Three Martyrs

Although many Christians have died for various causes in North America, in my opinion, there have been only three martyrs, that is, people who were killed expressly for their Christian faith, while carrying out the mission (at least in what is now the USA):

- Juan de Padilla - in 1542 - in what is now Kansas. He accompanied Coronado on his expedition and search for the “Seven Cities of Gold,” going as far north as what is today called “Coronado Heights” near Lindsborg, Kansas. When Coronado left, he stayed behind to evangelize the Indians. The first group received him well. When he went to a neighboring tribe, he was warned that they would likely be violent. They were. They killed him.

I was at the marker of his death two weeks ago, a symbolic pile of stones and a cross on a hill one mile south of Council Grove, Kansas.

- Cassie Bernall. April 20, 1999. When the two shooters came through Columbine High School near Denver, it is reported that one of them asked, “Anyone here believe in God?” Cassie Bernall said “Yes.” They killed her. Although the story is disputed by some, Cassie Bernall‘s mother wrote a book about Cassie entitled She Said Yes.

- Charlie Kirk, September 10, 2025. One year ago today.

I am only one among millions of persons who knew / met Charlie Kirk. I don’t claim to know him super well at all. We only talked three times, and probably never texted more than 10 or so times. But I know this:

I have been a believer on this journey of sanctification much longer than Charlie, yet I learned things from him by his walk in personal holiness.

By virtue of being a pastor in the Wesleyan Church - a holiness denomination - I tried to proclaim personal holiness. Charlie preached it more succinctly and powerfully than all of us.

I am considerably more educated than he is, yet I learned things from him every time I heard him speak.

I have attempted to be a faithful apologist for our blessed faith, but I could not hold a candle to him.

I have tried to be a consistent evangelist for many decades, but in his life, and most certainly in his death, more people have now been exposed the the purity of the gospel than at any time in history.

I have a PhD in historical theology… attempting to track spiritual developments, but in Charlie’s martyrdom, the glorious gospel of Jesus is being presented on legacy media, media in general, and social media in a way I have never seen. My sensing is the gospel has been presented to more persons since September 10 than ever in history.

This was one stunning life. And to think, he accomplished all this in his teen years and his 20s. There are few “Joan of Arc figures” in history. Very few. He is one.

Lucas Miles is the leader of TPUSA Faith. He is watching this from the “inside”. He has never seen anything like this.

We are witnessing the precursor of a global (NOTE: GLOBAL!) revival and reformation so many of us have prayed for and worked for - for so many decades. Maybe this is not merely the precursor. Quite possibly, we are IN that great revival.

This is a remarkable time…IF…IF we will see it, and seize this moment.

Those who are wimpy and timid, who fear “being political,” are going to miss it. How do I know? They are, by their FB posts, missing the spiritual importance of martyrdom of Charlie. They think it is merely “political.” They totally miss Charlie’s passion. It was JESUS. Yes, that has political/governmental repercussions, but his focal point was spiritual. It was Christ.

The discerning know this. They see what is happening in the Spirit. Those who are dull in spirit cannot grasp what is happening in the realm of the Spirit

His last name is Kirk. That is “church”, or “ekklesia.” A new form of the ekklesia might be breaking out now.

His first name means “free man” or “warrior.” That word terrifies the weak. They don’t comprehend what real SPIRITUAL warriors look like. They like being “Mr. Nice Guy.” They like to be liked. They want the accolades of other humans more than they fear God.

Charlie did not seek popularity. But he was popular because he was bold for truth.

PRAYER:
“Lord, raise up 1,000,000 new, bold spiritual leaders, “little Charlie Kirks..." leading the new emerging ekklesia. Amen.”

One continent. Three martyrs. 1542, 1999, and 2025.

I propose an idea: Declare September 10th to be “Martyrs Day” in the United States, in honor of all three of them (and in honor of those who are yet to follow in their footsteps).

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