Open Doors World Watch List 2010

Stunning Post: What about Pardons for Thousands More of North Korea Prisoners?

Two U.S. journalists were released recently from North Korea. Read a response on the Spiritual Courage blog here. Very thought provoking!

Crossing

Thanks to the people at Spiritual Courage, I heard about a movie called Crossing. I watched the trailer on YouTube and even though it was only two minutes long, I found myself crying. Just wanted to share it here (some violence, user discretion advised). What a heart-wrenching place the people of North Korea are in.

To find out more about Crossing, please go to the movie website.

Country Profile: North Korea

It's hard to imagine a country so brutal to people that when they escape, they feel free in China. Well, that's how some people have felt when escaping from North Korea. To read an interesting story about this, buy the book, Escape From North Korea.

The current dictator, Kim Jong-Il, supports very harsh policies towards anyone who is against the Communist party and does not recognize him as supreme authority. The government actively seeks to suppress public and private religious activities.

North Korea is known as the "hermit nation" because it is so closed to contact with the outside world. Due to this and many other things, there are extreme problems with food shortages and as many as three millions people have died of starvation since 1994.

Pray that Christians will be able to be salt and light in the harsh environment of North Korea. Pray that they will not deny their Lord and that no matter what comes, they will be able to stand up against the pressure.

The following links will provide you with more information about the country and leaders of NK:

http://www.persecution.net/northkorea.htm

http://www.persecution.org/suffering/countryinfodetail.php?countrycode=29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il

Open Doors World Watch List 2009

The ministry of Open Doors USA puts together a list of the top 50 countries that persecute Christians. Once again, the list is out and North Korea is at the top for the sixth year in a row. NK has been the lead country in persecuting Christians. It treats it's Christian citizens very severely.

Please check it out here. Look over it, download it, share it with friends, and most of all, pray over the countries on it.

Recommended Reading #2

As a follow up to my first post on recommended reading, I would like to add several more books that have been a help to me as I endeavour to learn more about the persecuted Church.

God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew is an awesome story of how God used one Dutch man to smuggle many Bibles behind the Iron Curtain.

After Brother Andrew's first book, God's Smuggler, was published, he could not go back into the many countries that were under Communist rule because he would endanger the Christians. He then asked God to give him a new field of work and God opened up the Middle East. You can read about the continuing story of this brave soldier in Light Force.

Have you ever wondered what happens to Muslims once the find Christ as their Savior? Well, you can read about it in Secret Believers. This is Brother Andrew's latest book that will show you how Muslims-background-believers (MBBs) live their life in Christ when converting from Islam is a crime punishable with death.

The Heavenly Man is the remarkable story of Brother Yun. God used Brother Yun to awake many souls in Communist China and he tells his story in the books coauthored with Paul Hattaway.

Many people know that life isn't easy for Christians in China, but did you know that there is one country that people escape from into China that is worse? Escape from North Korea is the true story of one families escape from "the Hermit kingdom" and then of their conversion in China.

If you have read any books about persecution of Christians that I have not mentioned in these two posts, please tell me about them by leaving a comment. I am always looking for books of this nature.

Holocaust Going on in North Korea

“I believe there is a holocaust going on right now in North Korea… Today, we know that Kim Jong Il is committing genocide by targeting specific groups for extermination-specifically those he deems disloyal.” -Suzanne Scholte

Many Christians are being killed for their faith in North Korea due to the oppressive regime of Kim Jong Il. Those who will not bow the knee to communism face persecution and death.

For the whole story on Suzanne Scholte and her work for North Korea, click here.

Note: Her story isn't necessarily written from a Christian perspective and it doesn't appear she claims to be a Christian.

North Korea Taken Off of US Terrorism List

Last weekend, the US government took North Korea (NK) of it's terrorism list. This list shows countries that sponsor terrorism.

Sadly, North Korea is the number one persecutor of Christians. It has been on the top of the Open Doors World Watch List (see list) for the last six years!

To read the full story, click here

North Korea

"The Voice of the Martyrs contacts working with North Korean Christians do not expect a change in the North Korean government’s policies and practices that persecute believers, despite reports the country’s dictator, Kim Jong Il, is acutely ill."

We need to keep praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ in North Korea. Pray for wisdom, protection, provision, and whatever else the Lord puts on your heart. Pray also for Kim Jong, pray for his recovery so that his soul may be saved.

Source:

http://www.persecution.com/topStory_northKoreaSituationPTN.html