Missionary Martyr
Pastor J. Paul Reno
DBS Executive Committee
Rev. 1:9b "For the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
This double-pronged passion is why the Apostle John was exiled on the Isle
of Patmos. Even in old age he would not compromise for comfort.
The Dean Burgon Society likewise re- fuses to compromise on the issue of
the Word of God. While we are a single-issue society we believe that this
issue is foundational, essential and worthy of sacrifice and suffering.
For this, Stephen was stoned, James was beheaded, Paul was stoned, beaten
and imprisoned, and martyrs slain (Rev. 6:9b).
On December 30, 2003, one of our church members, Paul A. Ritchey, was
martyred in Malaba, Kenya. His death was a result of his strong preaching
as well as his Scripture and tract distribution. He stood firmly with the
DBS in our convictions and practice. He had a full confidence in his
Bible. He defended verbal plenary inspiration, divine preservation,
accurate translation and literal interpretation. He regularly instructed
both young and old to read their Bibles and then to obey what they read.
His attackers had heard him preach the Word and decided he must be killed.
Bro. Paul Ritchey was not an ordained minister nor was he an
intellectual. He worked in a factory making truck engines, had a high
school education and had raised six children. He had been converted in
Turkey as a private in the U.S. Army, while reading a Bible. His zeal for
souls came from reading his Bible. His understanding of the issues of the
DBS came from reading his Bible. His leaving a church over their distribution of the N.I.V. was the result of reading his Bible. His love for the
K.J.V. and its foundation of the Masoretic and Received Texts came from
his study of the Bible itself. His 12+ mission trips were the result of
reading his Bible. His statement, just days before he was martyred, "I
would rather die than compromise!" was a result of reading his Bible.
He lived and died for his convictions. May we also live and be willing
to die for the precious Word of God.
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