The 21

On February 15, 2025, 70 dead bodies were found in a church in Mayba in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Women, children, and the elderly were among the dead, all massacred by Islamic extremists, according to the charity group Aid to the Church in Need.

Exactly 10 years before, on February 15, 2015, 21 Christian men were lined up on a Libyan beach and beheaded by the terrorist group ISIS. In horror, the world watched the video recorded by the terrorists.

Though a decade apart, these tragic events demonstrate that violent persecution of Christians continues unabated in many parts of the world.

But while the terrorists in Libya aimed to extinguish the gospel through intimidation and fear, God ignited its flames even brighter.

Unshakable faith

“As Christians, we know that death is not the end, nor even the greatest thing to fear,” said executive producer Jonathan Roumie in a press release announcing the new animated short film, The 21. “These brave men’s stories need to be told and shared so that the world will know in whom we find the ultimate example of hope – one that is never extinguished.” 

The 13-minute animated film, which includes real-life footage, was produced by MORE Productions. It honors the 21 men executed by ISIS, celebrating their faith and preserving their memory.

Mandi Hart, president of MORE Productions, explained the genesis of The 21.

“My business partner, Mark Rogers, was in Egypt in early 2019 for the opening of the Coptic Cathedral in downtown Cairo,” she recounted. “He saw images of the 21 [martyrs] in homes and on buildings and was reminded of their story. When he came back, we began a conversation about how their story could be told accurately and honorably.”

Pieces of the puzzle

Given the humble backgrounds of the 21 martyrs, gathering and connecting their stories required extensive research.

“Our director, Tod Polson, traveled to Egypt early in the process, spending time with the families of the martyrs and their community in Minya, their home province,” Hart said.

 In addition to these personal accounts, the filmmakers explored other sources, including newspaper articles, videos taken by journalists in Libya, and even an interview with a former ISIS member who witnessed the events leading up to the February 15 slaughter. There were also testimonies of divine encounters as these men were led to their deaths.

Faith and forgiveness over fear

Despite their grief, the families of the 21 men have consistently expressed forgiveness toward the executioners, Hart explained.

“From the very beginning, when the ISIS video first came out, their reaction was one of forgiveness,” she emphasized. “They have such pride in their men for staying true to the end, but they also deeply desire that the perpetrators of this heinous act would come to faith and recognize the value of Jesus Christ.” 

•          OPEN DOORS

Open Doors publishes an annual “World Watch List” ranking the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. It also provides resources and support to persecuted Christians (opendoors.org).

 •         THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS (VOM)

Founded by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand and his wife, Sabina, after being imprisoned in Communist Romania, VOM serves persecuted Christians in difficult and dangerous places. VOM also shares stories of persecuted Christians to inspire a deeper commitment to Christ (persecution.com).

 •         INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN (ICC)

ICC advocates for persecuted Christians, providing aid, influencing religious freedom policy, and connecting persecuted believers to the global Christian community (persecution.org).

•         GLOBAL CHRISTIAN RELIEF

This organization works to bring awareness to the millions of Christians facing persecution and to bring aid to them on the ground. GCR also maintains a database that tracks incidents of violent religious persecution (globalchristianrelief.org).

HOW TO WATCH THE FILM

Watch The 21 at the21film.com. The powerful film is not rated but is crafted in a way that addresses a sensitive topic in a very appropriate manner.

 In addition to the film, the website offers resources, including short documentaries about the Coptic community, iconography, and religious liberty. A screening kit for The 21 is available for individuals, groups, churches, and universities interested in hosting a viewing of the film.