HE WAS obviously worse for the wear of six months in a third world prison but his eyes sparkled when he spoke of his crime. Out on parole, he was back on the street with the message that had sent him to prison.

I'd been sent to appeal to the government for leniency in his case. Our brother was an English professor at the university, but his passion was preaching the gospel.

His crime was teaching others about Christ, and this time he had been caught in the illegal act of baptizing two men who were also imprisoned for “changing their religion.“ The law stated that citizens were free to practice their religion but it was illegal to change one's own religion or teach and encourage others to do so. As my friend explained his alleged crimes I ask him about the appeals process and he said, “The law is clear. I will lose the case and go to prison for six years. The appeal process is just buying me time.“

Knowing that he had recently returned from abroad, I asked why he had come back to face six years imprisonment. With his wife and three small children beside him, he looked surprised at my question and said, “What kind of example would that be for the other Christians here if I ran away at the first opportunity? I must stand in my place!“