From the recording Is This the Real You?

Lyrics

The Blood of the Martyrs 
Marsha Stevens and Chip Davis © 2001 Balm (ASCAP) 
(for Rev. Ed Sherriff, who gave his life in the service of the Gospel and 
in the service of the community that he so loved. I miss you. I hope I 
can be half as faithful – and for all of the teenagers who have said, “Yes” 
when it was hardest.) 
 
Pastor sheltered the homeless and he clothed the poor, 
He fed all the hungry who came to his door, 
We told him, “Be careful”, so he filled with care. 
For him being cautious, meant start with a prayer. 
Some came longing for freedom, enticed by his joy, 
Some came broken with bitterness, bent to destroy, 
They could take what he owned, but what they did not know, 
They could not take his life, he gave that long ago. 
Chorus: 
The blood of the martyrs, the seed of the church, 
What will we grow from this loss? 
They answered the call with a passionate, “Yes!” 
And the mission they found, was a cross, 
They followed the footsteps with nail prints clear through, 
Led by a Shepherd who knew suffering, too. 
When we look for heroes, it’s their lives we search, 
The blood of the martyrs, the seed of the church. 
She was a rebel, a girl filled with pain, 
Her spirit was broken on evil with failure and shame 
Her family was sure she could not hear their pleas, 
But when finally she fell down, she fell down on her knees, 
And there she was lifted with strong gentle Hand, 
When it came to choices, she found strength to stand, 
Now 2000 classmates will come here to pray 
Because of the price she was willing to pay. 
(Chorus x 1 ½ )