11/9/17  North Korea  (as shared by a North Korean Christian) North Korea is the world’s worst persecutor of Christians, but even so, the Lord Jesus has not abandoned North Korea. He suffers and weeps with the suffering people of North Korea, and He is at work even in this dark place. There are many North Koreans fleeing into China where they end up being sold by Chinese brokers. Many of them are women, and they are being sold in many cases to Han Chinese households who have, in many cases, family members who are physically or mentally handicapped. These women are often married to these men, and in order to be able to flee they must learn Chinese. Once they are able to speak the language, they start thinking about running away, and until then they pretend at home that they cannot speak Chinese. One day, one of these women heard someone singing a hymn in her town, and her thirsty soul was drawn to God. She was eventually saved, and began to love her husband, who had no love for her at all and who treated her so badly, and to talk to him about the Bible in Chinese. He […]

8/1/17  North Korea (Christian Daily) Han Chung-Ryeol was a Chinese pastor who often aided North Koreans attempting to defect to China. In April of last year, the pastor was found brutally murdered in Changbai City, China. Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian charity, believed that North Koreans carried out this attack and that they most likely returned to North Korea afterwards. Later, information came in regarding a “North Korean agent’s confession about her involvement in the murder.” This woman reportedly followed Pastor Han and passed information along to North Korea’s Ministry of State Security. Please pray… Pray for those affected by Pastor Han’s murder. Pray for the church he pastored, and that leadership would continue to be in place for the people so that this community of Christians can thrive. Pray that Christ would cause His light to shine regardless of the darkness that tries to block the Gospel.  

Posted July 21, 2017  North Korea  (rfa.org)     Accessed July 23, 2017 On July 21, a North Korean family of five that had been arrested by the Chinese committed suicide while they were being transported to the North Korean border. The father was a former government official, and he, his wife, a son and two daughters were caught after crossing a river into China in early July. Because they were terrified of the impending torture awaiting them after they were returned to North Korea, the family chose to kill themselves. There are others still in custody who were caught along with this family of five, and they are scheduled to be repatriated soon. Recently, the Chinese government has stepped up its efforts to hunt down defectors. Please pray… Pray that those who are currently being held will be encouraged by the Lord in the midst of their fears, and that God will take away their fears,be close to them even, and give them hope even in this seemingly hopeless situation. Pray that those detainees who do not yet know Jesus Christ will learn about Him from their fellow captives who are Christians, and through dreams and visions from the Lord. Pray […]

5/19/2017  North Korea  (Voice of the Martyrs) A new shortwave radio program created by North Korean defectors and VOM is reaching an estimated 2 million North Koreans nightly. Each 90-minute program includes a Scripture reading, encouraging messages from Christians around the world, and a recitation of the Nicene Creed. Although largely isolated from their worldwide Christian family, North Korean believers now have access to God’s Word and, through the creed, a connection to historical Christianity. Despite the possible penalties, North Koreans continue to listen to the broadcasts.  Please pray… Pray that the broadcasts will continue to reach new believers and unbelievers. Pray that those who hear them will turn to Christ, grow in their faith, and find ways to share the Gospel.  

5/17/2017  North Korea  (news from an underground church) Among those who flee from Korea, some are able to make it to a safe place where they are given plenty to eat and allowed to rest a long time, and where they can study the Bible and be restored and if they are not Christians, come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Many defectors who come to Christ have a burden for those who remain in suffering in North Korea, and they desire that they too have a chance to hear the Gospel of Christ. Among them are some who have dreams and visions from God, who called them to leave their new, peaceful lives and to risk their lives by returning to North Korea in order to bring the Word of God to those living in bondage in their homeland. They realize what this could mean to them, but they are willing to give their lives in order to do so. Please pray… Pray that more and more people in North Korea will receive God’s Word and the Gospel. Pray that the Lord will strengthen those who go back into North Korea to share the Gospel, that God will use them greatly, and that […]

5/17/2017  North Korea  (news from an underground church) In our May 10, 2017 post, we wrote about a young woman who had fled North Korea in search of her mother, and we wanted to update you. She made it without any problems to a safe country, and then flew from there to South Korea. Thank you for your prayers!   Please pray… Praise God that she was protected in her journey and made it safely to where her mother lives. Pray that she will make a quick recovery physically and spiritually after her harrowing experience. Pray that things will go smoothly in her new country and that she and her mother will be able to make up for all the lost years when they were separated.

5/14/2017  North Korea   There are terrible traps being laid near the border of North Korea for those who are trying to defect. Those traps are made of bamboo, and they are designed so that if someone steps on the round plate in the middle of the trap, the bamboo breaks and the jaws of the trap, which have nails attached to them, snap shut piercing deeply into the leg bone. The damage is often so severe that the victims need to have their leg amputated. Both defectors and soldiers are being injured by these traps. Please pray… Pray that the defectors will be protected from stepping on these traps as they flee North Korea. Pray for an end to the terrible Kim Jong Un regime, that makes use of such horrible traps against its citizens. Pray that the North Korean government would be convicted of the terrible sins it is committing against its citizens by not treating them as human beings.

 5/10/17 North Korea  (news from an underground church) A young North Korean woman has fled North Korea in hopes of meeting up with her mother, who defected years ago. The mother and daughter have been separated for about 10 years. It is impossible for whole families to defect together, so they do so one by one. When the defectors can find a safe place to live, they work hard to earn the money necessary to help get their remaining family members out of North Korea. Please pray… Pray that the young woman will be able to safely get away and locate her mother. Pray that the many families that are now separated will be able to be reunited one day. Pray that those who have already fled North Korea will be able to make it to a safe country now that China has increased its efforts to find and deport defectors.

5/7/2017  North Korea  (news from an underground church) In the April 12, 2017 hakugai.org post, we reported on 5 North Korean Christians who had fled North Korea, and that one of them, a woman, had injured her back and had to make her way to a safe country in great pain. This woman was able to make it to freedom, and we would like to thank all those who prayed for her after reading about her here. Please pray… Praise the Lord for helping this woman make it to a safe country. Pray that she will heal physically and emotionally after this harrowing trip which took many weeks. Pray that all her material needs will be met as she begins her new life and that her faith will continue to grow. Pray for the many other people who are fleeing North Korea, that they will make it to safety and, if they are not saved, ultimately find salvation in Jesus Christ.

5/2/2017 North Korea　(Express) The rising tension between the United States and North Korea could have an impact on Christians in North Korea. Open Doors USA says that “During periods of upheaval, North Korean people are monitored more closely, and the borders are guarded more carefully; there is more danger that a Christian may be discovered, and it is harder for them to cross the border into China where they can be given food, medicine, and Bibles by Open Doors workers.” Already, the border has been tightened and security increased amid tension with the US. Christians are already under an extreme amount of danger and risk. The heightened security means not only Christians are at an even greater risk inside North Korea, but that they also have lower chances of escaping to safety. Let’s pray… Pray that the Lord will protect the Christians in North Korea, that their faith will be strengthened, and that the salvation of Jesus Christ will spread throughout North Korea as God draws many to Himself. Pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of those who are persecuting Christians and help them to repent and trust in Christ. Pray that the Christian groups and churches that […]