Pastor J. met a young army recruit awhile back, a Christian youth who related his harrowing story.

Timothy, as is required of all young men, was recently inducted into the army for a 3 year enlistment.  Being a Christian in a predominately Muslim army, Timothy knew that he was going to be harassed.  Even more so, he knew that he would be singled out because of the tattoos that he had on his arms.  These tattoos were images and words about Jesus, depicting the love he has for his Lord. 

What Timothy couldn't have foreseen was the lengths that his superiors and his fellow enlistees would take to remove what they considered to be blasphemous images. He was threatened that if he did not remove the tattoos he would be falsely charged with drug possession a crime that can mean life in prison. Timothy reluctantly agreed to have the tattoos removed. Acid was used to painfully burn the images off both of his arms. Timothy will live the rest of his life with the scars on his arms to remind him of the Lord he loves. The love and faith in his heart and soul remain untouched.

Please pray for this young man to grow in faith to continue to have the strength to stand firm in the battles he will face for the loving the Lord Jesus Christ.