WEBVTT 00:00:13.618 --> 00:00:18.550 before the days when communism foul in 00:00:16.449 --> 00:00:20.198 Eastern Europe before the time when 00:00:18.550 --> 00:00:22.359 people could meet legally in public 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:24.868 gatherings and enjoy the freedom of 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:27.580 religious worship before that time 00:00:24.868 --> 00:00:30.998 Christians were often arrested and kept 00:00:27.579 --> 00:00:34.000 in prisons in dark damp underground 00:00:30.998 --> 00:00:35.829 cells or in labor camps where the 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.439 Communists went to great lengths to 00:00:35.829 --> 00:00:40.870 break their faith or slowly let them die 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:43.869 it was in the midst of this darkness 00:00:40.869 --> 00:00:55.968 away from any human comfort that the 00:00:43.869 --> 00:00:58.759 love of Christ shown Savior 00:00:55.969 --> 00:01:01.300 this is the story of a family that 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:01.299 endured 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:11.109 Richard worm Brad was born the youngest 00:01:09.009 --> 00:01:15.219 of four sons in an Orthodox Jewish 00:01:11.109 --> 00:01:18.609 family on March 24th 1909 in Bucharest 00:01:15.219 --> 00:01:20.950 Romania when he was still a young boy 00:01:18.609 --> 00:01:25.329 his father moved the family to Istanbul 00:01:20.950 --> 00:01:27.368 Turkey passionate driven and gifted 00:01:25.329 --> 00:01:30.009 intellectually Richard grew to be a 00:01:27.368 --> 00:01:33.399 highly motivated young man fluent in 00:01:30.009 --> 00:01:36.099 nine languages in time Richard met 00:01:33.399 --> 00:01:38.890 sabina Auster a young chemistry student 00:01:36.099 --> 00:01:43.708 also of Jewish descent soon thereafter 00:01:38.890 --> 00:01:46.390 on October 26th 1936 they married 00:01:43.709 --> 00:01:47.950 Richard began work as a stockbroker and 00:01:46.390 --> 00:01:50.709 the young couple spent much of their off 00:01:47.950 --> 00:01:54.009 hours enjoying the cosmopolitan life of 00:01:50.709 --> 00:01:57.429 Bucharest as atheists religion was the 00:01:54.009 --> 00:02:01.060 last thing on their minds they lived in 00:01:57.429 --> 00:02:04.359 the words of high finance so of course 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:06.700 they were invited to all the parties he 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:09.939 is a high finance in Romania they 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:13.449 existed only to make money and to spend 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:15.549 money eventually something happened that 00:02:13.449 --> 00:02:16.649 brought the high living couple to a 00:02:15.549 --> 00:02:19.120 standstill 00:02:16.650 --> 00:02:23.099 Richard was diagnosed with an illness 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:25.420 rampant in Eastern Europe tuberculosis 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:27.489 order to convalesce in the countryside 00:02:25.419 --> 00:02:29.589 the worm brands made their way to a 00:02:27.489 --> 00:02:32.590 small village very close to the city of 00:02:29.590 --> 00:02:35.979 brasov where they soon met Peter wolf 00:02:32.590 --> 00:02:37.659 keys an aged and unassuming carpenter it 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:38.619 was an encounter that would prove to be 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:41.259 life-changing 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:43.389 wolf keys was a dedicated Christian 00:02:41.259 --> 00:02:46.179 whose lifelong prayer had been to share 00:02:43.389 --> 00:02:48.219 his Christian faith with Jews the 00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:49.750 challenge was that in the remote village 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:52.719 in which he lived he had never 00:02:49.750 --> 00:02:56.680 encountered any that is until he met 00:02:52.719 --> 00:03:00.789 Richard and Sabina so he challenged them 00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:03.939 he said you're Jewish hardly any Jew has 00:03:00.789 --> 00:03:06.909 read about this Jew called Jesus Christ 00:03:03.939 --> 00:03:10.209 Jesus Christ was a greatest and most 00:03:06.909 --> 00:03:13.299 famous of all Jews and he gives him the 00:03:10.209 --> 00:03:18.039 gospel actually a New Testament in the 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:19.560 German language my father took the New 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:24.459 Testament to read 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:30.128 being pointed to the Gospel of John he 00:03:24.459 --> 00:03:33.819 became extremely impressed I mean more 00:03:30.128 --> 00:03:34.780 than impressed his whole thinking went 00:03:33.818 --> 00:03:38.488 upside down 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:41.680 he realized that here was somebody who 00:03:38.489 --> 00:03:43.539 like Jesus Christ who always spoke the 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:46.750 truth he spoke about love 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:52.590 he was ready out of love to sacrifice 00:03:46.750 --> 00:03:55.959 himself sacrifice his life and this 00:03:52.590 --> 00:03:58.360 turned my father around reading through 00:03:55.959 --> 00:04:00.159 the Gospels Richard began to ponder his 00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:02.560 own life and the emptiness that had 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:04.509 often tugged on him eventually 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:06.699 Richard worm brand the atheist 00:04:04.509 --> 00:04:10.120 pleasure-seeker humbled himself and 00:04:06.699 --> 00:04:12.129 opened his heart to God his life was 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:14.200 wonderfully affected and while he 00:04:12.129 --> 00:04:16.569 experienced joy and excitement in his 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:19.269 newfound faith Sabina was equally 00:04:16.569 --> 00:04:22.209 horrified she wanted to throw herself 00:04:19.269 --> 00:04:26.500 from the window all her hopes to lead a 00:04:22.209 --> 00:04:30.430 life of luxury and party and good life 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:35.228 we're dashed because the one of the 00:04:30.430 --> 00:04:37.750 first thing my father did when he became 00:04:35.228 --> 00:04:40.959 a Christian was to resign from this 00:04:37.750 --> 00:04:43.060 stock brokerage it was only natural that 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:45.759 Richard would want his wife to share in 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:47.680 his newfound joy but Sabina would have 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:50.439 none of his religious talk 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:52.930 she was a young 23 year old woman and 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:54.339 the last thing she wanted to do was give 00:04:52.930 --> 00:04:56.949 up her social events and entertainment 00:04:54.339 --> 00:05:00.310 for what she anticipated would be a 00:04:56.949 --> 00:05:02.439 boring religious life cunning as he was 00:05:00.310 --> 00:05:04.839 Richard sought the best way to get his 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:08.319 point across he accepted an invitation 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:12.879 to a high society party so a lot of 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:17.469 people got drunk and rowdy 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:23.050 and it was not a pretty sight and my 00:05:17.470 --> 00:05:25.720 mother said Richard let's go home and he 00:05:23.050 --> 00:05:28.509 said no we came to party 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:32.290 and then there were all kind of stupid 00:05:28.509 --> 00:05:37.240 jokes and the party became you know just 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:39.819 a drunken nonsense and my mother started 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:45.689 crying and begging my father to take her 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:49.389 home and she said if you take me home I 00:05:45.689 --> 00:05:50.980 will be baptised in the morning the 00:05:49.389 --> 00:05:52.479 party had been a fitting and vivid 00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:54.879 illustration of the emptiness of their 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:56.740 social gatherings it seems clear that 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:59.949 Richards words and prayers had someone a 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:01.930 seed in Sabinas heart she soon embraced 00:05:59.949 --> 00:06:05.709 the faith of her husband and came to 00:06:01.930 --> 00:06:07.810 know Christ feeling the need for both 00:06:05.709 --> 00:06:09.370 training and guidance they joined the 00:06:07.810 --> 00:06:11.589 Anglican mission to the Jews in 00:06:09.370 --> 00:06:14.500 Bucharest and Richard was eventually 00:06:11.589 --> 00:06:16.149 ordained an Anglican Minister Richard 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:18.250 and Sabina were both active in 00:06:16.149 --> 00:06:20.349 evangelism eventually becoming well 00:06:18.250 --> 00:06:23.079 known dedicated Christians among the 00:06:20.350 --> 00:06:24.850 religious circle of Romania rumors of 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:28.139 war caused their message of hope and 00:06:24.850 --> 00:06:31.660 faith to be well received eventually in 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:34.449 1939 on the eve of World War two they 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:38.620 were blessed with a son a boy they named 00:06:34.449 --> 00:06:43.930 me hi my earliest recollections as a 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:47.199 child the very earliest recollection is 00:06:43.930 --> 00:06:51.610 my mother holding my hand and running 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:54.909 like crazy across a field into a bomb 00:06:51.610 --> 00:06:57.850 shelter because it was 1 or 2 the reason 00:06:54.910 --> 00:06:59.800 I was running with my mother by the hand 00:06:57.850 --> 00:07:03.900 to this bomb shelter my father was 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:07.629 nowhere in sight was because my father 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:11.489 purposely during all these bombing raids 00:07:07.629 --> 00:07:14.228 he had gathered a group of six or seven 00:07:11.490 --> 00:07:19.060 Christians most of them Jewish Christian 00:07:14.228 --> 00:07:22.689 and he was week visiting shelter by 00:07:19.060 --> 00:07:25.759 shelter and praying with people 00:07:22.689 --> 00:07:28.279 that's in no way that's how he became 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:30.949 known in Romania World War two was 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:33.258 cataclysmic the Germans invaded Romania 00:07:30.949 --> 00:07:35.389 and life was soon quite difficult and 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:36.979 challenging rather than only being 00:07:35.389 --> 00:07:38.870 concerned for the survival of their own 00:07:36.978 --> 00:07:40.909 family Richard and Sabina gave 00:07:38.870 --> 00:07:43.519 themselves wholeheartedly to meet the 00:07:40.910 --> 00:07:46.250 needs of others people were scared and 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:48.788 many suffered loss of all sorts they 00:07:46.250 --> 00:07:51.288 needed God and comfort more than ever 00:07:48.788 --> 00:07:53.149 the worm brands fulfilled their ministry 00:07:51.288 --> 00:07:55.699 by continuing to preach in the bomb 00:07:53.149 --> 00:07:57.888 shelters and rescuing Jewish children 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:59.840 out of the ghettos Richard and Sabina 00:07:57.889 --> 00:08:03.978 were repeatedly arrested and beaten and 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:07.008 at least once were nearly executed it 00:08:03.978 --> 00:08:08.508 was a time of hardship Sabina lost her 00:08:07.009 --> 00:08:12.169 Jewish family in Nazi concentration 00:08:08.509 --> 00:08:14.389 camps as did many others Romania reeled 00:08:12.168 --> 00:08:16.038 from internal political turmoil but the 00:08:14.389 --> 00:08:18.470 worm brands did not shirk their 00:08:16.038 --> 00:08:20.598 responsibilities rather than being 00:08:18.470 --> 00:08:22.490 concerned about themselves the worm 00:08:20.598 --> 00:08:25.459 brands rushed in where the need was 00:08:22.490 --> 00:08:29.538 greatest despite the risk and that's 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:32.208 exactly what they did when in 1945 the 00:08:29.538 --> 00:08:35.019 Communists seized power and Romania was 00:08:32.208 --> 00:08:37.788 invaded by 1 million Russian troops 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:40.639 Richard warned brands and he spoke Assam 00:08:37.788 --> 00:08:42.620 8 9 10 11 languages when the Russians 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:45.370 invaded would walked into the Russian 00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:48.519 army basis just walk in 00:08:45.370 --> 00:08:50.259 and he would have a watch with him or 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:52.379 something and squat down on the ground 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:54.879 I've talked to all the Russian soldiers 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:58.149 like they were talking about this watch 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:59.769 for sale but actually down on the ground 00:08:58.149 --> 00:09:02.409 squatting around with all of them he 00:08:59.769 --> 00:09:04.600 would be talking about Jesus and the 00:09:02.409 --> 00:09:06.879 Russians were incredibly hungry to know 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:10.389 anything about God he talked about God 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:14.700 about Jesus because by that time God had 00:09:10.389 --> 00:09:17.409 been taken from their lives for 40 years 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:19.930 they'd been told there is no God and 00:09:17.409 --> 00:09:22.838 they were very hungry to know what is my 00:09:19.929 --> 00:09:25.479 life what is my life all about is there 00:09:22.839 --> 00:09:28.810 a God and he would sit and just very 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:32.860 gently patiently start talking with him 00:09:28.809 --> 00:09:34.649 about life about God and and all of them 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:37.300 would be very curious 00:09:34.649 --> 00:09:39.730 although unauthorized religious meetings 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:41.500 were prohibited Richard and Sabina were 00:09:39.730 --> 00:09:44.259 innovative in finding ways to gather 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:45.879 Christian believers on many occasions a 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:48.309 large get-together of families and 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:50.200 children would take place in a park the 00:09:48.309 --> 00:09:51.819 worm brands would teach the adults while 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:54.129 the young children were given Sunday 00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:55.810 School inevitably the police would 00:09:54.129 --> 00:09:58.689 arrive and they were told that it was 00:09:55.809 --> 00:10:01.929 someone's birthday the ruse worked and 00:09:58.690 --> 00:10:05.140 the believer celebrated birthdays every 00:10:01.929 --> 00:10:06.489 Sunday the passion the worm brands felt 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:08.169 for reaching their people with the 00:10:06.490 --> 00:10:10.659 gospel was unstoppable 00:10:08.169 --> 00:10:13.059 Sabeena rose to many on occasion 00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:16.389 according to the need one night she rode 00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:18.909 on the roof of a train this train was 00:10:16.389 --> 00:10:21.250 carrying Russian troops and on the roof 00:10:18.909 --> 00:10:23.980 of the train was Sabina with bags of 00:10:21.250 --> 00:10:27.970 salt which the Christians could sell and 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:31.060 Bibles so the troops were down in the 00:10:27.970 --> 00:10:33.610 Train to invade and take over political 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:36.969 control Sabina was on the roof of the 00:10:33.610 --> 00:10:41.350 train to bring these spiritual freedom 00:10:36.970 --> 00:10:44.110 all night on the roof she never behaved 00:10:41.350 --> 00:10:48.278 with more love with more attention with 00:10:44.110 --> 00:10:50.950 more dedication with more sacrifice then 00:10:48.278 --> 00:10:51.899 with people who did her the greatest 00:10:50.950 --> 00:10:53.379 harm 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:55.720 [Music] 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:59.350 in a difficult situation like under 00:10:55.720 --> 00:11:04.060 communism in Romania we had many enemies 00:10:59.350 --> 00:11:09.009 we had many people who would be mean and 00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:11.829 do you was the most abject hardened I 00:11:09.009 --> 00:11:14.169 mean without second thought this would 00:11:11.830 --> 00:11:16.930 be the people who would be invited to 00:11:14.169 --> 00:11:20.769 our home this would be the people when 00:11:16.929 --> 00:11:24.759 we early we had something precious or 00:11:20.769 --> 00:11:27.069 special this would be the gifts to these 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:29.230 people happy food is the greatest harm 00:11:27.070 --> 00:11:30.910 such was an occasion when the worm 00:11:29.230 --> 00:11:32.889 brands were visited in the middle of the 00:11:30.909 --> 00:11:34.600 night by the very man who had been 00:11:32.889 --> 00:11:37.569 responsible for the deaths of many 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:39.759 members of Sabinas family the man was in 00:11:37.570 --> 00:11:43.540 terrible anguish of conscience he 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:47.259 started crying and all that and it was 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:53.639 late in the night maybe past midnight 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:57.819 and my father woke up my mother and 00:11:53.639 --> 00:12:03.549 explained who this person was and my 00:11:57.820 --> 00:12:07.270 mother passed midnight embraced him told 00:12:03.549 --> 00:12:10.089 him she forgives him and started setting 00:12:07.269 --> 00:12:11.039 up the table and they had some wonderful 00:12:10.090 --> 00:12:13.629 meal 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:15.159 needless to say one cannot fathom how 00:12:13.629 --> 00:12:17.710 difficult that must have been for her 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:20.679 but she poured all of God's love into 00:12:17.710 --> 00:12:23.320 the man by daybreak he was kneeling with 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:26.079 the worm Brants in prayer having arrived 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:31.410 a tormented man he walked away a 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:35.410 forgiving Christian and she would say to 00:12:31.409 --> 00:12:38.199 be a Christian he's not like you are a 00:12:35.409 --> 00:12:40.600 weight lifter or a sportsman between 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:46.540 2:00 and 4:00 every afternoon you go to 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:49.480 the gym and you train to be a Christian 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:51.490 you have to take the opportunity right 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:53.649 when is the most difficult to be a 00:12:51.490 --> 00:12:54.180 Christian that's when you have to be a 00:12:53.649 --> 00:12:58.659 Christian 00:12:54.179 --> 00:13:01.088 between 1945 and 1947 the worm brands 00:12:58.659 --> 00:13:03.309 distributed 1 million Gospels to Russian 00:13:01.089 --> 00:13:05.920 troops the books often disguised as 00:13:03.309 --> 00:13:08.750 communist propaganda Richard also 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:12.528 smuggled Gospels into Russia 00:13:08.750 --> 00:13:14.750 in 1945 Richard and Sabina attended the 00:13:12.528 --> 00:13:16.490 Congress of the cult's organized by the 00:13:14.750 --> 00:13:19.028 Romanian communist government and 00:13:16.490 --> 00:13:22.310 attended by four thousand delegates 00:13:19.028 --> 00:13:24.500 Congress was publicized but beyond being 00:13:22.309 --> 00:13:29.869 published and was broadcast in the 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:32.720 entire nation and priest after priest 00:13:29.870 --> 00:13:35.778 and pastor after pastor stood up and 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:39.829 explained how they obtained light from 00:13:35.778 --> 00:13:42.828 Stalin and from the calmness and what 00:13:39.828 --> 00:13:44.419 freedoms they enjoy and like that the 00:13:42.828 --> 00:13:47.388 government was saying you can no longer 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:50.299 have Sunday school and many of these 00:13:47.389 --> 00:13:52.818 Christian things and the hundreds or 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:55.549 maybe thousands of pastors sitting there 00:13:52.818 --> 00:13:59.000 said nothing maybe they were afraid of 00:13:55.549 --> 00:14:00.799 the government and Sabina told Richard 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:04.639 why don't you stand up and watch this 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:06.679 shame off the face of Jesus Richard took 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:09.049 the podium and to the dismay of the 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:12.609 communist officials began to denounce 00:14:09.049 --> 00:14:14.990 communism as an evil not to be tolerated 00:14:12.610 --> 00:14:17.419 communism has made martyrs of our 00:14:14.990 --> 00:14:21.019 brothers how could it be praised by the 00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:23.568 church he boldly proclaimed this was a 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:26.028 catalyst in arousing other believers to 00:14:23.568 --> 00:14:28.250 take rise to their feet while some tried 00:14:26.028 --> 00:14:31.818 to drown Richards message out others 00:14:28.250 --> 00:14:35.389 were yelling let the pastor speak let 00:14:31.818 --> 00:14:39.110 the pastor speak it was a chaotic scene 00:14:35.389 --> 00:14:41.720 so the broadcast was interrupted the 00:14:39.110 --> 00:14:46.669 company stood up asking that he be cut 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:48.379 from speaking the whole Congress was 00:14:46.669 --> 00:14:50.990 finished rising in there 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:53.058 Richard was relentless and his zeal to 00:14:50.990 --> 00:14:55.789 preach the gospel as well as denounced 00:14:53.058 --> 00:14:59.649 the evils of communism eventually the 00:14:55.789 --> 00:14:59.649 government made a move to silence him 00:15:03.210 --> 00:15:12.100 it was a Sunday morning a winter Sunday 00:15:07.450 --> 00:15:16.600 morning and my father lives the house 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:19.000 and he walked it was like eight minutes 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:21.850 ten minutes walk to the church the 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:25.110 church was not far from where we was 00:15:21.850 --> 00:15:28.029 around the corner from where we live 00:15:25.110 --> 00:15:33.879 some car of the secret police was 00:15:28.029 --> 00:15:36.899 waiting for him and they overpowered him 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:40.330 and took him in a car and he disappeared 00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:43.419 the first suit which came into my mind 00:15:40.330 --> 00:15:47.740 when I was in the hands of the Communist 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:53.349 jurors was that in the Bible the words 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:56.769 don't be afraid of you 366 times once 00:15:53.350 --> 00:15:59.259 for every day of the year and because 00:15:56.769 --> 00:16:04.809 that is the extra day of the leap here 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:07.929 it is not 365 but 366 times 00:16:04.809 --> 00:16:11.259 I knew that evening the ban of the 00:16:07.929 --> 00:16:15.069 secret police I am in the hands of the 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:20.129 Almighty God and this gave quite to my 00:16:15.070 --> 00:16:22.360 heart just after two weeks three weeks I 00:16:20.129 --> 00:16:26.110 kept asking where is father 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:30.399 Varis father I saw my mother crying you 00:16:26.110 --> 00:16:32.600 know then I realized what had happened 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:34.069 Sabina continued trying to locate 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:36.230 Richard but to no avail 00:16:34.070 --> 00:16:38.750 she now knew he had been taken by the 00:16:36.230 --> 00:16:40.039 police but had little idea to where and 00:16:38.750 --> 00:16:43.279 for how long 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:43.919 she would not see Richard for many many 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.429 years 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:49.969 [Music] 00:16:45.429 --> 00:16:54.559 she never knew if I'm a life or death 00:16:49.970 --> 00:16:57.590 she was totally that I am dead men were 00:16:54.559 --> 00:17:00.139 sent to see the life that they are 00:16:57.590 --> 00:17:03.889 released prisoners and that they have 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:07.160 attended my burial and my wife continued 00:17:03.889 --> 00:17:10.970 to wait for me his rate dropped to 90 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:15.890 pounds in a matter of three months he 00:17:10.970 --> 00:17:21.519 received four for long periods lice of 00:17:15.890 --> 00:17:24.650 bread a day that was peaceful was my son 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:27.920 and the wonderful thing about it is my 00:17:24.650 --> 00:17:31.820 father recalls that as he was angry and 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:32.390 like that his prayers he was praising 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:34.789 the Lord 00:17:32.390 --> 00:17:37.040 Richard was interrogated and beaten 00:17:34.789 --> 00:17:39.589 relentlessly hung upside down from 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:41.599 shackles his feet were beaten until they 00:17:39.589 --> 00:17:43.849 bled then he was forced to walk in 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:59.539 circles around his small cell without 00:17:43.849 --> 00:18:09.769 permission to stop or sit down to sit 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:13.279 just like this to close your eyes was a 00:18:09.769 --> 00:18:21.470 crime 17 hours a day you have to sit 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:23.240 like this and he'll retreat suffered 00:18:21.470 --> 00:18:24.920 unspeakable treatment from his captors 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:27.890 and their efforts to extract information 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:29.539 about other Christians the isolation and 00:18:27.890 --> 00:18:34.040 physical and emotional torture were 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:36.980 grueling it went on for years he had 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:37.899 scarce in his body that you could put 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:39.769 your son 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:43.140 [Music] 00:18:39.769 --> 00:18:45.690 so you can imagine the type of torture 00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:47.580 at times he was angry he would shout and 00:18:45.690 --> 00:18:51.539 beat on the door of his cell saying give 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:53.519 me back Mihai Mihai as his son they 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:56.730 would actually place children in cells 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:59.250 around them to make noises in the cells 00:18:56.730 --> 00:19:04.200 around his wife also so they would miss 00:18:59.250 --> 00:19:10.549 their children yes we will kept everyone 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:10.549 alone in a Cell never have you seen 00:19:11.869 --> 00:19:25.619 never have you seen a man except the 00:19:15.109 --> 00:19:28.349 interrogators who beat and tortured when 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:31.289 after many years I had to write again I 00:19:28.349 --> 00:19:35.039 did not remember how to write a capital 00:19:31.289 --> 00:19:37.920 V life had to continue and Sabina 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:39.750 perhaps hiding her own grief did her 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:42.390 best to continue to work among the 00:19:39.750 --> 00:19:44.849 underground church she instructed Mihai 00:19:42.390 --> 00:19:48.210 to do his best at school as a witness to 00:19:44.849 --> 00:19:51.029 others I was studying and learning very 00:19:48.210 --> 00:19:53.390 well so they came to make the first 00:19:51.029 --> 00:19:56.059 communist organization among the 00:19:53.390 --> 00:19:59.070 children they were called young pioneers 00:19:56.059 --> 00:20:03.389 you were given a red tie you were given 00:19:59.069 --> 00:20:08.119 a badge and as a child you had free 00:20:03.390 --> 00:20:12.540 access to swimming pools hobby making 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:19.889 clubs lots of incentive for kids and I 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:22.799 said I will not wear the necktie awful 00:20:19.890 --> 00:20:29.009 regime that keeps my father in jail and 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:31.769 who denies the existence of God and it 00:20:29.009 --> 00:20:34.289 was total cost our nation I totally 00:20:31.769 --> 00:20:39.269 destroys the whole festivities of 00:20:34.289 --> 00:20:42.000 festivity at that moment was a journey 00:20:39.269 --> 00:20:45.180 they wanted to throw me out of school 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:46.559 reisender think of it I was in fifth 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:49.019 grade 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:51.799 Richard continued to endure torture in 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:53.940 prison without a formal trial finally 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:55.230 approximately two and a half years after 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:57.570 his disappearance 00:20:55.230 --> 00:21:00.180 a very ill Richard was brought into a 00:20:57.569 --> 00:21:02.519 small room for a hearing when asked if 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:04.650 he had anything to say in his defense he 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:08.700 was so sick all he could answer was I 00:21:04.650 --> 00:21:12.320 love God the hearing lasted ten minutes 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:14.730 Richard was sentenced to 20 years 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:17.460 outside the prison life had become 00:21:14.730 --> 00:21:19.259 difficult for Sabina and Mihai soon 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:20.940 their small apartment was taken over by 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:24.150 the government and they were left to 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:27.180 live in only one small room not long 00:21:24.150 --> 00:21:29.970 thereafter in 1950 a new incident 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:34.650 further affected his circumstances I was 00:21:29.970 --> 00:21:39.660 not in Bucharest when six o'clock in the 00:21:34.650 --> 00:21:42.170 morning seven eight secret policemen 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:46.080 came to my mother's home where we lived 00:21:42.170 --> 00:21:48.420 by that time we were in one room they 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:50.720 asked my mother to dress in front of 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:54.630 them they took her straight out of bed 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:57.329 they made an inspection a house search 00:21:54.630 --> 00:22:02.220 which was not much of houses was one 00:21:57.329 --> 00:22:04.199 room searched and she disappeared Sabina 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:05.850 was taken prisoner and once later 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:08.640 assigned to work with other captives 00:22:05.849 --> 00:22:10.409 building the Danube canal this they did 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:13.410 by carrying the rocks with their bare 00:22:10.410 --> 00:22:15.840 hands in the freezing cold the prisoners 00:22:13.410 --> 00:22:17.820 were provided no warm clothing only what 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:20.759 they came into prison with many 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:23.009 prisoners died she disappeared in the 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:27.059 communist prison system she was never 00:22:23.009 --> 00:22:31.470 told whether she's in for a day for a 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:34.679 month for a year she was she never was 00:22:31.470 --> 00:22:38.279 taken to a judge a few times they 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:40.170 in order to frighten her or frighten the 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:45.558 other people's is threw her into the 00:22:40.170 --> 00:22:50.370 Danube River River and Fisher back up 00:22:45.558 --> 00:22:55.379 and so Z turns a prison cell 00:22:50.369 --> 00:22:58.949 we decided that Linds mornings when you 00:22:55.380 --> 00:23:03.180 open your eyes preparing yourself for 00:22:58.950 --> 00:23:07.710 the field to go to the work console ever 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:12.299 you see yoga waiting will be give thanks 00:23:07.710 --> 00:23:14.480 to the Lord for he is good and His mercy 00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:21.169 endures forever 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:21.170 dear dear sisters and deal veteran I 00:23:21.710 --> 00:23:31.759 could not describe inverts Vance's new 00:23:26.730 --> 00:23:35.220 greetings made in our prison cell 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:39.750 sometimes during the night 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:43.558 some political prisoner would come to 00:23:39.750 --> 00:23:49.558 one of the Christians please teach me 00:23:43.558 --> 00:23:57.099 your greetings they were ashamed to come 00:23:49.558 --> 00:24:02.269 during the day thieves and troubles 00:23:57.099 --> 00:24:06.349 have learned to repeat those words if 00:24:02.269 --> 00:24:10.480 thanks to the Lord for his good and His 00:24:06.349 --> 00:24:17.289 mercy endures forever 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:20.358 and the hell was changed completely 00:24:17.289 --> 00:24:20.358 [Music] 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:29.648 by divert of God 00:24:25.058 --> 00:24:33.638 by giving thanks to the Lord even in the 00:24:29.648 --> 00:24:38.069 most difficult circumstances the hunger 00:24:33.638 --> 00:24:41.349 in those prisons was incredible and 00:24:38.069 --> 00:24:46.388 literally the women's US prison he'd 00:24:41.349 --> 00:24:50.678 tree bark and in grass in order to 00:24:46.388 --> 00:24:55.508 sustain themselves she fasted one day a 00:24:50.679 --> 00:24:58.570 week through entire prison she always 00:24:55.509 --> 00:25:03.009 fasted one day a week her entire life 00:24:58.569 --> 00:25:05.319 but one day a week she fasted in prison 00:25:03.009 --> 00:25:07.569 not content with a torture they were 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:09.308 inflicting on Richard and unsatisfied 00:25:07.569 --> 00:25:10.990 with his lack of cooperation 00:25:09.308 --> 00:25:13.960 Richard was placed in solitary 00:25:10.990 --> 00:25:14.940 confinement in a small cell deeper 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:18.460 underground 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:21.129 the guards wore felt sold shoes and no 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:23.169 noise was permitted the silence being a 00:25:21.128 --> 00:25:25.778 way to further destabilize the prisoners 00:25:23.169 --> 00:25:27.788 who not long afterwards began to lose 00:25:25.778 --> 00:25:30.339 notion of day or night and would long 00:25:27.788 --> 00:25:32.618 for some familiar sound in this type of 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:35.980 situation with little food and oft 00:25:32.618 --> 00:25:38.349 beatings men would despair it was mental 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:41.079 torture a situation he would have to 00:25:38.349 --> 00:25:45.609 endure for several years my whole night 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:51.249 I passed walking to and fro through the 00:25:45.609 --> 00:25:54.368 cell with I didn't have shoes every 00:25:51.249 --> 00:25:56.980 night I began by meditating on the Word 00:25:54.368 --> 00:26:01.778 of God the verses which I remembered by 00:25:56.980 --> 00:26:06.278 heart I meditated so much then I would 00:26:01.778 --> 00:26:08.859 pass hours praying praying for the whole 00:26:06.278 --> 00:26:11.950 bird I traveled in my spirit from one 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:15.908 country to other to another every night 00:26:11.950 --> 00:26:19.749 I would pray for America for Britain for 00:26:15.909 --> 00:26:23.200 Africa Australia New Zealand Germany 00:26:19.749 --> 00:26:27.610 France every night I would deliver a 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:30.580 sermon there was no visible audience but 00:26:27.609 --> 00:26:33.069 a French to God I preached to the Angels 00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:35.710 they are also interested to know 00:26:33.069 --> 00:26:38.918 what I think and what I have to say I 00:26:35.710 --> 00:26:41.860 would prepare a regular sermon and they 00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:46.320 deliver it then able to sit down 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:49.750 sometimes and out of a very primitive 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:53.138 think I had made a chess play and I 00:26:49.750 --> 00:26:57.009 would play chess with myself and then 00:26:53.138 --> 00:27:02.528 again I would walk around free and speak 00:26:57.009 --> 00:27:04.599 to God this for the time but afterwards 00:27:02.528 --> 00:27:09.849 a narcotics which we are putting our 00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:14.259 food had effect upon our minds and we 00:27:09.849 --> 00:27:16.449 could not really pray is usual sense of 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:18.909 the world anymore it was one of the most 00:27:16.450 --> 00:27:22.090 desperate moments in my life when I 00:27:18.909 --> 00:27:24.580 tried one evening to say the Lord's 00:27:22.089 --> 00:27:27.189 Prayer that I found out that I had 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:29.829 forgotten it I said our Father which art 00:27:27.190 --> 00:27:32.590 in heaven hallowed be thy name and I 00:27:29.829 --> 00:27:35.918 didn't know what follows and then for a 00:27:32.589 --> 00:27:37.990 long time I prayed only so much Jesus I 00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:41.139 love you Jesus I love you 00:27:37.990 --> 00:27:44.019 he seems that is fair enough and then I 00:27:41.138 --> 00:27:48.849 could not concentrate my mind evening on 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:52.628 that and my only prayer would be the 00:27:48.849 --> 00:27:54.849 beating of a loving heart sometimes we 00:27:52.628 --> 00:27:56.408 would be overcome by such a joy of the 00:27:54.849 --> 00:27:59.019 presence of the Lord that we would have 00:27:56.409 --> 00:28:03.580 to dance and we danced like this this 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:06.990 shows this love of singing Don will 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:06.990 encounter Lysa 00:28:09.690 --> 00:28:16.990 my multitouch am i free you would feel 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:19.719 that your heart-wrenching pieces if you 00:28:16.990 --> 00:28:22.079 would not dance for joy so great was the 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:27.250 joy of the presence of the Brethren 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:31.658 sometimes we would be handcuffed to his 00:28:27.250 --> 00:28:34.298 handcuffs like this to the back the 00:28:31.659 --> 00:28:38.679 hands tied to the back we could not move 00:28:34.298 --> 00:28:42.250 them food was brought to us we have to 00:28:38.679 --> 00:28:48.550 lap it exactly like the dogs like it 00:28:42.250 --> 00:28:52.900 we could not move our hands so the human 00:28:48.549 --> 00:28:57.669 body has many necessities the hands were 00:28:52.900 --> 00:29:02.560 tied to the back day and night but we 00:28:57.670 --> 00:29:06.039 can tie a soul the soul can fly to the 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:10.569 Lord it has not even to fly because the 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:16.509 Lord is everywhere we forgot that we are 00:29:10.569 --> 00:29:20.230 with our hands tied and repeated the 00:29:16.509 --> 00:29:24.490 Communists they have killed many 00:29:20.230 --> 00:29:27.069 Christians minions they have tried to 00:29:24.490 --> 00:29:31.900 kill earth not stupid 00:29:27.069 --> 00:29:36.879 they can kill only bodies we are not 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:42.130 bodies we are spirit and the spirit 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:46.000 can't be killed to die for Christ loving 00:29:42.130 --> 00:29:50.650 Christ means to go to glory means to 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:53.410 Christ time during the present life we 00:29:50.650 --> 00:29:56.530 won for Christ our fellow prisoners even 00:29:53.410 --> 00:29:58.180 in the years of solitary confinement in 00:29:56.529 --> 00:30:00.849 the great silence 00:29:58.180 --> 00:30:06.730 you could hear during the night very 00:30:00.849 --> 00:30:09.490 discrete noises through Morse code 00:30:06.730 --> 00:30:12.759 through the wall from one cell to the 00:30:09.490 --> 00:30:15.460 other we preach the gospel and souls 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:19.329 have been brought to Christ and the head 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:22.539 before me the impose declared communist 00:30:19.329 --> 00:30:26.799 officer we confessed to them about 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:30.069 Christ and we converted them I myself 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:32.559 had before me a communist officer with a 00:30:30.069 --> 00:30:35.500 rubber truncheon in his hand and they 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:36.389 told him about the love of Christ I told 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:40.470 him about 00:30:36.390 --> 00:30:44.100 about God he put his rubber truncheon 00:30:40.470 --> 00:30:46.589 aside he asked me mr. hood not how can 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:50.099 you love me I would never love somebody 00:30:46.589 --> 00:30:52.949 who puts me in prison and beats me and I 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:55.678 told him about the new character about 00:30:52.950 --> 00:30:59.580 the new heart which Christ gives to men 00:30:55.679 --> 00:31:03.990 and they become embodied love and he 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:08.099 became our brother in prison for having 00:31:03.990 --> 00:31:10.710 taken our defence Sabina endured her own 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:13.199 torture haven't been put into a car sir 00:31:10.710 --> 00:31:15.120 on several occasions a small closet in 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:17.250 which one can only stand and which is 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:19.319 fitted with spikes so is not to allow 00:31:17.250 --> 00:31:20.730 movement many prisoners were placed 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:23.490 there for an entire night 00:31:20.730 --> 00:31:25.798 she was allowed to see me high just once 00:31:23.490 --> 00:31:28.710 and only briefly enough to encourage him 00:31:25.798 --> 00:31:30.509 not to abandon the faith but there was 00:31:28.710 --> 00:31:32.009 also wonderful fruit in the midst of 00:31:30.509 --> 00:31:36.589 suffering even though it would take 00:31:32.009 --> 00:31:41.849 months or years the neighbor children 00:31:36.589 --> 00:31:45.058 there mentioned immediately tears were 00:31:41.849 --> 00:31:48.928 on the face of their mothers behind 00:31:45.058 --> 00:31:53.808 locked doors behind iron bars we didn't 00:31:48.929 --> 00:31:56.880 know anything about our children and 00:31:53.808 --> 00:32:00.539 here the children we are mentioned you 00:31:56.880 --> 00:32:06.330 sign a statement you deny your God and 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:10.759 you will be with your children who could 00:32:06.329 --> 00:32:14.808 answer who could stand it 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:18.679 who could ever refuse to start to sign 00:32:14.808 --> 00:32:24.979 the statement in order to be with the 00:32:18.679 --> 00:32:31.459 child no mother could no mother could 00:32:24.979 --> 00:32:37.639 ever but Jesus has promised I will be 00:32:31.459 --> 00:32:45.159 with you always and Jesus keeps his 00:32:37.638 --> 00:32:52.698 promise and just to mention in Hebrew 00:32:45.159 --> 00:32:58.369 always means call young all the days but 00:32:52.699 --> 00:33:01.759 it means all the days the whole day not 00:32:58.368 --> 00:33:05.538 that he comes to visit us for 10 minutes 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:09.679 as we go to somebody visiting he 00:33:05.538 --> 00:33:14.989 promised he will be with us all the days 00:33:09.679 --> 00:33:17.629 the whole day eventually in 1953 after 00:33:14.989 --> 00:33:20.690 three years of incarceration Sabina was 00:33:17.628 --> 00:33:23.058 released but not before she was informed 00:33:20.690 --> 00:33:26.088 by the authorities that Richard had died 00:33:23.058 --> 00:33:29.628 in prison she went home in her mind a 00:33:26.088 --> 00:33:32.808 widow to uncertainty however what Sabina 00:33:29.628 --> 00:33:36.048 was told was not true Richard was alive 00:33:32.808 --> 00:33:38.959 and remained in prison experiencing both 00:33:36.048 --> 00:33:42.098 despair as well as glories of a God who 00:33:38.959 --> 00:33:42.099 had not abandoned him 00:33:49.910 --> 00:33:57.830 before in history just as a flower when 00:33:54.680 --> 00:34:00.710 you bruise her under your feet rewards 00:33:57.829 --> 00:34:04.039 you with her perfume the moment we were 00:34:00.710 --> 00:34:05.569 mocked the more we were tortured repeat 00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:08.960 it and beloved 00:34:05.569 --> 00:34:10.159 those who torture us it must be clearly 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:14.389 understood 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:17.239 we hate communism from all our art this 00:34:14.389 --> 00:34:21.230 devilish system of militant atheism 00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:25.069 which must be defeated if the Christian 00:34:21.230 --> 00:34:29.809 Church wishes to live but we loved the 00:34:25.070 --> 00:34:33.860 man and we asked ourselves how to win 00:34:29.809 --> 00:34:36.650 these men for Christ and when we were in 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:41.269 the depths of this remorse and of the 00:34:36.650 --> 00:34:46.820 Spain at once words of the cell began to 00:34:41.269 --> 00:34:50.050 shine like diamonds I have been open in 00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:53.350 my life I've seen California I have seen 00:34:50.050 --> 00:34:57.560 Napoli I have seen many beautiful things 00:34:53.349 --> 00:35:01.929 never have I seen beauties which I have 00:34:57.559 --> 00:35:06.469 seen in the dark cell beneath the earth 00:35:01.929 --> 00:35:11.419 such beautiful music as a third day the 00:35:06.469 --> 00:35:14.959 King of Kings Jesus was with us we saw 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:19.250 his understanding his loving eyes he 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:22.369 wiped away from our eyes our tears he 00:35:19.250 --> 00:35:25.849 set wise words of love and words of 00:35:22.369 --> 00:35:26.739 forgiveness we knew everything which had 00:35:25.849 --> 00:35:31.960 been 00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:36.250 in Our Lives has passed away being 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:40.389 forgotten by God now that came wonderful 00:35:36.250 --> 00:35:43.900 days the bright rose in the arms of the 00:35:40.389 --> 00:35:47.559 bridegroom we were with Christ we didn't 00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:50.019 know that we were in prison sometimes we 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:53.949 were taken to interrogatories we were 00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:57.519 beaten we were tortured just a st. 00:35:53.949 --> 00:36:00.730 Stephen while they threw stones at him 00:35:57.519 --> 00:36:05.019 did not see his murderers did not see 00:36:00.730 --> 00:36:07.780 the stones so heaven open and Jesus 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:10.239 standing at the right hand of the Father 00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:13.960 so we didn't see any more succumbing 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:17.709 torturers we didn't see that we are in 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:19.500 prison we were surrounded by angels we 00:36:17.710 --> 00:36:21.940 were with God 00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:24.820 after years of barbaric treatment 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:27.099 Richard became extremely ill and was 00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:29.440 transferred to a room known as the death 00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:31.769 room the area were those without any 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:34.929 hope of recovery were simply sent to die 00:36:31.769 --> 00:36:37.869 but Richard prayed and little by little 00:36:34.929 --> 00:36:40.389 to the amazement of his captors he began 00:36:37.869 --> 00:36:42.640 to recover he used the opportunity of 00:36:40.389 --> 00:36:44.889 being with other prisoners to minister 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:47.139 to and help them the men would pray 00:36:44.889 --> 00:36:48.879 together they would sing hymns while 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:51.909 using their shackles and chains as 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:55.900 instruments and one by one each man came 00:36:51.909 --> 00:36:58.420 to Christ then one day in 1956 eight 00:36:55.900 --> 00:37:02.440 years after Richard had been taken there 00:36:58.420 --> 00:37:08.318 was a news after eight years 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:11.940 it so happened that he turned around a 00:37:08.318 --> 00:37:13.989 very high official in the secret police 00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:19.539 my team Lucretia 00:37:13.989 --> 00:37:22.389 he's so witness to this guy he came back 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:26.289 from one of the interrogatories and told 00:37:22.389 --> 00:37:31.059 his wife this well said I met today a 00:37:26.289 --> 00:37:34.000 man like I didn't think that existed on 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:38.460 the surface of this earth I am sick I 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:41.829 want to go into bed and he went to bed 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:45.130 and then he made a plan how to free my 00:37:41.829 --> 00:37:49.980 father from prison and this secret 00:37:45.130 --> 00:37:56.079 policeman happened to be the immediate 00:37:49.980 --> 00:38:00.940 helper or secretary of the top secret 00:37:56.079 --> 00:38:03.730 police leader or if he was called the 00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:07.990 Minister of the Interior and this meant 00:38:03.730 --> 00:38:10.568 that my father turned around him and 00:38:07.989 --> 00:38:13.750 witness to abort the love of Christ and 00:38:10.568 --> 00:38:16.358 like that and said you live hate your 00:38:13.750 --> 00:38:19.389 whole life is full of hate you torture 00:38:16.358 --> 00:38:22.269 people you hate us you hate me you hate 00:38:19.389 --> 00:38:24.460 everybody one day you will turn around 00:38:22.269 --> 00:38:26.679 you'll hate your own wife your hate your 00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:29.500 own children what kind of life is that 00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:33.269 you and he witness about Jesus Christ 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:37.420 and he was Jewish he turned the Jewish 00:38:33.269 --> 00:38:39.789 secret policeman into a Christian he 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:44.010 made a plan how to free my father 00:38:39.789 --> 00:38:46.690 so what he did he he introduced and 00:38:44.010 --> 00:38:49.869 there's a hundreds of paper he usually 00:38:46.690 --> 00:38:52.480 gave to the Minister of Interior to sign 00:38:49.869 --> 00:38:54.720 every morning he was the guy who would 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:58.659 give him hundreds of papers to sign 00:38:54.719 --> 00:39:04.139 official stuff he introduced one paper 00:38:58.659 --> 00:39:08.139 that said free Richard Wurman it was a 00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:10.480 dick a degree a decree of pardon for 00:39:08.139 --> 00:39:10.929 each of them he had no idea what he was 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:13.778 saying 00:39:10.929 --> 00:39:15.818 hundreds of papers he's saying that and 00:39:13.778 --> 00:39:18.039 one day my father was freed out of 00:39:15.818 --> 00:39:20.920 prison after eight years of prison a 00:39:18.039 --> 00:39:24.640 frail Richard suddenly found himself out 00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:27.880 of prison he had nothing no clothes no 00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:30.730 money but he had his freedom a blessing 00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:32.260 he could not but praise God for it was 00:39:30.730 --> 00:39:34.599 through the help of local people who 00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:36.730 recognized him as a freed prisoner and 00:39:34.599 --> 00:39:39.789 took pity that he got enough coins to 00:39:36.730 --> 00:39:42.789 take buses back to his old home seeing 00:39:39.789 --> 00:39:45.069 Richard again was a shock for Sabina she 00:39:42.789 --> 00:39:45.880 thought he was dead it was a joyous 00:39:45.068 --> 00:39:48.009 reunion 00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:50.349 the first thing Richard did was to kneel 00:39:48.010 --> 00:39:53.319 with his family and give thanks to God 00:39:50.349 --> 00:39:57.278 not long thereafter he began to minister 00:39:53.318 --> 00:39:59.019 again he was re-arrested in 1959 through 00:39:57.278 --> 00:40:02.500 the conspiracy of an associate and 00:39:59.019 --> 00:40:03.489 sentenced to 25 years he was accused of 00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:06.278 preaching ideas 00:40:03.489 --> 00:40:07.989 contrary to communist doctrine due to 00:40:06.278 --> 00:40:08.949 increased political pressure from 00:40:07.989 --> 00:40:11.199 Western countries 00:40:08.949 --> 00:40:15.338 Richard was granted amnesty and released 00:40:11.199 --> 00:40:17.679 in 1964 some churches in the West had 00:40:15.338 --> 00:40:21.190 paid a ransom for their family of ten 00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:22.989 thousand dollars and letters from 00:40:21.190 --> 00:40:25.900 different officials I think this was 00:40:22.989 --> 00:40:28.269 from a group in Norway and during this 00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:30.910 time after one of his releases from 00:40:28.269 --> 00:40:33.190 prison and it was felt he would be more 00:40:30.909 --> 00:40:35.618 valuable in the West in the free 00:40:33.190 --> 00:40:37.539 countries to share the message of 00:40:35.619 --> 00:40:39.250 persecuted Christians sort of tried to 00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:43.539 keep him alive and get him out of 00:40:39.250 --> 00:40:47.650 Romania at that time and so they flee 00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:50.910 from Romania to a refugee camp in Italy 00:40:47.650 --> 00:40:55.990 and eventually made their way to America 00:40:50.909 --> 00:40:58.960 God had a plan for him but after having 00:40:55.989 --> 00:41:03.669 tuberculosis bones broken many things in 00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:05.829 prison he continued to live perhaps to 00:41:03.670 --> 00:41:07.430 bring that message out to to the rest of 00:41:05.829 --> 00:41:09.798 the world 00:41:07.429 --> 00:41:11.629 Richard began his ministry of being a 00:41:09.798 --> 00:41:13.730 voice for persecuted Christians in 00:41:11.630 --> 00:41:16.068 England with Reverend Stewart Harris 00:41:13.730 --> 00:41:17.809 where he also wrote his testimony in the 00:41:16.068 --> 00:41:20.179 book tortured for Christ 00:41:17.809 --> 00:41:22.789 later the worm brands moved on to the 00:41:20.179 --> 00:41:24.739 United States and in 1965 00:41:22.789 --> 00:41:27.140 Richard appeared before a US Senate 00:41:24.739 --> 00:41:29.528 Internal Security subcommittee he took 00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:32.750 his shirt off in front of the Senate 00:41:29.528 --> 00:41:34.730 showing them the scars that that these 00:41:32.750 --> 00:41:37.639 different forces around the world that 00:41:34.730 --> 00:41:41.329 opposed Christians in his case communism 00:41:37.639 --> 00:42:29.480 are real they tried to do physical 00:41:41.329 --> 00:42:34.910 damage to their body out in the West we 00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:37.449 will reward us by creating a mission to 00:42:34.909 --> 00:42:39.649 the community his story spread rapidly 00:42:37.449 --> 00:42:43.848 leading to more and more speaking 00:42:39.650 --> 00:42:45.858 engagements in 1967 the worm brand's 00:42:43.849 --> 00:42:47.990 officially began a ministry committed to 00:42:45.858 --> 00:42:50.420 serving the persecuted Church called 00:42:47.989 --> 00:42:54.048 Jesus to the Communist world and later 00:42:50.420 --> 00:42:56.150 named the voice of the martyrs the worm 00:42:54.048 --> 00:42:58.068 brands poured their heart and soul into 00:42:56.150 --> 00:43:00.079 the ministry which in turn helped to 00:42:58.068 --> 00:43:01.759 open the eyes of many people to the 00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:02.809 plight of persecuted Christians around 00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:05.028 the world 00:43:02.809 --> 00:43:06.979 Richard and Sabina never forgot their 00:43:05.028 --> 00:43:08.630 time in prison and prayed desperately 00:43:06.978 --> 00:43:11.058 for those who continue to experience 00:43:08.630 --> 00:43:13.390 hardship in Romania the Beloved Country 00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:17.150 they had never expected to return to 00:43:13.389 --> 00:43:22.489 until a change of events opened a door 00:43:17.150 --> 00:43:24.559 in 1989 a revolutionary wave that began 00:43:22.489 --> 00:43:26.838 in Poland swept across the communist 00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:29.119 countries of Central and Eastern Europe 00:43:26.838 --> 00:43:32.688 resulting in the fall of Soviet style 00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:35.108 regimes one by one countries once under 00:43:32.688 --> 00:43:37.879 the rule of communism began to collapse 00:43:35.108 --> 00:43:40.900 the Romanian head of state Nicolae 00:43:37.880 --> 00:43:43.849 Ceausescu a dictator since 1965 00:43:40.900 --> 00:43:45.829 stubbornly clung to power until an 00:43:43.849 --> 00:43:49.880 unprecedented revolt by his own 00:43:45.829 --> 00:43:51.709 countrymen toppled him in Timisoara the 00:43:49.880 --> 00:43:54.019 people gathered in the public square and 00:43:51.708 --> 00:43:56.509 prayed the Lord's Prayer the gathering 00:43:54.018 --> 00:43:58.488 itself was considered illegal and even 00:43:56.509 --> 00:44:00.079 much more so the fact that so many 00:43:58.489 --> 00:44:03.139 people were praying in public and 00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:05.778 chanting communism is dead God is alive 00:44:03.139 --> 00:44:08.179 the cry was heard across the country and 00:44:05.778 --> 00:44:10.759 not long thereafter the suppressive 00:44:08.179 --> 00:44:14.059 communist government of Romania came to 00:44:10.759 --> 00:44:16.159 an end what a time of jubilation it was 00:44:14.059 --> 00:44:19.630 and what a triumph for those who had 00:44:16.159 --> 00:44:22.818 endured such torment for so long after 00:44:19.630 --> 00:44:24.400 25 years of exile and continually 00:44:22.818 --> 00:44:26.748 upholding their country in prayer 00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:29.209 Richard and Sabina returned to their 00:44:26.748 --> 00:44:31.038 beloved Romania the country where they 00:44:29.208 --> 00:44:34.548 had given their hearts to Christ and 00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:36.829 labored so fervently for him it was a 00:44:34.548 --> 00:44:39.858 memorable and emotional occasion and 00:44:36.829 --> 00:44:41.749 they were warmly received Christians met 00:44:39.858 --> 00:44:44.449 him at the airport with flowers saying 00:44:41.748 --> 00:44:48.139 he spoke in many large churches they 00:44:44.449 --> 00:44:50.630 returned two maybe three times the 00:44:48.139 --> 00:44:54.048 Christians the government the media they 00:44:50.630 --> 00:44:56.539 had opened doors across the country many 00:44:54.048 --> 00:44:58.998 things in Romania had changed since the 00:44:56.539 --> 00:45:00.949 worm brand's departure constructed on 00:44:58.998 --> 00:45:02.509 top of the deep underground cell where 00:45:00.949 --> 00:45:05.389 Richard had suffered the tortures of 00:45:02.509 --> 00:45:08.059 solitary confinement there stood a new 00:45:05.389 --> 00:45:10.248 building the thousand room palace that 00:45:08.059 --> 00:45:12.979 the former dictator Ceausescu had built 00:45:10.248 --> 00:45:14.569 for himself it now stood empty The 00:45:12.978 --> 00:45:16.730 Dictator now dead 00:45:14.570 --> 00:45:19.010 but beneath in some of the areas where 00:45:16.730 --> 00:45:21.289 the cells had once stood Richard and 00:45:19.010 --> 00:45:23.120 Sabina were now able to store Bibles and 00:45:21.289 --> 00:45:25.300 Christian literature which would be 00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:28.130 openly available to their countrymen 00:45:25.300 --> 00:45:30.710 Richard's place of torture where he had 00:45:28.130 --> 00:45:33.320 labored quietly in prayer was now used 00:45:30.710 --> 00:45:35.869 for the service of his Savior arrogant 00:45:33.320 --> 00:45:37.490 communism was gone and in its place God 00:45:35.869 --> 00:45:40.339 now began his work 00:45:37.489 --> 00:45:42.949 although happy to be back in Romania the 00:45:40.340 --> 00:45:45.920 worm brands did not settle they had a 00:45:42.949 --> 00:45:48.230 mission to continue when we lived in the 00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:51.500 same house with him for some seven eight 00:45:48.230 --> 00:45:53.869 years we only really saw them about two 00:45:51.500 --> 00:45:56.300 months a year because they lived out of 00:45:53.869 --> 00:45:59.000 a suitcase they had five or six 00:45:56.300 --> 00:46:01.280 suitcases and they spoke in 10,000 00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:03.619 churches in America they stayed active 00:46:01.280 --> 00:46:06.200 as long as they could even editing and 00:46:03.619 --> 00:46:09.619 writing from their hospital beds so they 00:46:06.199 --> 00:46:12.889 lived their faith their love right up 00:46:09.619 --> 00:46:16.089 until the last moment on earth Sabina 00:46:12.889 --> 00:46:20.019 went to be with her Lord in August 11th 00:46:16.090 --> 00:46:23.300 2002 months later in February 17th 2001 00:46:20.019 --> 00:46:24.710 both left a legacy rich in devotion to 00:46:23.300 --> 00:46:28.220 Christ and His Church 00:46:24.710 --> 00:46:30.530 their talks books instant form of 00:46:28.219 --> 00:46:32.899 witnessing and their courage in the face 00:46:30.530 --> 00:46:36.050 of so much spiritual and physical 00:46:32.900 --> 00:46:38.550 adversity remain a lasting example for 00:46:36.050 --> 00:46:41.650 Christians everywhere 00:46:38.550 --> 00:46:44.920 they brought a depth of love and mercy I 00:46:41.650 --> 00:46:48.550 think to many Christians in America that 00:46:44.920 --> 00:46:51.490 were unused to this aggressive love in 00:46:48.550 --> 00:46:54.039 the face of evil this was something that 00:46:51.489 --> 00:46:56.500 caused many people to say what where 00:46:54.039 --> 00:46:59.050 does this strength come from well the 00:46:56.500 --> 00:47:05.199 first time for me to a large extent I 00:46:59.050 --> 00:47:09.160 understood how we went through it was 00:47:05.199 --> 00:47:14.079 when I saw the Sequoias in the Sequoia 00:47:09.159 --> 00:47:17.199 National Park it turns out to be that 00:47:14.079 --> 00:47:19.630 the secret of the non gvt of this 00:47:17.199 --> 00:47:24.299 Sequoia and it says that these trees 00:47:19.630 --> 00:47:28.630 have very thin bark extremely thin bark 00:47:24.300 --> 00:47:32.789 it's very easy for insects and for pests 00:47:28.630 --> 00:47:36.880 to penetrate this part but this bark 00:47:32.789 --> 00:47:39.039 excretes a substance called tanning that 00:47:36.880 --> 00:47:42.369 kills all these insects and all these 00:47:39.039 --> 00:47:46.300 pests they cannot penetrate this thick 00:47:42.369 --> 00:47:49.389 bark because unlike other trees it has 00:47:46.300 --> 00:47:54.850 this substance that would kill the moans 00:47:49.389 --> 00:47:58.569 on touch and that's the nature of the 00:47:54.849 --> 00:48:02.380 Christian faith you have seen skin like 00:47:58.570 --> 00:48:05.320 everybody else and you suffer if you 00:48:02.380 --> 00:48:10.960 have the face and the knowledge from the 00:48:05.320 --> 00:48:15.820 gospel no communist propaganda thing 00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:19.030 no no idea can penetrate tell you my 00:48:15.820 --> 00:48:22.780 last confirmation class in Romania I am 00:48:19.030 --> 00:48:26.470 a Lutheran pastor and I took a group of 00:48:22.780 --> 00:48:29.530 10 15 boys and girls on Sunday morning 00:48:26.469 --> 00:48:33.489 to the zoological garden before the den 00:48:29.530 --> 00:48:37.600 of lions and tigers and there I told 00:48:33.489 --> 00:48:38.629 them your forefathers in face the throne 00:48:37.599 --> 00:48:41.719 before the 00:48:38.630 --> 00:48:45.440 beasts for the love to Christ and they 00:48:41.719 --> 00:48:49.209 died gladly for their Savior you also 00:48:45.440 --> 00:48:53.059 may be arrested maybe beaten or killed 00:48:49.210 --> 00:48:56.119 decide here and now if you wish to be 00:48:53.059 --> 00:48:59.180 Christians or not they had tears in 00:48:56.119 --> 00:49:00.980 their eyes when they said yes and then 00:48:59.179 --> 00:49:03.768 we didn't bother them anymore 00:49:00.980 --> 00:49:06.409 asking them Bible verses they didn't 00:49:03.768 --> 00:49:09.500 know them we have no Bible then they 00:49:06.409 --> 00:49:14.929 they are arrested every scene was taken 00:49:09.500 --> 00:49:18.440 from us everything everything even our 00:49:14.929 --> 00:49:22.518 clothes we were put in a prisoner 00:49:18.440 --> 00:49:29.440 uniform but what we had gathered in our 00:49:22.518 --> 00:49:29.439 heart nobody could take it away nobody 00:49:50.360 --> 00:50:17.699 [Music] 00:50:22.239 --> 00:50:24.299 you