Eleven years ago the world watched in horror as members of the Islamic State brutally beheaded 21 Christians on a beach in Libya. Images from the 2015 executions of 21 “people of the cross” on a beach in Libya are seared into the memory of millions. The victims, 20 Coptic Christians from Egypt and one Christian from Ghana, were hailed as martyrs and heroes. The video captured some of them saying, in the final seconds of their earthly lives, “Jesus, help me.” They could have saved their lives by accepting Islam, but knowing what awaited them, they chose the way of Christ. Christians around the world continue to draw inspiration from their courageous faith. We remember them by name today, 11 years later, so that their bravery and conviction will never be forgotten. • Bishoy Adel Khalaf • Samuel Alhoam Wilson • Hany Abdel-Masih Salib • Melad Mackeen Zaki • Abanoub Ayad Attia • Ezzat Bushra Nassif • Yousef Shokry Younan • Kirillos Shukry Fawzy • Majed Suleiman Shehata • Samuel Stéphanos Kamel • Malak Ibrahim Siniot • Bishoy Stéphanos Kamel • Mena Fayez Aziz • Girgis Melad Sniout • Tawadros Youssef Tawadros • Essam Badr Samir • Luke Ngati • Jaber Mounir Adly • Malak Faraj Abram • Sameh Salah Farouk • Matthew Ayariga Heavenly Father, the world doesn’t know why these 21 men were able to stand so firm on their convictions. Their bravery makes no sense to them, and yet believers in Jesus need look no further than the cross to see how these 21 men were able to do what they did. Your son Jesus is our ultimate example of laying down one’s life for the sake of truth. In remembering these brave martyrs of the faith we harken back to the day, 2,000 years ago, when your son laid down his life for the sake of the world. Thank you Father for not leaving us on earth to fend for ourselves but sending your son to show us the way that we are to live and, yes, the way we are to die. Thank you for the example of these 21 men and we lift up their families today on the 11th anniversary of their martyrdom. May the humility and strength of Jesus be our guide today, as it was for these men 11 years ago. In the powerful name of Jesus, the risen savior, Amen! “And being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8 #KingJesus #Amen #takenhome