Missionary
John was a missionary in China, who after a lengthy courtship with a fellow missionary, "Betty" was married on October 25, 1933, in Tsinan, China. Eleven months later Betty gave birth to their daughter, Helen. Three months after their daughter was born, the family was kidnapped by Chinese communist bandits. The Stam family were held for ransom in a local jail cell while the local prisoners were released to make room. When the baby began to cry from the sound of gunshots, the bandits decided to kill the infant. One of the newly released prisoners protested and was killed for his actions, however, Helen was spared. The family were held prisoners for a few days before they were paraded through the streets in their underwear to their deaths. In the confusion, Betty managed to hide her daughter in a sleeping bag within a hut, along with ten dollars and a letter, before she and John were beheaded. The bandits also killed a local man who protested the killings of the American missionaries. A local Christian man discovered Helen over 27 hours later, and used the money to buy rare formula for the baby, who was eventually returned to America and raised by relatives. The same man who rescued Helen also preserved her parents bodies by covering them with lime and hiding their coffins until the fear of lingering bandits was over. About a month and a half later the coffins finally were taken to the local missionary hospital where the young couple were given a burial service in a local Christian cemetery. The Chinese government hunted down the lynch mob and beheaded them. John and his wife went on to be considered Christian martyrs. The hymn "By Life, or By Death." written by Will Houghton was based on John and his wife.
John was a missionary in China, who after a lengthy courtship with a fellow missionary, "Betty" was married on October 25, 1933, in Tsinan, China. Eleven months later Betty gave birth to their daughter, Helen. Three months after their daughter was born, the family was kidnapped by Chinese communist bandits. The Stam family were held for ransom in a local jail cell while the local prisoners were released to make room. When the baby began to cry from the sound of gunshots, the bandits decided to kill the infant. One of the newly released prisoners protested and was killed for his actions, however, Helen was spared. The family were held prisoners for a few days before they were paraded through the streets in their underwear to their deaths. In the confusion, Betty managed to hide her daughter in a sleeping bag within a hut, along with ten dollars and a letter, before she and John were beheaded. The bandits also killed a local man who protested the killings of the American missionaries. A local Christian man discovered Helen over 27 hours later, and used the money to buy rare formula for the baby, who was eventually returned to America and raised by relatives. The same man who rescued Helen also preserved her parents bodies by covering them with lime and hiding their coffins until the fear of lingering bandits was over. About a month and a half later the coffins finally were taken to the local missionary hospital where the young couple were given a burial service in a local Christian cemetery. The Chinese government hunted down the lynch mob and beheaded them. John and his wife went on to be considered Christian martyrs. The hymn "By Life, or By Death." written by Will Houghton was based on John and his wife.
Missionary
John was a missionary in China, who after a lengthy courtship with a fellow missionary, "Betty" was married on October 25, 1933, in Tsinan, China. Eleven months later Betty gave birth to their daughter, Helen. Three months after their daughter was born, the family was kidnapped by Chinese communist bandits. The Stam family were held for ransom in a local jail cell while the local prisoners were released to make room. When the baby began to cry from the sound of gunshots, the bandits decided to kill the infant. One of the newly released prisoners protested and was killed for his actions, however, Helen was spared. The family were held prisoners for a few days before they were paraded through the streets in their underwear to their deaths. In the confusion, Betty managed to hide her daughter in a sleeping bag within a hut, along with ten dollars and a letter, before she and John were beheaded. The bandits also killed a local man who protested the killings of the American missionaries. A local Christian man discovered Helen over 27 hours later, and used the money to buy rare formula for the baby, who was eventually returned to America and raised by relatives. The same man who rescued Helen also preserved her parents bodies by covering them with lime and hiding their coffins until the fear of lingering bandits was over. About a month and a half later the coffins finally were taken to the local missionary hospital where the young couple were given a burial service in a local Christian cemetery. The Chinese government hunted down the lynch mob and beheaded them. John and his wife went on to be considered Christian martyrs. The hymn "By Life, or By Death." written by Will Houghton was based on John and his wife.
John was a missionary in China, who after a lengthy courtship with a fellow missionary, "Betty" was married on October 25, 1933, in Tsinan, China. Eleven months later Betty gave birth to their daughter, Helen. Three months after their daughter was born, the family was kidnapped by Chinese communist bandits. The Stam family were held for ransom in a local jail cell while the local prisoners were released to make room. When the baby began to cry from the sound of gunshots, the bandits decided to kill the infant. One of the newly released prisoners protested and was killed for his actions, however, Helen was spared. The family were held prisoners for a few days before they were paraded through the streets in their underwear to their deaths. In the confusion, Betty managed to hide her daughter in a sleeping bag within a hut, along with ten dollars and a letter, before she and John were beheaded. The bandits also killed a local man who protested the killings of the American missionaries. A local Christian man discovered Helen over 27 hours later, and used the money to buy rare formula for the baby, who was eventually returned to America and raised by relatives. The same man who rescued Helen also preserved her parents bodies by covering them with lime and hiding their coffins until the fear of lingering bandits was over. About a month and a half later the coffins finally were taken to the local missionary hospital where the young couple were given a burial service in a local Christian cemetery. The Chinese government hunted down the lynch mob and beheaded them. John and his wife went on to be considered Christian martyrs. The hymn "By Life, or By Death." written by Will Houghton was based on John and his wife.
Inscription
John Cornelius Stam
18 January, 1907
"That Christ may be magnified whether
by life or by death." Phil. 1:20
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