The Worst Place to be a Christian

Photo from WorldWatch List

One of the things I enjoy about my ministry is connecting people to the world. I get to direct people to look beyond themselves and to consider what in the world God is doing.

This Sunday, November 11 is not only Veteran's Day but it is also the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Our church is going to target it's prayers on the country of North Korea.

"North Korea is the worst perpetrator of persecution against Christians in the world," informs the Voice of the Martyrs Global Report 2012.  Their persecution of Christians is conveniently packaged with "a veneer of religious freedom." As one survivor of a hard labor camp, Kim Tae Jin, shares, "Prisoners were treated worse than cattle." In fact, Kim shudders to think how Christians are treated far worse when discovered. They face the imminent specter of death.

From Retlaw Snellac Flickr Photostream

Many North Koreans are dying today behind the isolationist and closed, restricted curtain of darkness. The people suffer greatly (warning--the linked video contains graphic, horrible images).   Many Christian martyrs are executed as spies or troublemakers too.  The Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, Dr. Robert R. King, is seeking diplomatic solutions. Still, China returns all captured North Koreans fleeing their country. Amnesty International overviews the plight and the challenges facing North Korean refugees.   Although NGOs try to serve the needs of the North Korean people in their country, the government of North Korea limits their reach. Yet we can do something now. Pray!

Please take a minute to pray for:

• God's miraculous protection of Christians in North Korea as they discretely share the Gospel with family, friends, & neighbors
• God's underground Church to grow exponentially in North Korea
• God's people who operate safe houses in China to help refugees
• God's hand to move for freedom & justice under the new leadership of Kim Jong-Un
• God's hand to open the doors for China & North Korea to allow independent international human rights monitors along the border to help refugees gain asylum or face no punishment for repatriation