How your support strengthens North Korean Christians

Once again, North Korea tops Open Doors’ World Watch List, the annual report that ranks the top 50 countries where faith costs the most. Reading the Bible, meeting other Christians and praying are all illegal activities in Kim Jong-Un’s “People’s Paradise.”

North Korea—or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, its official name—is a communist country, which, in part, means the nation is supposed to take care of the needs of the people, providing food, shelter and jobs. And in return, the citizens are meant to take care of the state.

But the reality is much more brutal. North Koreans who have managed to escape their country have called it an “open-air prison,” a “living mass grave” and even “hell.” Currently, the majority of North Koreans struggle with food insecurity. Kim Jong Un even called the food problem a “major political issue” in a recent speech. An Open Doors source reports that the fall harvest did happen, and food prices went down—but too many people still cannot buy food.

Additionally, prices have now gone up, and the government has applied taxes that have increased costs even more. The regime has also requisitioned some of the available food, making the supply even smaller. Our source reports that even the North Koreans who were hopeful about an improvement in the food crisis are now frustrated and worried.

Through our networks in China, Open Doors supports North Korean Christians with food, medicine, practical aid (such as clothes and other necessities), as well as Christian materials, safe houses, Bible studies and pastoral care. North Korean believers who are able to cross into China are grateful for this help.

Recently, a number of North Korean Christians told us how much they appreciate the support the worldwide Church has made possible. And they wanted you to know how much impact your gifts and prayers make in their lives and faith.

One North Korean believer connects the help his group received to the grace of God. He quotes Isaiah 55:5: “Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has endowed you with splendor.”

“According to this scripture, our Lord has poured grace upon grace on the North Korean underground church so that we can remain faithful,” this Christian says. “This is more precious than our life. I'm so grateful for the blessings we have received. We want to [give] thanks also for the lives of the people who have made this possible. We will move forward with responsibility and duty. I believe that our future will be bright and abundant if we continue to be faithful and transfer our faith to the next generation.

“I want to thank you for all the items that you've given us,” he continues. “I pray that the blessing of the Father be with you, so that all may go well with and you will be in good health, and that it may go well with your soul.”

‘View yourself in the mirror of God’s Word’

“We, North Korean Christians, have to walk the narrow road,” another Christian says. “There is persecution, trials and other troubles. Some waiver. Only those who view themselves in the mirror that is God’s Word and who train their heart can walk this way.”

This believer says that North Korean Christians like him can persevere, thanks to the help of their brothers and sisters around the world that provide for Open Doors’ networks in countries outside of North Korea.

“We run with strength to the beautiful future which our Lord has promised us,” he says. “He gave us the certainty of our salvation. We will get through the difficulties and help each other in unity. Thanks to you, we are like a jewel that’s buried in the ground, yet will never lose its brightness.”

A third Christian shares: “We pray you are well in the Lord. We praise Him for His amazing grace upon the North Korean believers.

“Thank you for taking care of the North Korean believers,” he says. “You are so concerned for us and love us so much. I’m happy to report that we are doing well. We are simply overwhelmed by your amazing love. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. All North Korean believers are rededicating themselves to support one another.”

The encouragement and support you’re providing through your gifts and prayers strengthen these believers and hundreds of thousands more who cross the border and find help through our networks in China. Many of these Christians are able to return to North Korea, strengthened and equipped to help believers stand strong in a place where to claim the name of Jesus is to risk death.

Thank you for your continued care for your North Korean brothers and sisters! And please continue to pray for them.

please pray

Our Open Doors partners who serve North Korean Christians through our networks in surrounding countries offer these specific prayer requests:

Pray for provision to the underground churches.
Pray that believers can endure persecution and hardships with strong faith.
Pray that secret Christians in North Korea can be salt and light so that many other people can be saved.
Pray for all North Koreans who are at risk of malnourishment and starvation. Ask God to move in the hearts of the country’s leaders to take care of their citizens and help them survive. Pray that Kim Jong Un, in particular, would turn his hope to Jesus and allow Christians to freely worship.

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Will you help persecuted Christians survive in the darkest places on earth?

Every PHP 1,500 means an isolated believer could hear God speak through a regular radio broadcast.

Every PHP 3,000 provides a food package to a persecuted believer to keep them alive.

Every PHP 5,000 trains a Christian to withstand persecution in the world’s darkest places.

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