They achieved all that they did because they persevered in the fact of terribel trials. The Western church is largely ineffective today, our impact upon our culture is minimal, and more often than not we are seen as always being a negative, rather then a positive force for good. There is little to differentiate western Christians from our non-Christian contemporaries. I believe it's the result of several generations of Christians opting for the easy way-Microwave Christians, rather than pressure matured, strong Christians. Being put under pressure is God's way of forcing men and women to make choices.
Pressure is either a humbling experience or it brings out pride in self.
If we are pressing into God and making choices that please Him because of pressure in our lives we will not be responding out of pride but out of humility. And we will be taking on our Father's character. If pressure is to design and build patience, then patience must be a very important commodity in the Kingdom. Pressure drives some people away from God. They don't like the pressure, they don't like the resistance, and they don't want to struggle.