Evangelist
After giving his life to Christ, Jake DeShazer’s physical circumstances as a prisoner of war did not change. In fact, sickness brought him close to death, and his suffering grew worse. Spiritually, however, he began to grow stronger. His attitude toward his captors changed in a profound way:
I realized that these Japanese did not know anything about my Saviour and that if Christ is not in your heart, it is natural to be cruel. I read in my Bible that while those who crucified Jesus on the cross had beaten Him and spit upon Him before He was nailed to the cross, He tenderly prayed in His moment of excruciating suffering, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” And now from the depths of my heart, I too prayed for God to forgive my torturers, and I determined by the aid of Christ to do my best to acquaint the Japanese people with the message of salvation that they might become as other believing Christians.64
Freedom came at last to Jake DeShazer on August 20, 1945, when American troops parachuted into his compound to ensure that he and the other prisoners were protected. After returning to the States and recovering his strength, he heard God’s call to take Christ’s message to the Japanese people. He attended a Christian college and returned to Japan a missionary, starting churches throughout the country. Of the many that he influenced, one of the most notable was Mitsuo Fuchida, the lead pilot in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subject of another story. Jake DeShazer’s life became a testament to the fact that his heart was truly changed by Christ’s message. Love, as defined in 1 Corinthians, became the foundation of his work and his relationships.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
—1 Corinthians 13:4–7