North Korea has failed to overcome the stigma as “the worst Christian persecution country in the world” for 19 years. It is expected to become the No. 1 Christian persecution country again next year unless there is a significant change. According to a report by the U.S. Department of State, 1,341 religious persecutions in North Korea between 2017 and early 2018 resulted in 120 deaths, 90 missing, 48 assault victims, and 794 prisoners. Although North Korea’s persecution of Christianity is the most extreme in the world, the Gospel of God continues to flourish today, and the church of God continues to be planted by many Saints who are keeping their faith and preaching the gospel like Paul. The South Korean churches are praying for the believers in the underground church in North Korea who are keeping their faith in persecution and we pray that God will bring the Gospel-based reunification.
“I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” (Psalm 6:6-9)
We praise you Lord who remembers the confession of faith of the North Korean underground believers who are keeping their faith while the blood of the martyrs is being shed. We pray that the Korean Peninsula will be fully united in you, Lord, over the bloodshed and prayers of the martyrs, and may the believers of the South and the North rise up as soldiers of the cross to spread the Gospel to the nations like Paul!
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
