8-25 A Little-known Martyr of the Communists

This Day in Baptist History, E. Wayne Thompson and David L. Cummins

8-25 A Little-known Martyr of the Communists
Scripture: Matthew 9:36

George and Ethel Birch, godly Presbyterian missionaries, were serving near Landaur, India, on September 12, 1918, when the Lord blessed them with a son named John. Two years later, because of recurring malaria experienced by George, Mr. and Mrs. Birch were forced to return to America. The family lived for some time in New Jersey. During that period, they discovered liberalism in their denomination and began to attend a Baptist church. Shortly thereafter, they were immersed.

At seven years of age, John Birch was converted and baptized, and it was apparent that the lad was mentally gifted. At the age of seven, he could read as well as the average adult, and his power of memory was awesome. Because of his ability, he was allowed to skip the sixth grade. Although this resulted in his early graduation, he was still at the head of his class. When John was eleven years of age, his heart was moved toward missionary service. In a missionary rally, he heard the challenge of worldwide missions, and he sat enthralled. Several days later his parents found a note John had left on the living room table which read, “The Lord is calling me to the mission field. I have the answer to the death wail of the lost.”(1) From that day forward there was no question as to what John Birch would do with his life.

The family had continued to expand, and life was hard for the Birch clan. Thus when the Great Depression set in, the family moved down to Georgia. George’s mother had passed away, and some of her estate near Macon, Georgia, had been given to them. In this new location, though there were now seven children to feed, John could attend nearby Mercer University. At Mercer, John excelled on the debate team, and his writing caused an English professor to urge him to become a professional writer. While in college he became embroiled in a theological controversy concerning the inroads of modernism at Mercer, but he graduated in 1939, magna cum laude. After finishing college, John completed a two-year course in one year in a small theological institute in Fort Worth, Texas, and then sailed for China in July of 1940, never to return to his homeland.

In one year John Birch could speak Chinese! After Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attempted to arrest John, but he escaped. He gave himself to the preaching of the gospel and to the encouraging of the saints as he traveled in war-torn China. Surely John Birch’s fame would have grown had the English-speaking world known of his exploits and sacrifices for Christ. While traveling to minister to suffering believers, John was put in touch with Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and the four airmen from his plane. The plane had been ditched in China after their bombing raid on Tokyo. It was John Birch who led them to safety! Seeing the situation, Birch enlisted in the United States Army and served for some time as the Intelligence Officer for General C. L. Chennault. He was able, because of his knowledge of the language and culture of the people, to be of great help in setting up radio contacts. John knew the dangers of communism and witnessed its inroads. Unfortunately, official Washington was oblivious to the situation, and the Communists considered John Birch a dangerous enemy. Near the end of the Second World War, on August 25, 1945, John Birch was murdered by Chinese Communists in Hsuchow, China. His influence for Christ had spread over hundreds of miles where he was known to the nationals as “Bey Shang We,” a title of respect. May God raise up another generation of people who have the answer to the death wail of the world and send them forth with His glorious gospel. DLC

(1) James and Marti Hefley, The Secret File of John Birch (Wheaton, IL: Living Books, p. 36.

”Conservatives- Theology dictates morality/Liberals- morality dictates Theology” Justified Version

[ August 25, 2002, 08:47 AM: Message edited by: Justified ]

 

Why, thank you!

I'm going to try to do one every day!

”Conservatives- Theology dictates morality/Liberals- morality dictates Theology” Justified Version