Christians around the world. That suffering is normal for Christians. I was
a pastor before I joined VOM. I don’t
understand how people can run away
from God in the midst of suffering but
they often do. When we need God the
most, we often run away from Him. I
have been so blessed, so honoured to
work with our suffering brothers and
sisters. They are so thankful when we
come and serve them and show them
we care. If the Canadian Church could
see how impoverished we are because
we’ve robbed ourselves of part of the
Body of Christ. . . .
Ks: We’re not very good at suffering,
are we?
gp: We see suffering as the worst thing
that can happen whereas our brothers
and sisters in the persecuted church
see disobedience as the worst thing. I
couldn’t have gone through this time
without having had my life enriched by
them, by their faithfulness and trusting
even when things don’t get better. One
of our problems is we expect God to
protect us.
Ks: And God’s not going to do that?
gp: He has greater priorities in our life
than keeping us from harm. His priority
is to make us into the image of His Son.
We serve a suffering God.
Ks: Glenn, what do you wish you had
done more of during your life?
gp: I wish I’d spent more time with
my kids. I spent a lot of time on the
road. But I’m not sure how it could
have been done differently. I wish
I could have touched base with my
kids a little more. I wish I hadn’t gotten caught up in things that actually
weren’t so important. I spent a lot
of time on things that, in the grand
scheme, probably didn’t matter. There
are not a lot of regrets. There are some.
I’ve had some failures in my life and
when I look back it saddens me. If anything I’ve learned to love God’s grace.
It’s all there is. And this is grace, when
people are able to suffer persecution
and remain faithful.
The voiCe of The Mar Tyrs
glenn penner listens to the testimony of an evangelist in northern nigeria who has
experienced both joy and persecution for winning Muslims to Christ.
Ks: What gives you comfort and pleasure right now?
gp: Pleasure is something I’m struggling with right now. I’m struggling
for breath a lot of the time. I’m not
comfortable. I love to read when my
eyes allow me to, but my eyes get very
dry. Occasionally I listen to music. My
iPod is my good buddy. There is some
music that really does touch me.
Ks: You have seen a lot of the world.
You have written on your blog about
being thankful for a Sudanese sunset.
Are you glad you lived the life you
lived?
gp: I’m thankful for the opportunities
I’ve had to visit the places I’ve seen.
It saddens me that I probably won’t
get back there. My favourite country
on the planet is Sri Lanka. I love these
places.
Ks: It’s been an extraordinary life.
gp: It hasn’t been boring. I think my
wife would have enjoyed a slightly
more boring life sometimes. I’m feeling a little bit torn between here and
there. Wanting to stay here but know-
ing that things will be better there.
Ks: Are you afraid?
gp: The biggest fear I have – and that’s
not a bad thing to say – is not being
able to breathe. That is troubling to
me. Things will get worse here. I don’t
really know the path or how it’s going
to show itself. It takes a very different
attitude to know that you’ve turned
a corner you’re probably not going
to come back from. I’m getting to the
point where I can’t breathe. But we
shall face that.
Ks: What is the one message you want
to leave your children?
gp: Live a life that matters. Live such
a life that at the end of it someone will
glorify God that you’ve been alive.
That is something that has come to me
so many times – that somebody somewhere is thanking God I’m alive and
I’ve been willing to be used by Him.
I think that is how we glorify God so
people will say “Thank God this person was.”
Ks: It has been my privilege to talk to
you. Thank you.
