John Knox was a 16th century reformer. He boldly spoke the truth to his large congregation in Scotland but was arrested for it and chained to the oars of a galley ship. During long months of pulling on oars, he built not only his physical strength but also strength of fervent prayer. His cry was, “O God! Give me Scotland or I die!” His life and work for God became so powerful that the Queen of Scotland is quoted as saying, “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe.”

The record on the tomb of John Knox reads: “Here lies the man who never feared the face of clay.”