyrs. It is available for purchase from VOM Books.

Problem
Joseph, a Christian from a Muslim country, told The Voice of the Martyrs about some of the problems Christian youth face in his country and other Muslim countries.

“The Christian young people are looking for someone to follow,” Joseph said.

But the youth and children may not have people who can help them fully understand their faith. And, when Muslims ask them questions about Christianity, they don’t always know how to answer. With no one to guide them, they may become weaker in their faith instead of stronger.

In addition, “In some places, young people have to spend too much time inside their homes because of unrest in their countries,” Joseph reported.

Solution
Can you think of ways to help solve the problems faced by Christian youth in countries where there is unrest? VOM helps by broadcasting a Christian Internet radio program that reaches youth in some Muslim countries. “Many listeners spend hours listening,” said Joseph. “Thousands of young people have developed a friendship with the radio station.”

VOM also helps provide a Christian newspaper written in Arabic. “Christians are using the articles to build their faith,” said Joseph. “It enables them to answer Muslims’ questions which they face in everyday life.”

To Think About
Christian youth in countries where most of the people are Christians may not have the problems faced by Christian youth in Muslim countries. But they still can grow weaker in the faith instead of stronger. What are some things that can prevent youth from growing in their faith? What can Christian kids do to help make their faith stronger?

(To protect their identities, the names of some of the people on this website and some identifying details have been changed. Some of the quotes and stories have been edited and paraphrased from the original sources for clarity.)