Christian Teacher Killed By Gunmen in Yemen for ‘Proselytizing’

The word “martyr” brings to mind early Christians dying for their faith in Christ. They faced wild animals or gladiators in the Roman arenas. Yet there are “martyrs” today. Below are news reports of Joel Shrum’s recent death in Yemen. Joel was not in Yemen as a Christian missionary, but he let his faith be known. News reports (below) make it clear that Joel was targeted due to his testimony for Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for Joel’s family, his parents, wife & sons in this time of trial - Nigel Tomes

Al Qaeda-linked militants claimed responsibility for the shooting death of a US teacher in Yemen March 18. They said he was targeted for being “one of the biggest American proselytizers” in the Muslim-majority nation, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Police in the city of Taiz said a gunman riding on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice shot Shrum as he was driving his car. Photos show the shot –out windows.

Joel Shrum, an English-language teacher for the International Training Development Center, was known by Yemenis as a devout Christian. His employers said he was a “very professional employee who highly respected the Islamic religion.” Sources said Joel Shrum would openly talk about his faith, but was largely seen as a beloved figure, devoted to his work.

Joel Shrum moved to Yemen in 2009 with his wife, Janelle, and older son. He began working for the Swedish-run International Training Development Centre in Taiz in 2010, and eventually was promoted to deputy director. Among the skills taught there are English as a second language, cooking and sewing, as well as how to be an electrician and how to use computers, they said.

His second son was born in Taiz. Joel Shrum believed that teaching business skills was an effective way to help people. Many of the school's teachers are Yemeni, and Shrum had been able to hire some of his friends to work there, his parents said.

A Protestant Christian, Joel Shrum was surrounded by Yemeni friends and deeply respected their Muslim faith. On a trip there to visit him in 2010, his parents met friends of Joel and Janelle and were struck by their warmth and hospitality. "We could see that their friends loved them," Lynda Shrum said.

The school denied that Shrum was proselytizing. It said Muslims and Christians work together on “human development, skill transfer and community development” projects there and that religious and political debates are not permitted.

The killing came just days after Saudi Arabia's top Islamic leader called for the destruction of all churches in the Arabian Peninsula, where Yemen is located. Yemen's constitution does not protect freedom of religion.

Hearing of Joel’s death, Terry Jacobs wrote, “Joel Shrum was a friend of my sons and was a very godly young man who loved to tell others about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Compiled from various News sources