The goal of Chet Bitterman's life was to broadcast the good news about Jesus Christ - the message that God in human flesh had borne the judgment due His own creation. He wished to have a part in fulfilling John's prophecy of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues bowing in homage before Christ.

He reached his goal. Frustrated in his attempt to translate the Bible into Carijona [native tribal tongue of Colombia in South America] , he preached instead to his captors. He was arrested by a Colombian guerrilla group, "M-19", held for nearly two months in 1981, then shot to death. But through his capture and death the Christian Gospel was proclaimed and lived out before Colombia's millions. His parents' interview, aired hourly throughout the afternoon and evening, stirred the national soul.

The Summer Institute of Linguistics reaped the benefits. Having languished in fear and uncertainty for seven weeks, it now basked in the effusive support that flowed from President Turbay on down. The guerrillas had intended to oust the translators; instead, they entrenched them. Almost a decade of negative press gave way to supportive editorials. [Director] Al Wheeler's reference to Colombia as his home tapped deep springs of patriotic sentiment...Chet's burial in Colombia at his own request was noted with awe...

Nor did Chet's death affect Colombia alone. In memorial services across the United States, people of various ages stepped forward to fill in the ranks where Chet had fallen.

Isn't it always the case? "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." That's how we prosper and thrive. Men and women, even boys and girls, laying down their lives for the One Who laid down His life for them...