Of Whom the World was not Worthy

Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—-of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. ~ Hebrews 11:35-38
I turned on my computer this morning to find the above photo and the following posts on my friend, Shawn Holes, Facebook page. Shawn is presently in Nepal to open-air preach with missionaries in the area.
Please pray. We just returned back to the house after fleeing from a mob of people that erupted at us, and nearly getting killed. I took this photo just moments before the crowd turned. Jesse was preaching the ten commandments and quoted Jn 14:6. They went crazy picking up rocks and 2x4's and hitting Jesse. Ricky jumped in and stood the gap. More details to follow. Jesse is hurt but ok. We are all safe...

Jesse and Ricky took some hard core punches, had lumber slammed against them, and rocks were thrown at us and hit us. I have no injuries. I am so proud of the men. Jesse and Ricky did not punch or hit anybody and could have at any time. Praise the Lord for His protection. If we hadn't escaped out of the park by running form the pack of people to the police station across the street it would have been a sad ending to the story. Jesse and Ricky both have injuries so they will need healing. I can't but help but believe that your prayers are giving us the courage to be protected and able to share the cross with a lost and dying world. I am still praying for a great awakening here but it will only be by God's grace...

This comment was just posted on Jesse's Facebook: Both Project Jagerna & FPGM websites have been temporarily taken down for security reasons. We are trying to figure out what to do. Jesse & Ricky were stoned and sustained multiple injuries to the head, back, legs, etc as trees were literally torn down and they were pelted with logs, water jugs, fists, feet, big rocks, poles, etc. Benches were torn apart and the pieces used to attack. Thankfully, nothing serious, we think, but too risky to go to the hospital right now. After the adrenaline has simmered, lots of pain. This thing will probably be in the papers as a riot broke out after we left and Bishnu also narrowly escaped. No personal information was given out, but their faces are on lots of cell phones and video cameras. Trying to decide whether or not to leave the country or just to got out tomorrow to another location and keep preaching. The people in that crowd were monsters, made for hell, as is this country. Jesse was simply preaching grace to the humble and law to the prideful. After the apostles were persecuted in Acts 4, they prayed for more boldness and then kept preaching boldly. Perhaps that is the answer. Please pray.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews described some of the soldiers of the Lord, from centuries past, as those "of whom the world was not worthy." Shawn Holes, and many of the open-air preachers I have come to know, respect, and love can likewise be counted among those of whom the world is not worthy.

The world is not worthy of my evangelist brethren who leave the comfort and safety of home, whether for an afternoon at a local fishing pond or to travel half-a-world away, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The world is not worthy of my evangelist brethren who love the lost so much that they willingly face violent hatred and physical attacks from the very people they seek to save.

The world is not worthy of my evangelist brethren who love God so much that they deny themselves in authentic and tangible ways, take up their crosses and follow Jesus Christ.

The world is not worthy of my evangelist brethren who are often mocked more by Christians who do nothing to reach the lost than by the lost my brethren are trying to reach.

No, the world is not worthy of my evangelist brethren who worship the Lord in spirit and in truth as they herald the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, in the open-air.