People of Courage: Nelson Mandela

South Africa has struggled with race relations throughout its history.  The 30% whites in the nation rigidly controlled the lives of the 70% blacks.  The government passed a series of apartheid laws that were similar to the segregation laws passed in the southern United States after the Civil War.

For over 50 years the apartheid system forced blacks and whites to remain “apart” in public.  They lived in separate sections of the country with the blacks have the smaller, less desirable areas.  Denied the right to vote, blacks could not leave their assigned area without a “pass” which was difficult to obtain.  They also needed a pass to get a job.  Violators received a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail.

In the 1950’s Nelson Mandela led the protest movement to end apartheid.  His goal was to bring racial equality to all South Africans.  In 1964 the government arrested and imprisoned him for “trying to overthrow the government.”  For 26 years he continued the fight against apartheid from his prison cell on an island off the coast of Cape Town.

Released from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela spoke around the world to end apartheid.  In 1993 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting civil rights for all people.  South Africans elected him president in 1994, the first black to hold this office.  As president he established a new constitution that guaranteed civil rights for all citizens.  He also worked to rebuild the nation after the abuses caused by apartheid.

On July 18, 2011 Nelson Mandela celebrated his 93rd birthday with family and friends. Few people in history have had such a huge impact on their nation.

Imagine spending 26 years in jail for something you believed in. Would you do it? Could you do it?

There are Christians around the world being persecuted, tortured, and murdered for their faith. In Nepal, Christians go to jail if they talk about their faith in public. Rumanian Christians must meet in secret for fear of persecution by the secret police. In China many Christian pastors have been killed for their faith.

• Imagine having to face these hardships for your Christian faith:
• Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
• Three times I was beaten with rods
• Once people tried to stone me to death
• Three times I was shipwrecked
• I spent a night and a day in the open sea
• I have been constantly on the move.
• I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from unbelievers and false brothers; in the city and country, and at sea
• I often gone without sleep
• I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food
• I have been cold and naked.

That’s what the Apostle Paul experienced for his faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). Although it seems unlikely, it may be the type of hardships that lie ahead for all Christians.

Remember: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4)