News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Justin-welby-serious-3-main_article_image.jpg
UK News

Archbishop: Kenyan dead are 'martyrs'

Most Revd Justin Welby is expected to say the dead are "witnesses, unwilling, unjustly, wickedly, and they are martyrs in both senses of the word".

On Thursday gunmen from Somalia's al Shabaab terrorist group stormed the country's Garissa University letting the Muslims go free and killing Christians.

Xinhua News Agency/REX

Reports say the militants opened fire as unsuspecting Christians were praying with their backs turned away from the attackers.

"These martyrs too are caught up in the resurrection: their cruel deaths, the brutality of their persecution, their persecution is overcome by Christ himself at their side because they share his suffering, at their side because he rose from the dead," Archbishop Justin will say, "because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead the cruel are overcome, evil is defeated, martyrs conquer."

The Archbishop will also recall the murder of 21Coptic Christians in Libya last month: "They are martyrs, a word that means both one that dies for their faith and one that witnesses to faith. There have been so many martyrs in the last year."

He'll add: "And all these martyrs in their testimony to the resurrection point at us and ask, "in your comfort, in your great buildings which call out soundlessly to the reality of the risen Jesus, in your well organised societies, you who have lived these many decades under governments that welcome opposition, and that are led by those who seek honourably and honestly to serve the people, are you still witnesses?

"Today are we still witnesses that say, "Jesus is alive"?"

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate