Martyrdom, by Ignatius' time, already appealed to believers intent on doing great things for Christ. The early Christians venerated martyrs, the dates of whose executions grew into a calendar of saints, and wearing a martyrs halo is still extremely popular. But martyrs' halos do no come in the mail.

A great amount of persecution faced by Christians today results not from what they believe, but from what they own, and from where they come. Missionaries in poor countries lose their possessions, and sometimes their lives, because people associate them with foreign wealth. Other "martyrs" lose their lives in political conflict. But does have having our vehicles and cameras stolen, our children kidnapped, or being killed for political "correctness," assure that we have "witnessed for Jesus"?

Real martyrs for Christ do not wear halos. They only carry crosses. Most people, even Christians, quickly discredit and forget these martyrs. Real martyrs suffer persecution, not like "great heros of the faith." but like eccentrics and fools. Ordinary people usually consider them fanatics. Does this disappoint or alarm you? Do not worry. Reading this book about Russia's "underground" believers will assure you that if you are a typical Western Christian you will never face persecution. You will never have to be a real martyr for Christ.

Only if you are not typical -- if you choose to be a "weed that floats upstream" -- you may want to know the secret by which Russian Christianity survived through a thousand years of suffering.

Updated: April 30, 2002

Contents

Introduction

1. Speaking Without a Tongue
2. Snow, Fire, and Gold
3. Old Russia--Its Heart and Soul
4. Not With Observation
5. Christ Victorious
6. With Him
7. The Antichrist
8. Nonconformity
9. Nemtsy
10. Bread and Salt
11. Mysteries and Miracles
12. Salt and Light
13. An Explosion
14. Ivan
15. Christ in Camouflage
16. The Kingdom Within
17. A Rainbow
18. The Lion and The Bear
19. Red Sky at Sundown
20. Risen and Forever Alive
21. The Pilgrim's Way
22. Survival