Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage in the 3rd century, faced social unrest, political challenges, and plague, navigating it all with the wisdom and hope of Christ.
If your life feels unsettled in 2020, early Christians in North Africa faced similar struggles. Denise Godwin of International Media Ministries (IMM) points to Cyprian, who was a Bishop of Carthage in the third century. He faced persecution as a Roman emperor tried getting Christians to sacrifice to pagan gods. “They were having bad luck in battle and that sort of thing. There was this great persecution that arose. [It wasn’t] so much that they were saying anti-Christian things. They just needed them to come on board and be pro-Roman gods so that they could get luck back into the culture.”
Obviously, most Christians wouldn’t do this, being loyal to Christ alone. Godwin says, “Cyprian led the church during that time, [showing] what was important to stand for, whether to go into exile and how to lead people who are confused by what’s going on in culture and challenged by what’s going on in the culture.”
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SOURCE: Mission Network News, Kevin Zeller
CALL TO ACTION
- Check out IMM’s Heritage Project and be inspired by the witness of early Christians.
- Take part in the story of the Church by showing others the love and hope of Christ today.
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