Richard Wurmbrand, also known as Nicolai Ionescu, was a Romanian Evangelical Lutheran priest and professor of Jewish descent. Born on 24 March 1909 in Bucharest, he converted to Christianity in 1938.

In 1948, Wurmbrand publicly declared that Communism and Christianity were incompatible, leading to his arrest by the Communist regime of Romania. He spent fourteen years in prison, where he endured severe torture.

After his release, he was ransomed for $10,000 and eventually emigrated to the United States with his wife, Sabina, who had also been imprisoned. Together, they dedicated their lives to advocating for religious freedom and supporting persecuted Christians worldwide.

Wurmbrand authored over 18 books, including the widely known Tortured for Christ and Answer to Moscow's (Atheist) Bible. His works have been translated into more than 65 languages.