As we read Hebrews 11, we gasp at this catalogue of faithful and their deeds. Do they overawe us? Do we feel inadequate ever to imagine that our names could join these giants of faith?

The apostle packs into a few words what is related in whole long chapters in the Old Testament concerning faithful men and women. He says "time would fail" for him to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David, Samuel and the prophets. Having already listed twelve giants of faith, and recounted a few incidents from their lives, he expects us to recall the faithfulness of others, and model our own faith on theirs.

What deeds connected with these people come to your mind as you read verse 33, for example? Easily we can see Gideon, Jephthah and David "subduing kingdoms;" David obtaining promises; Samuel working righteousness, and Daniel stopping the mouths of lions. Easily again, in verses 34 to 37, it was Hananiah and his friends who "quenched the violence of fire;" it was the faithful women of Zarephath and Shunem who received their loved ones raised to life. Possibly it was king Jehoshaphat who "escaped the edge of the sword." Jeremiah had trials of mockings, and perhaps scourgings. According to Jewish tradition, Isaiah was sawn asunder.

What about you and me? This chapter shows us that faith is really tested in circumstances of adversity, and through making sacrifices to preach the Gospel in season and out.

Let us ask ourselves: what is our faith made of? To what degree have we sacrificed for the gospel’s sake, so that the word of the Lord might go forth with power? To what extent has our faith been tried?

Probably none of us has stopped the mouths of lions, although I do know of two brothers on foot who once came face to face with a huge bear on a narrow path. Few of us have been stoned, or faced a scourging such as Paul himself endured. Rather more of us, but still not many, have been made as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things for the sake of the gospel. Where then is our faith? Remember, it is through much tribulation that we will finally enter the kingdom.

Yet, it is by faith in our day that brothers and sisters are passing through tropical storms and floods to preach the gospel. I know one faithful Caribbean family in Christ that has rebuilt their home three times after disasters, spurning opportunities to emigrate to a safer land. By faith, saints are walking or cycling lonely miles, braving gunmen and the "choke and rob" artists along the way, so as to keep our lightstands bright. By faith they are enduring torments of insects, are sleeping on wharves, have given up comfortable homes for indescribable shacks, are bathing in meager supplies of water or not bathing at all except in clouds of dust, are suffering travel hazards innumerable on wretched roads in, or half out of, ramshackle trucks and buses, and are in continual ill-health because they cannot afford to visit the doctor or buy medication -- yet remaining busy and earnest, always prepared to preach the word.

Perhaps most faithful of all are the increasing number of elderly ones among us who, in these days of cruel economic hardship and unemployment, give what little funds they have to assist in the preaching of the gospel and the care of Christ’s little ones, casting all their needs upon the Lord.

What shall become of you all if your faith be not wrought with works, and if unexpressed in works your faith be not made perfect? Perhaps your test lies in the little things which you esteem as trivial or unimportant -- a little more needed in the collection for that Bible seminar, an increase in the subscription for a valued magazine, a little generosity to a friend in need across the way, opening your home to an orphaned girl or a homeless boy.

In matters of faith, if you look after the spiritual pence, the pounds will look after themselves. It is by faith -- yes, for true, here in the Caribbean being a giant of faith -- that the vision that sustains each of you can and will become reality. My beloved, when the giants of faith will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever (Dan. 12:3), I want to rest assured that among those stars will be many of you, Caribbean saints whose weakness has been made strong, who have come through great tribulation, and whose faith has been made perfect.

Hugo Mitchell (recently fallen asleep), Georgetown, Guyana

This did not mean that she was some sort of celibate nun. She was a married woman, the wife of a prominent man named Shallum. There seems to be an almost modern touch about their relationship, each with quite different professions, yet treating each other with due respect.

Her words, as exemplified by the few recorded in Scripture, make it clear that she, like Jesus, spoke as one having authority. Repeated over and over is the phrase, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says…"

What was her prophetic message? What is it for us today? In few words, it is, Read your Bibles! Like James, she urges us to be doers of the word. It is similar to that of all the prophets of II Chronicles. If we respond humbly and receptively to God’s word and follow His clear messages and warnings to us, however disconcerting and inconvenient they may be, God will in return respond, bless us and guide us throughout our lives. And, really, isn’t that the basis of all gospel truth? She must have been a very convincing exhorter, for it was her words that impelled the young king Josiah to organize a national "Learn to Read your Bible more Effectively" seminar.

Jewish history tells us that Huldah encouraged the leaders and people of God in a mighty Bible-based reformation and revival. When she died, she was buried at the entrance to the house of God in Jerusalem. A great multiple gateway was built in the southern wall of the temple, a part of which I saw when I visited Israel in 1974. It was called The Huldah Gates. Jesus and his apostles must have used it many times during his mortal life.

Long ago, when I was only in my twenties, there was a sister who used to write to me from America. She was a true Christadelphian Huldah. Her name was Evelyn Banta. At a time when the fortunes and spirit of the brotherhood were at a very low ebb, she prayed often for reformation and revival. She worked hard and braved scorn to promote them. And she was one of God’s humble instruments to bring revival to Caribbean, Central American, and Asian countries. Perhaps in America too, although I wouldn’t know about that.

By the grace of God, right now our brotherhood is beginning another great reformation and revival all over the world, one I would never have believed possible just a few years ago. I want to insist that message of Huldah is crucial: "Read your Bibles!" And especially important is the part about responding promptly, humbly and totally when God is pointing the way. It must be a Bible-based revival to succeed and receive the Lord’s approval.

Mary Eyre, Kingston, Jamaica

Papua Niugini and the Solomon Islands are two of the many new nations of black peoples that have emerged from the era of European imperialism. Much of the land is still remote wilderness. And like many other such ex-colonial nations, they have not been spared the terrors of war.

Our Bro. Boniface and Sis. Mary Dituama lived in the town of Arawa which, in the mid-nineties, was the scene of a vicious war between the PNG army and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army. In the fierce battles the nearby town of Kieta was totally destroyed, and Arawa barely survived. The Dituamas packed what they could carry, including as priority their Bibles, Concordance, and other valuable books on the Truth, and fled to the remote mountain village where Bro. Boniface was born, accessible only on foot along narrow tracks through the lush green rainforest. By word and example they preached the gospel of peace. Slowly the people from five villages, some two hours walk away, began to listen and then obey, until by the year 2000 a flourishing ecclesia and Sunday school had grown up in this remote place of refuge.

On June 23, 2001, I received the following urgent message: "In order to appreciate the difficulties, eagerness of scholars, the welfare needs during the aftermath of the war and many more, your brothers and sisters of Bougainville suggest that it is vitally important to visit us in our villages."

We could not possibly resist or refuse such an appeal. In an amazing example of the providence of God, three brethren and myself were air lifted to Arawa by a helicopter of the United Nations peacekeeping force at no cost to us. From there we set out on the long haul for the villages. We were not allowed to carry our packs and the provisions which we purchased at Arawa. A group of brothers and sisters and young people came down to meet us. We were greeted everywhere, with shyness, amazement, open excitement and joy, to see the first visitors from the Australian Christadelphian Bible Mission ever to venture into this remote part of the world. For us, it was just as amazing that here, by the grace of our God, the God of Israel, we could be among those of like faith, sharing the same hope of salvation in Jesus Christ.

The next day, the full impact of the marvel hit us. How do these people in this refuge from the tumult of war exist, without pay, without permanent work? Subsistence farming is only a part of the answer. One brother has a radio workshop. Another has a chainsaw and cuts timber from the forest for anyone who wants to build a house. Another teaches for no pay. Yet they all survive!

During our brief stay, we assisted with eight baptisms, which took place in a pool in a deep ravine. We know that there are many others preparing themselves for baptism. The Sunday school has 60 children divided into five classes and an adult class of 23. It meets for six hours, from 9am to 3pm! The ecclesia also runs a day school at one village three days a week. All the teachers are untrained. The potential for the Truth is seen by the brothers and sisters as virtually unlimited. We discussed with them such possibilities as solar panels for lighting and other assistance. We realize our responsibility and obligation to these giants of faith. My own overall impression of our venture into their territory and their hearts will be lasting.

Don Broadbridge, Australia