A missionary with Africa Evangelical Fellowship included a copy of the following letter. The author is unknown, but is believed to be a young pastor in Zimbabwe who was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ. It was found in his study:

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made -- I'm a disciple of his. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals."
"I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power."
"My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifices, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity."
"I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me. And, when he comes for his own, he will have no problem recognizing me ... my banner will be clear."

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and commissioned them to join the Fellowship of the Unashamed. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8).

The word 'witness' in the original Greek text is 'martus' from which we get the English word 'martyr'. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to be a bold witness to the identity and work of Christ. He is not only willing to die for Him, but also to live for Him on a day to day basis.

The Christian faith is unique in that its founder is the indispensable dynamic for its every demand. Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). The only one who can live the Christian life is Christ. By active faith in His indwelling life we are promised the fruit of Christ-like character (the fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23); Christ-like conduct (the fruit of righteousness Philippians 1:11); Christ-like ministry (the fruit of the gospel- Colossians 1:6) and God honoring worship (the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name! (Hebrews 13:15).

Authentic Christian faith makes Christ the origin of our activity and not just the object. For from him and through him and to him are all things!

We overcome not just by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony but by virtue of the fact that we do not love our lives so much as to shrink from death (Revelation 12:11). The great witness of our authenticity is the fact that we have already surrendered our lives to the cross. We do not need to strive to preserve ourselves. Christ lives in us and empowers us to offer ourselves to a world that desperately needs Him.

May our banner be clear!