The Murder of John and Betty Stam

John Cornelius Stam (January 18, 1907 to December 8, 1934) and Elisabeth Alden Scott Stam, aka, "Betty" (February 22, 1906 to December 8, 1934) were American Christian missionaries to China, with the China Inland Mission, during the Chinese Civil War. The missionary couple was murdered by Communist Chinese soldiers, in 1934.

Background of incident

In 1934, John and Betty Stam were newer missionaries to China, with a 3-month-old daughter, working in the small eastern coast town of, "Tsingteh," which is today called, "Jingde." One unexpected day, the town's magistrate came to the Stams and warned them that the Communists were coming for them. John decided to check to see if this was true, which, he found it was. So, the Stams prepared to leave.

Held for ransom

However, the Communists caught up to the Stams and when the soldiers did, they demanded all the money the Stams had; and, it was handed over. The Communists then arrested John and took him to their headquarters. They left Betty, their baby, Helen, the maid and the cook in the Stam’s house. The soldiers later came back and took Betty and Helen. The maid and cook begged to go along, but they were threatened to be shot if they did. Betty and Helen were taken to be with John.

That night, John Stam wrote a letter to CIM authorities, but it was never delivered. The letter was found later bundled up in some of Helen’s clothes. It stated that the Stams were being held by the Communists for a ransom of $20,000. John Stam also wrote to the mission authorities of how he and his wife had been captured, then, wrote, "Philippians 1:20: 'May Christ be glorified whether by life or death.'"

John, Betty and Helen were then taken to the local prison where some of the prisoners were released to make room for the Stams. In the midst of hustle and bustle, Helen started crying, and a soldier suggested that they kill her, since she was only, "in their way." Then one of the prisoners who had just been released asked why they should kill the innocent baby. The soldiers turned to him asked if he was willing to die for the foreign baby. The man was hacked to pieces for Helen in front of the Stams' eyes. Thus, Helen was allowed to live.

Martyrdom at Miaosheo

The next morning, the Stams were forced to march 12 miles with the soldiers, to the town of Miaosheo. The group stopped for a night, and Betty was allowed to tend to Helen; but in fact, Betty instead hid her daughter in the room inside a sleeping bag. The very next morning, John and Betty were being marched down the streets of Miaosheo to meet their deaths. Curious onlookers lined both sides of the streets. A Chinese shopkeeper stepped out of the crowd and talked to the Communists, trying to persuade them not to kill the Stams. The soldiers ordered the man back into the crowd, but he wouldn't step back. The soldiers then invaded his house where they found a Chinese copy of the "Holy Bible" and a hymnbook. He was then led alongside the Stams to be killed as well, for being a Christian. After marching for a short while longer, John was ordered to kneel, and he was beheaded. Betty and the shopkeeper were killed moments later.

Helen Stam's rescue and aftermath

The baby, Helen, was found two days later by a Chinese pastor who took her home and took care of her. Reverend Lo Ke-chou and his wife then took the baby girl to her maternal grandparents, Reverend Charles Ernest Scott and his wife, Clara, who were also missionaries in China. The Stams' daughter later came to the United States and was raised by her aunt and uncle, George and Helen Mahy. As for Helen's parents, a small group of Christians found their bodies and buried them on a hillside. The Stams' gravestones read:

"John Cornelius Stam, January 18, 1907, "That Christ may be glorified whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20"

"Elisabeth Scott Stam, February 22, 1906, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21"

"December 8, 1934, Miaosheo, Anhui, "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." Revelation 2:10"

The story of their martyrdom was much publicized and inspired many to become missionaries. [ cite journal | last = Bays | first = Daniel | year = 2008 | month = Spring | title = From Foreign Mission to Chinese Church | journal = Christian History & Biography | issue = 98 | pages = 7-8 ]

Further reading

*Historical Bibliography of the China Inland Mission
*List of China Inland Mission missionaries in China

Bibliography

* [http://chi.gospelcom.net/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses/glmps160.shtml gospelcom.net]
*Broomhall, Alfred James, "Hudson Taylor & China’s Open Century Volume Seven: It Is Not Death To Die", Hodder and Stoughton and Overseas Missionary Fellowship (1989)
*Taylor, Mary Geraldine, "The Triumph of John and Betty Stam" (1935)

External links

* [http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/449.htm Elisabeth Alden (Scott) and John Cornelius Stam Ephemera at Wheaton College's Billy Graham Center]
* [http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/faq/22.htm Helen Priscilla Stam's Childhood Ephemera at Wheaton College's Billy Graham Center]
* [http://www.omf.org/omf/us/resources__1/omf_archives/china_inland_mission_stories/the_martyrdom_of_john_and_betty_stam/ "The Martyrdom of John and Betty Stam" - OMF]
* [http://www.moody.edu/ Moody Bible Institute]
* [http://www.omf.org/omf/us OMF International]

References

Persondata
NAME= Stam, John Cornelius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=missionary in China
DATE OF BIRTH=January 18, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH=U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=December 8, 1934
PLACE OF DEATH=Miaosheo, Anhui, China

Persondata
NAME= Scott, Elizabeth Alden
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Stam, Elizabeth Alden; Betty Stam; Stam, Elizabeth Scott
SHORT DESCRIPTION=missionary in China
DATE OF BIRTH=22 February 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH=U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=December 8, 1934
PLACE OF DEATH=Miaosheo, Anhui, China