North Korea: Chasing Away Hunger And Strengthening The Church
“The North Korean language doesn’t even have a word for ‘love’,” says Yong Sook*, a refugee from North Korea. “We just couldn’t love. We did not know how.” The words are a sobering insight into how North Koreans have the life sucked out of them by the country’s brutally authoritarian regime. Yong Sook can see that now, but for a long time it was a different story. Yong Sook can distinctly recall when the now-deceased leader Kim Jong-Il instructed North Korean citizens to eat grass soup – in response to the dire food shortages. “I did not feel anything,” she says, remembering when she gave it as a ‘meal’ to her children. “We all had to eat this soup, rich or poor, child or adult, no exceptions. “If I could re-live my life, I would live it very differently, with much more emotion,” she says. “You must understand that we were brainwashed every day. We reported to our units daily, we did every work and duty together. That numbed our emotions. I would give anything to go back and love more, especially my children. “I regret that this is impossible. I know that God will restore us when Jesus returns and believe that we can make up for missed opportunities.” Yong Sook managed to escape with her children after she could no longer bear the hunger. “If they had given me just one bowl of rice every day, I would still be singing and dancing in North Korea,” she says.
The Cost Of Confessing Christ In Pakistan
Prayers are needed for a pastor in Punjab who was hospitalised after being shot in the shoulder by an Islamist extremist on the evening of Sunday 3 September. Eleazar Sidhu – also known as Pastor Vicky – is the minister of a church in Faisalabad. He was returning home from conducting an evening service in nearby Jaranwala when he was accosted by an armed extremist. The gunman asked Pastor Vicky to recite the Islamic declaration of faith, which would have been considered a conversion to Islam. The pastor was shot when he instead began reciting a declaration of faith in Christ. Islamist slogans were discovered painted on the walls of Pastor Vicky’s church building on 28 August. The graffiti also included a curse against him. Jaranwala was the scene of antiChristian riots on 16 August when at least 22 church buildings and dozens of Christian homes were attacked. Give thanks for the faith and bravery of Pastor Vicky. Pray that he will make a full recovery and that his family will be kept safe. Ask that his stance in affirming his faith in the Lord despite the threat of death will inspire the Christian community in Faisalabad to stand firm and draw on God’s strength (1 Corinthians 16:13). Pray for protection of the Church in Pakistan from extremists as anti-Christian feeling remains high and that false accusations of “blasphemy” will not prevail.
Northern Nigeria Suffering Of Believers
There are several different factors that are causing terrible suffering for God’s people in Northern Nigeria. Perhaps the chief trouble is the Fulani herdsmen from Niger, who are travelling south to the region because of drought in their home territory, looking for fertile land to settle. They find rich pasture and agricultural land in Northern Nigeria, where the rains are regular and the soil is rich. They move into villages and either scare away the population, or just kill many in cold blood, taking everything over, as though they have been there all along! It is not explicitly religious, and they kill indiscriminately, but since the population is mainly “Christian”, the suffering is focused on them. This is distinct from the religious persecution of the Islamic State groups, who focus on Christians explicitly.
Pray For Persecuted Christians In Ukraine
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has brought immense suffering to the Ukrainian nation. So many reports have reached us all of the terrible cost of this outrageous and cruel war.
But what you might not be fully aware of is the fact that this conflict has led to the persecution and oppression of evangelical leaders and believers in Ukraine by the Russian forces and those supportive of the invasion.
During this last year in the occupied areas of Ukraine, evangelical pastors have been arrested, interrogated, tortured and even expelled from their towns.
Church buildings have been confiscated and used for purposes that fit the agenda of the occupying forces.
What Do You Hope To Achieve?
Deborah Samuel, a Christian student, was beaten and stoned to death in an appalling incident at a college in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Deborah’s alleged crime was to have insulted Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, in a WhatsApp message. There is no evidence that Deborah did as alleged, but the accusation alone was enough to seal her fate. Even if she had, her murder at the hands of a Muslim mob was not deserved. A fellow student reports that Deborah’s last words to her attackers were, “What do you hope to achieve with this?” This is a question that could be asked to all the Islamist groups across Nigeria – indeed, all those around the world who commit violence against Christians and persecute the Church.
Christians are the most persecuted group in the world. Pray for and support your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Release International. The voice of persecuted Christians throughout the globe.
Founded in 1968, Release International is a UK-based Christian ministry, supporting believers around the world who are persecuted for Christ and the gospel.
They were inspired by the life and witness of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who spent 14 years in communist prisons. His remarkable story was captured in his book, Tortured for Christ.
The words of this biblical command are an important basis for their work:
‘Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated, as if you yourselves were suffering.’ (Hebrews 13:3; NIV; 2011)
They are currently active in around 30 countries where, prayerfully, pastorally and practically, we seek to love and serve persecuted Christians.
