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25 Comments

  1. Thank you so much. I and my family needed this right at this moment. We grieve more and more as each day passes. It is so hard to find others(in person). who stand and encourage others to stand. So many glad handers and silky smiley faces without conviction beyond themselves.
    If we have someone in our life that loves Jesus and believes His Word is pure as much as we do, then we make sure to hold on to the small things they do/are to be encouraged in the face of darkness and adversity. Looking always for the smallest glimmer of hope can keep us breathing and continuing the race.
    This letter is a small and precious gift from a vessel/candle of our God in this moment in our family life. “In all things give thanks and glory to God” such a stronger meaning to us than just a nice saying or quote. It is becoming a structure of our belief and faith.
    We are still trying to find the “joy” and it is not easy when we weep and our hearts break in frustration. We don’t want to be frustrated anymore. We want another state of residing. So many things don’t make sense to us. It is not like we wear a T-shirt or hat that says Christian on it.
    Do you think people just smell christians and seek them out to afflict and harrass them? The works of our hands are blessed, but the wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted.
    We need this rich encouragement (not just some cute story during a sermon) continually.
    Thank you brother in Christ Jesus for your testimony. Iron sharpens iron.

  2. John S., thank you for sharing your story, first-hand and unfiltered. It certainly has the precious ‘ring of truth’ to it. And it is written from a seldom seen perspective.

    Others may feel like me that we are men and women without a country. We didn’t leave America, it left us. But of what importance is it that we former American Christians are now simply Christians? Like Once a Marine said earlier this week, ‘Carry on in grace’.

    1. Montana Guy, you have said it so well. We are Christians are without a Country. Sometimes I think it is so we will journey on as Abraham seeking a city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. ( Hebrews11:10).

  4. Thankyou John for sharing!
    I’m sure it was costly remembering and writing this all down…, but then being back and day to day here has growing challenges as well.
    Wish we were neighbors-I appreciate your depth of heart and commitment to Jesus!-not a religion or denomination..but fully Him. Yes, Hebrews 11, a condensed summary of what’s ahead and how we are to walk with Jesus-thanks for sharing. Just yesterday my wife brought up Daniel and how he lived most of his life in an evil land, with no hope of going back ‘home’-but was faithful to walk well and fully in what God gave him to do in that place, till his last days..
    John, Thankyou again.
    JWR-Thankyou for posting this, especially fitting for Easter and these times, with the changes occurring and the pace quickening.
    Gods wisdom and peace be upon you daily!

  5. You certainly have a grasp on what is still happening within the U.S. Government. With Donald Trump in office the efforts to undermine our country are somewhat subdued but still exists and waiting to reemerge. Big Time.

    I did work for a governmental agency for a lengthy time and saw first hand the undermining of our great country by “political appointments” and supporters that are just trying to hang onto their jobs …. we called those employees “survivors”.

    If the general public REALLY knew what was going on between 2008 and 2016 there would have been an uprising.

    The hate and anger toward Donald Trump is manifested from the fact that “they” were on the cusp of much greater change to our country in 2016 and the people did not allow that to happen. This time. But we had better continue to turn up the heat on anti-American activities.

    Thank you for allowing this VETERAN to submit a message on GOOD SATURDAY.

    Please have a Blessed Easter and for now we should all count our blessings.

    1. From your post: “If the general public REALLY knew what was going on between 2008 and 2016 there would have been an uprising.”

      We also believe this is more true than most realize, although certainly well understood within the community of SB readers.

  6. Thanks to John S. for sharing his life-story. As I consider how we can prepare for this kind of religious and/or political descrimination or persecution, the last section of John’s story stands out for me – Christ is Everything! Our models are believers like Joseph (Gen. 37f), Daniel, & others who suffered & struggled b/c of their faith. THere’s also a need for genuine humility, which reminds me of Micah 6:8. To God be the glory!

  7. “defunct Department of State”

    I assume you meant to say dysfunctional or something else, since the U.S. Department of State is still in operation and not currently defunct.

  9. John s ,,,,,,,,,you did a good job of telling it as it is ,,,years ago I was over there as a medical volunteer ,i lasted 28 days ,,
    GOOD ON YOU
    SHALOM

  10. I would have to agree on casting stones. I question the author’s statement about South Africa being so much better in the 90s as odd. Is that before or after the end of Apartheid? President Mandela was always a Marxist, and so was his party the ANC, so that brings me back to my original question about his statement!!

    I would also like the author to expand on how the DOS made his and his family’s lives unbearable in Montana? The DOS doesn’t get involved in domestic affairs as a rule, so please explain further? Did you travel to or from a country or countries of interest to the DOS for example? Did you have contact with foreign nationals that might be on watchlist?

    As far as an American waiting in a line at a U.S. Embassy, I have travel to many place and visit U.S. Embassies in some. Never waited in a long line, once I showed the Marine guard my U.S. passport I proceeded. I have had them hold my passport until I leave though. Other than that no complaints.

    1. I have also traveled in South Africa. I can now clearly see that the nation has been in a Slow Slide Collapse, since the mid-1990s. The level of nepotism and corruption is off the charts. Many companies have dozens of employees on the payroll who never show up for work. These are relatives of ANC bureaucrats, so they dare not be taken off the payroll, or even asked to attend and work. The roads, civic water system, and power system are just getting progressively worse. There were no power cuts until about 2000. But now they occur almost daily. Yes, the mid-1990s were the turning point. It has been all down-hill, ever since. I am NOT a defender of the Apartheid government. It was horrible, in its own way. Today, South Africa there is true equality. Almost everyone is sharing equally in the misery of socialism.

      1. Sound insights… Recent reports of the killing of farmers who refuse to give up their land should send a chill through everyone who reads the accounts, and understands their meaning.

  11. John S,
    Excellent Article. Having spent time outside the US in missionary outreach I can attest to the truth of your experiences.
    I agree the department of state has certainly been packed with many left liberal socialists hangers on. One had only to witness the recent Ukraine fiasco of state department so-called professionals testifying to congress over a telephone call to the Ukraine president. Glaringly obvious that experience testifies to the truth of your experiences abroad with the diplomatic corps.

  12. I can’t imagine what it took to write that. Many things resonated with me, although not on the scale you describe. Thank you for sharing. Sometimes it helps to put it all out there, like a release of the pain and anger caused by being so wronged when all you really wanted to do was teach the Gospel and help the downtrodden. I hear you. I’m so glad you are back “home” and it sounds like you feel safe and can protect your family. May the Lord bless you, and keep you, and give you rest now.

  13. I was going to say it’s the longest rant I’ve read recently but the bitterness raises it to the level of a diatribe. I’m not sure that is helpful for any purpose. It’s always the still small voice which moves others. At least it’s been that in my experience.

    Balance and poise. Two characteristics which Christians fervently need in these very troubling times.

      1. I wonder if it is even possible to fulfill “the Great Commission” in this world no matter how many foreign missionaries, internet scripture, TV preachers, etc that is available? It feels like Christianity is far behind the curve in terms of conversion or even spreading the Gospel whether when it is exposed to the world population there ultimately are believers of it or not…Even right here in the USA, it seems like Believers are fewer and fewer. So how is the tide to be turned? Just an academic question.

  15. John S! Many, many thanks for sharing all of this with us. It’s a story told only by a person who had lived it. It’s hard to know where to begin in response to it. I will rest for now in the message quoted below. It says so very much, and calls on each of us to trust in Him. As we celebrate the Resurrection, this message could not have been more timely.

    From your post: “I believe God protects us in times when we don’t know the big picture.”

  16. I grow a bit weary of the constant stream of commentary about how un-American the American government is becoming. I spent 30 years combined military and civilian federal service and found that the good, decent people overwhelmingly outnumbered the bad apples. Most of my fellow employees were Christian, gun-owning veterans who loved their country.

    During those years, I encountered instances of blatant, corrupt behavior on the part of mid-level and upper management. In all cases, the rank and file UNION members tried to force the agency to clean up the mess, and in every instance, the agency responded by attacking the complainant with every weapon at their disposal. And who gets attacked on a daily basis? The terrible, lazy, good for nothing UNION member.

    One of the reasons we have bad employees in government is that very few people will take the time to file a complaint about official misconduct. Instead, they walk away, muttering impotently under their breath, then go online and write volumes about how terrible the entire government is.

    If you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.

  17. John S thank you for a well written account of your experiences as an ambassador for Christ. I was glued to your story and your observation of the depth evil has descended on America hating Left.

    One only has to look a current events and see how gross violations of the Rule of Law by Obama Administration that includes Clinton just skates Earthly justice. Sadly that will give them a false sense of winning right up to the point of their last breath and meet The Lord Jesus Christ.
    Hebrews 10:31 will be clear to them,”It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

    I pray The Lord grants Americans Christians another term for President Trump. He is not sinless but he is light years ahead of the left and it’s agenda.

    I hope everyone has a blessed Sunday celebrating our Saviors victory over sin and death.
    Be well one and all

  18. Lets remember he’s condensed over 20 years into a few pages. Would you have the poise to boldly do what he did? Would you feel comfortable going to an embassy with your kids here

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kenyan-man-shot-dead-after-stabbing-guard-at-american-embassy-in-nairobi/

    In Western Christianity we have too much confusion. That’s why Bernie quotes from Jesus and the gospels. Communism is the greatest way to steal from people while promising the common man his fair share. Christianity and wealth redistribution are confused all the time. In South Africa they’re using Bible verses and demanding reparations while children are raped and tortured. Kids boiled alive.
    There’s too many Christian idealists in the West who are just as bad as the shallow, collegiate careerists he mentioned. There really is an alt left wing problem in DC. Didn’t you notice that the left-wing ambassadors were testifying against Trump, while covering up Obama, Hillary and John Brennan’s mistakes. It’s called lawlessness. The same traitors hammered the ambassador he mentioned. That ambassador was rebuked for doing one 1/1000 of what Hillary did.
    People can criticize the article. What if everything is true? When Third World type problems start showing up in our 1st world will we retain a calm demeanor? You will truly know if you have the peace of God and the calmness you claim. Have you even visited the martyrs in places he’s mentioned? Don’t be so high minded that you have no salt to give on earth in a time of crisis or need.

    In times of emergency you really find out what you’re made of. You’ll find out if you have the true peace of God or false hopes. Inexperience.

    I never criticize a man with greater experience or faith then myself. We’re really good at doing that in America every time we get a little bit uncomfortable.
    It’s called unbelief and fear, not faith. In the book of Revelation the cowardly and the unbelieving are listed. There’s a specific warning about being cowardly and fearful.

    I think there’s portions of the story he left out because it would be too long. He did a good job

    Great experiences @ SB thanks for posting JWR! Let’s pray for people who risk their lives to such with us.

  19. https://www.raymondibrahim.com/2020/04/21/how-the-evil-called-barack-obama-enabled-the-genocidal-slaughter-of-nigerian-christians/

    As i’ve noted above, we are each accountable to God for what we know. Or what we experience. I’ve had to step out in faith and ask the nastiest beaurocrats in DC to get a conscience. Its true that Obama era, they were celebrating bloodshed. That’s Marxism. Period.

    I’m sorry that so many Western Christians live lives of quiet desperation. Some of us are actionaries. We follow through, for the sake of saving life. Liberty.

    The evil @ the Hate Dept. needs to be exposed, and cleaned out. Once and for all. It doesn’t matter who works there, or doesn’t work there.

    I’ve literally been in meetings in Kaduna, Nigeria with the Governor mentioned here.

    https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/5721/christian-visa-state-dept?anid=7

    EVIL IS EVIL… AND GOOD IS GOOD. It doesn’t matter if Fakebook or Google laughs or enjoys the death of Christians. It doesn’t matter if ISIS was popularized by them (they uploaded beheading videos, supporting ISIS). They gave their own employees PTSD.

    Evil social media. It’s time for them to repent before its too late. Going to face God while they popularized torture, and martyrdom is a serious offense.

    Good only comes from God. Jesus Christ.

    Dear patriots, don’t EVER take your liberty and right to worship God, for granted! Some of us were sent to nations to tell you “Don’t let this come to America.” Amen.

    Sincerely,

    ~ John

    Revelation 1:9

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