He did not barge into a burning house to save people or anything like that—although he could have done that, too.
Nevertheless, this firefighter received an award for showing exemplary courage on an even bigger dimension — standing on his Christian principles in the face of religious persecution.
Former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran recently received the 2016 Faith and Freedom Award from the National Religious Broadcaster (NRB), America's most prominent Christian media association, CBN News reports.
"Kelvin Cochran is a firefighter among firefighters, a hero among heroes," NRB President & CEO Dr. Jerry A. Johnson said. "He has become a hero not just for protecting our communities, but for standing bravely in the face of what even some extreme liberals ... seem to think is unjust discrimination for his faith."
Cochran was first subjected to persecution in 2014 when he received complaints about a men's devotional book he had written.
The complaints were prompted by a passage on the biblical views on sex, including a statement against homosexuality, which Cochran included in his devotional.
A gay city councilman protested the statement and complained to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who first ordered Cochran to complete a "sensitivity training" before eventually terminating him for "discrimination."
In February 2015, Cochran sued the city of Atlanta, pointing out that he was wrongfully terminated.
Testifying before Congress, he said, "My faith does not teach me to discriminate against anyone. But rather, it instructs me to love everyone without condition and to recognise their inherent human dignity and worth as being created in the image of God and to lay down my life, if necessary, in the service of my community as a firefighter. I would even do it today if it was necessary even in this very room."
Cochran's case, which is still pending before a U.S. District Court, is just one of many involving Christians forced to defend their faith.
In receiving his award, Cochran said he was "honoured and humbled beyond words." He urged Christian public servants like him to resolutely fight for their faith because attacks on religious freedom have intensified.
"Every day, Americans have to make a choice as to whether they will live out their faith or keep their jobs or business. As such, there is a significant need for the Body of Christ to rise to unprecedented levels of unity and solidarity regarding religious liberty," he said.
He urged fellow Christians to be prepared for the inevitable suffering that awaits them.
"We should rehearse in our hearts and decree: God has prepared me for this. God is with me," he said. "I'm not going to be discouraged by the worldly consequences of my standing. I'm going to rejoice in anticipation of the kingdom consequences that God has promised."
