Inspired by the persecu
a Faith Today Interview with glenn penner
glenn penner is chief executive officer of The voice of the Martyrs Canada,
a ministry to the persecuted church around the world, and the author of In the
Shadow of the Cross: A Biblical Theology of Persecution and Discipleship (voM Canada,
2007). he was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and, recently, his doctors told him
he has ”months, not years” left. glenn penner is 47. he agreed to speak with Faith
Today’s karen stiller about living and about dying.
Ks: Glenn, how are you approaching
what appears to be the final home stretch
in your battle with cancer? Where is your
head at these days?
gp: I believe people are remembered for
how they end the journey, not necessarily how they start it. When people have
left this ministry [VOM] over the years, I
have said to them, “Leave well,” because
that’s how you’ll be remembered. I’ve had
a few years to think about this
question of how I can finish
In my mind,
well. It has sometimes actu-
god doesn’t
ally become a bit of a preoc- protect us
cupation. I have to learn to in many cases
relax about it and realize that from the
we are finishing well. When I
nastier things
started with VOM, we were
in life
four people and a tiny budget.
We’re not huge now but we’re
doing quite a bit better. We have a bigger
staff and a number of people doing the
job I was doing, and doing it better.
Ks: You work with a ministry that deals
with hurting, suffering people around
the world. How has that shaped your
journey now?
gp: One of the things that has helped
me through this has been working with
a ministry that deals with suffering and
death on a daily basis. It’s a rare privilege. I’ve never struggled with anger,
which may sound a bit weird or super-
spiritual, but I haven’t gone through a
lot of the disappointment with God that
many people do when facing their own
mortality. I see it on a daily basis and, as
I study the Word of God about suffering
and persecution, I see that God has not
promised us a break from these things.
Suffering and death are normal things
for anyone who is going to work for the
purpose of God.
Ks: So you have found a
kind of inspiration from the
persecuted church?
gp: When I was first diagnosed, it was a shock of
course. And I remember
lying in bed and thinking.
My mind went back to
some young women I had
met a few years earlier in
Ethiopia. I had helped start our work
there and worked with women kicked
out of their homes because of their faith.
They were forced to beg on the streets
and live in a hovel. And I asked them,
“What does Jesus mean to you?”
They said: “He means everything
to us. He gives us everything we need.
He loves us. He’s our Father.” I looked
around at what they had and I was
amazed at their faith.
That night, as I was thinking about
these things, I said to the Lord: “If
those people can stay faithful to You,
so can I. Help me not to dishonour you
through this.” I’ve held on to that. One
of the great joys for me is having people
around the world who are being persecuted praying for me too. I’ve had the
honour of meeting them. It’s the fellowship of suffering.
Ks: Sometimes, people who are suffering
actually have to work to help others come
to terms with it. Friends or acquaintances
might ask: “How could God let this happen to you?” Have you faced that?
gp: I haven’t had too many people come
with that perspective. They know that
in my mind, God doesn’t protect us in
many cases from the nastier things of
life. He doesn’t promise we’ll live in a
rose garden all the time. I think what I’ve
had to struggle more with is everyone
and their dog wanting me to try this diet
or that supplement. And occasionally
the person who doesn’t know me very
well who thinks he or she has a right
to intrude and say things that are out
of line – like I only need to accept Jesus
as Saviour. Thanks, I never thought of
that! Thankfully there hasn’t been a lot
of that. And I wouldn’t have had the patience to put up with a lot of it.
Ks: Have you felt supported by your
community?
gp: I’ve felt tremendous support. And I
