Above: Faith leaders demand justice on Jan. 10, 2026, following the tragic death of Renee Good, who was shot during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A bishop from New Hampshire has stirred national discourse by advising clergy to prepare for what he calls a “new era of martyrdom.” In a poignant message, he urged them to ensure their wills are in order, hinting at the potential dangers they might face in the current climate.

Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire delivered these remarks at a vigil dedicated to Renee Good. Good’s life was cut short on January 7 when she was shot while in her vehicle by an officer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Trump administration stands by the officer’s actions, asserting he acted in self-defense, claiming he was in front of Good’s vehicle when it began moving. However, this justification has faced criticism from numerous quarters, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have raised concerns based on video evidence of the incident.

In his address, Bishop Hirschfeld drew upon historical examples of clergy who had risked their lives for others. He evoked the memory of Jonathan Daniels, a New Hampshire seminary student, who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy in Alabama in 1965 while he shielded a young Black civil rights activist.

“I have told the clergy of the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire that we may be entering into that same witness,” Hirschfeld said. “And I’ve asked them to get their affairs in order, to make sure they have their wills written, because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies, to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”

Hirschfeld did not call for violence, but instead said people of Christian faith should not fear death.

“Those of us who are ready to build a new world, we also have to be prepared,” he said. “If we truly want to live without fear, we cannot fear even death itself, my friends.”

Other religious leaders have also called on Christians to protect the vulnerable amid the uptick in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, including Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

“We keep resisting, advocating, bearing witness and repairing the breach,” Rowe said during a prayer earlier this week. “We keep sheltering and caring for those among us who are immigrants and refugees because they are beloved by God, and without them, we cannot fully be the church.”

In Minnesota, Rt. Rev. Craig Loya urged people not to meet “hatred with hatred” but instead focus on love in “a world obviously not fine.”

“We are going to make like our ancient ancestors, and turn the world upside down by mobilizing for love,” he said. “We are going to disrupt with Jesus’ hope. We are going agitate with Jesus’ love.”