Charles Colson recounts the story.
[...] Drayton Nabers writes [in The Hidden Key to Happiness] that when the Nazis began rounding up French Jews to send to concentration camps, Trocme -- a French reformed pastor -- determined to provide sanctuary for them.
They did so despite the fact that the punishment for sheltering Jews was death. They did so even though the villagers themselves were desperately poor; since the Trocmes often had several children staying in their home, the Trocmes’ own four children often had very little to eat.
At various times, government and even church authorities ordered Trocme to turn over any Jews hiding in the village. He refused, and was himself thrown into prison. His cousin Daniel Trocme, who also rescued Jews, was executed in a concentration camp. Other villagers also died while protecting Jews. By the war’s end, Le Chambon was known to be a city of refuge, and the Trocmes were recognized by Holocaust memorial groups for their heroism.
Learning about the people of Le Chambon, Nabers wondered: How are we to understand such extraordinary group submission to the call of God, and Trocme’s ability to lead his people to such valiant obedience?
First, Trocme’s sermons “were biblically based with a heavy emphasis on the source of the believer’s power to follow God.” He often focused on the Christian’s obligation to protect the helpless, even in defiance of the authorities.
Second, the courage of the villagers was strengthened by regular small group meetings that were washed in prayer, moving “the hearts of those who would later provide refuge at risk of their lives.”
Third, the Protestant villagers could identify with persecution, because their Huguenot ancestors were persecuted in Catholic France.
Fourth, the villagers had developed habits of virtue, compassion, helping; rescuing the Jews was the fruit of these habits. [more . . .]
Me: I'm impressed with the factors that enabled and inspired the people of Le Chambon to act so courageously. There's a real pattern here to emulate.