My young daughter asked me a deep question during a discussion about Jeremiah Small, a Christian teacher in Iraq who was killed March 1, 2012, by one of his students after opening the class with prayer.
“Why do you always say martyred instead of murdered when you talk about Jeremiah?”
Our family was touched by the martyrdom of Jeremiah Small, a man our family has known since his early teens. Yet, I cannot pretend that our pain is anywhere close to the loss his very loving, close, and faithful family is feeling.
We met him at Box T Bible and Saddle Camp in Hurdsfield, ND, a camp run by Florence and Lewellyn Tewksbury. My husband was the Bible teacher for many summers. Even as a young man, Jeremiah’s faith set him apart from the other campers. Since the Bible camp was on a farm, every afternoon the activity was farm work. Some weeded. Some cut firewood. Some shoveled manure. Some branded calves. I spent hours with him in the garden pulling weeds and picking his brain about his upbringing and his personal faith.
Based on Jeremiah’s life, I figured his mom, a homeschooling mother of seven, must be doing a great job, so I plied Jeremiah with questions. My kids were young and I knew I had much to learn. Jeremiah later returned as a counselor.
Ten years later, when our family moved to Washington, we learned the Small family had also moved there to work at Shiloh Bible Camp. I was thrilled to finally meet the parents of this amazing young man. His parents have continued to prove faithful through the death of their son.
The martyr and the shooter were memorialized together. Dan and Becky Small, along with four of their children, stood on stage with the family of the student who shot their son.
They hugged the parents of their son’s murderer. There was nothing fake or phony about this action, their searing pain did not hinder them from acting as a Christian should.
That is amazing grace.
An article was written about this preemptive love that shocked a land used to vengeance and hatred. They had not expected the family to come to bury their son with love and forgiveness.
Here’s an article that describes the events that led up to Jeremiah being shot.
Jeremiah’s family accepts his death in the same way he lived his life, with strong faith, a victorious testimony, and a growing love for their Savior.
A beautiful tribute was published by the Kurdistan Tribune, and written by a student who is grieved that a man who came to serve, was killed by one he came to serve. Read “What It Means to Kill A Teacher.” (Article taken offline April 2018)
Jeremiah was only 33 years old.
Who does that remind you of?
This is another student’s tribute, but it includes some scenes from the classroom. Skip from 54 seconds to 1 minute 13 seconds if blood bothers you.
- Pray for the family as they learn to live without their son/brother/uncle. Death has no sting for the one who entered their eternal rest, the sting is for those left behind.
- Pray for the students who were in the classroom at the time.
- Pray for the power of the Gospel to go forth.
John 12:24
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies,
it cannot bear fruit.
May much fruit come from the death of the Lord’s precious saint, Jeremiah Small.
A correction from someone who was actually there and saw everything – he was not memorialized in a mosque, the memorial took place in a theater, in a country where Christians and Muslims lived peacefully side by side for centuries prior to the US invasion and occupation. It was absolutely horrific and a tragedy but it helps no one, and actually hurts a lot of people who were affected, to change the truth, even in small ways. Thanks for understanding. Peace to you.
Thank you so much for your kind correction. I will update the post today. I don’t remember where I received the information, but you’re right, having one serious error changes the truth, so I appreciate you taking the time to instruct me.
I’m sorry you had to experience this heart-breaking situation. Thank you again, for your kind consideration in pointing out my error.
Very sad to be just now reading about this. I had Jeremiah as a camp counselor at Box-T and still have a picture of him and I together at the end of camp. Truly an amazing man of God who will be truly missed.
Mark, yes, he is truly missed every day. He left a great impact in this world in such a short time. May his life be a continual encouragement to us to live for Him with abandon to this world.
I am so sorry you had to experience Jeremiah's death firsthand. But, I am thankful you had the chance to be impacted by his life. I am praying that many will pick up where Jeremiah left off and preach that glorious love of Jesus and the truth of the Word of God. You were so right – those are the two very things Jeremiah died for! Blessings to you, dear friend, may your heart be healed of the pain and may you find your true purpose and calling in life.
Mindy,
Thanks so much for writing this article and including all the attachments. Each year I seem to find old tributes from that time. So blessed to see how his life has impacted so many.
Keren, we thought of Jeremiah this week, as I know many did. Maybe his former students are still grieving and wondering about Jeremiah’s savior! We pray that you and your family continue to grow and keep his memory alive. Many blessings to you, sweet sister!
He taught me for three years… he was my mentor… and he was shot in my class… He truly was an example of righteousness, selflessness, humility, mercy, and love… What a man he was… He left a legacy; he left a legacy of love and productivity.Jeremiah Small is definitely one of the greatest men who ever lived. Even his death influenced thousands.. He was ready to die for love and truth, and that's what happened. Rest in eternal peace Jeremiah Small
Thanks so much for sharing this. He sounds like an amazing man, and I will be looking forward to meeting him in heaven. Keep writiing and encouraging people in their faith!
Wow! Not something we have heard here in the news. What courage on that families' part to show Christian forgiveness and love in such a desperate time of grief. Thanks for posting about this modern day martyr and the Lord comfort you too, being his friends. You have heavy griefs to bear, my friend,but the light of Christ burns bright in each post you write.