“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10: 16)

The words of Jesus Christ to his disciples were an exhortation to be prepared to face persecution and death in carrying out their mission to evangelize the nations. This charge exemplified the life and death of Captain John Morrison Birch, an ambassador of Christ to the Chinese people.

Birch was a Baptist missionary and U.S. military intelligence officer who was murdered by the Chinese Communists in August, 1945. He was born in India and grew up in Macon, Georgia. As the flames of World War II were bursting fourth in both Europe and the Fare East, he went to China and served as a Christian Missionary, preaching in territories occupied by enemy Japanese forces. In April 1942, he helped rescue American pilots in the bombing raid led by Major Jimmy Doolittle. He was commissioned and served as an intelligence analyst for the Office of Strategic Services. Promoted to Captain, he was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1944 and worked in China spreading the Gospel. After the war ended and while he was on an official mission, he was taken prisoner by Chinese Communists on August 25, 1945 and brutally executed.

At the young age of seven, John Birch experienced the call of God to the mission field. Upon learning of the suffering inflicted upon missionaries in China, he sensed God’s Spirit beckoning him to go there. His pastor warned him of the danger involved, but John replied: “I know the enemy is communism, but the Lord Jesus Christ has called me. My life is in His hands, and I am not turning back.”

Birch’s missionary ministry in China commenced in 1940 during the perilous time of war with the Japanese military. After Pearl Harbor, he dyed his hair black, wore Chinese clothing and learned the language. He truly became “one” with the people in order that he might win them to Christ. The fact that John Birch was a member of the Army and also a missionary added to his prestige and gave him great favor and influence among the Chinese people.

When the story of John Birch’s death as a martyr was uncovered by Robert Welch, he noted in his biography entitled The Life of John Birch: “If we can discover spiritual values and principles in the life of John Birch and recharge from the spark of his courage, while learning essential truths about the viciousness of our enemy, then his death was not in vain.”

He set an example for us today to follow Christ fully, even unto death. He expressed it this way in a letter to his sister: “Often, I feel that the barren years I spent were my God-given apprenticeship. A message of freedom is being formed within me, that will one day burn its way out and across man-made barriers, and into the very souls of men. I believe God is preparing me to withstand privation, pain, isolation, fatigue, and physical danger. To what end? That I might learn to trust Him fully in life and in death.”

God is faithful to keep His promises. John Birch went to China to preach the Gospel of Grace to the Chinese people. He was a true ambassador for Christ and gave his life as a martyr to serve God and the Chinese people. He was truly “wise as a serpent in respect to his military career, yet harmless as a dove in his calling as a missionary.

Christ declared: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (John 12: 24).

John Birch was that “grain of wheat” that fell to the ground and died, but in so doing, he inspired our founder Robert Welch, who started in 1958 the John Birch Society which to this very day has produced the greatest fighters for liberty, justice, and freedom in America!

Therefore, patriots, let us stand strong in the fight against tyranny, slavery, racism, and hatred and the false allegations heaped upon our great John Birch Society, knowing that our hero gave not only his life but his sacrificial death in the fight against communism in America and around the world.

Reverend Steven L. Craft holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is a Doctoral candidate at Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is the founder of Christian Citizenship Ministries, Inc. and is a motivational and inspirational speaker and author. He is co-author of the book Virtue and Vice: A Fascinating Journey Into Spiritual Transformation. He speaks on issues involving faith and culture, alcohol and drug prevention, crime, youth development and morality.

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RichardR369 said:

	Praise John Birch I watched the short movie on Youtube and it gave me great respect for Capt. John Birch. It's an honor to have a organization named after him.
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December 19, 2008
Votes: +5

Gary Lewis said:

	... When I really think about giving my life (literally) for freedom, I feel ill because then I realize the amount of courage it truly requires. Captian John Birch, as well as many others, had/have such strong convictions that I can only hope that one day I will also.
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December 19, 2008
Votes: +3

DaveB said:

... John Birch is the true emblem of American Liberty. We have found that our Judeo/Christian roots and values are what keep us high in integrety and morals. And allow us to uphold freedom and liberty. The High Cabal, behind 911 and the New World Order are clearly Athiests. Possibly with ties to Hitler. It will Take true Christians with guts to take our country back. Athiest are like building your house on sand. Always shifting with the tide. Our congressman are weak. God Bless John Birch, Larry McDonald and the brave people of JBS.

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December 21, 2008
Votes: +3

Peter Steele said:

RE: Captain John Morrison Birch, USA is my family's role model I told my fellow congregants at Greenwich Baptist Church about Captain John Morrison Birch being a role model for me as I used to smoke but quit and I quit drinking about 30 years ago. I was baptized at my church on June 5, 1985 in the middle of the Reagan years as my parents voted for Goldwater and Reagan as I did. My pastor said this about Vietnam - two wrongs don't make a right as he's right about that. People are amazed at my gentleness after having a tough time and they say I'm wise. My late father had awesome courage in what he did for America and he read prodigiously. He was smarter and wiser than most of his contemporaries. BGen Peter F. Steele, USMC [Ret] for the late RADM Peter Steele, USN amd Jean Brittain Steele.

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December 22, 2008
Votes: +2

Pat Henry said:

... Many of those Elitists in the "High Cabal" are not only atheists, but satanists. Richard Wurmbrand, a pastor who suffered for his faith and overcame to show the love of Christ in astounding ways, wrote Marx & Satan to show the real roots of "communism." It was the distribution of that truth that made him a target, so that he was Tortured for Christ (his more famous book in America). Birch is a hero of the faith, and I'm thankful the Society not only honors his memory, but stands on his shoulders with effective action. We may yet face the need to make similar stands in our own country. "Let us know the worst -- and prepare for it." Faith is the victory. Christ came to die that His Kingdom never will.

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December 23, 2008
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Peter Steele said:

	RE: Merry Christmas On this Christmas Eve, I wish the Society a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Steele family.
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December 24, 2008
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Steve Fabry said:

	... I heard a Viet Nam Vet once say that making the supreme sacrifice in battle is most honorable, but living for your county is most challenging. We must honor our fallen troops by living for them and defending in life what they laid down their lives for: freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let's kick some butt!!
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December 27, 2008
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Peter Steele said:

RE: Peace On Earth My late father and his family wanted peace as violence has no room for our lives and emotions. I have told my church that family friend Kitty Richter was a true woman of peace and the Lord as she was Birch as Dad was Birch himself. I am sick of war and seeinf things on television which show a callous disregard for life and calm. Captain John Morrison Birch, USA was one of the finest God fearing Southern Baptists we ever had. Dad and I are Hopkins Mayflowers related to the Soule Mayflower General George S. Patton, Jr. and we had long suspected he was a victim of foul play in 1945. Dad witnessed Operation Keelhaul as Patton did. Peter F. Steele

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December 29, 2008
Votes: +1

MarkGlen said:

Grace is more powerful than sin This is a very, very sinful age we live in so much so that the magnitude of the task has almost overwhelmed me at times. Then while praying the other day and asking God to save this nation a Scripture came to mind. It says: "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Rom. 5:20) Grace is the wisdom and power of God, found only in Jesus, and it is ours by faith. You can depend on Him.

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January 29, 2009 | url
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