The Worn Out Book in the Dresser

The Worn Out Book in the Dresser

by | Aug 1, 2025 | Prayer

Mrs. Lee, a defector from N. Korea, inherited a legacy of faith that had been quietly preserved through four generations—despite relentless persecution. She shares:

“Before I could even say the words ‘mom’ or ‘dad,’ I was placed in a state-run daycare where I was trained to chant, ‘Thank you, Grand Master Kim Il Sung,’ over and over again. That’s how I was raised—to believe that I must dedicate my entire body and soul to the Grand Master and the nation. My parents, fearing for our safety, hid their Christian faith so carefully that I grew up without ever hearing the name of God.”

But one ordinary day when Mrs. Lee was twelve, everything changed.

“I was rummaging through the bottom of my dresser drawer when I found a book with no title on the cover. Curious, I opened it and read, ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.’ In N. Korea, all foreign books must be reported. I was terrified. ‘How could such a forbidden book be in my house? Should I report it to the Ministry of Security? To my homeroom teacher? Will my family be ruined?’ I trembled with fear. That night, I couldn’t sleep. My mind raced with questions: ‘When is the beginning? Who is God? What are the heavens and the earth?’ The questions haunted me for days.”

Two weeks later, she mustered the courage to ask her father, “Why is that book in our house?”

Without saying a word, he gently took her hand and led her outside. Pointing to the night sky, he asked, “Do you think those stars just appeared? Or do you think someone made them?” When she couldn’t respond, he asked another question: “What animal scares you the most?” She answered, “Snakes.”

Then, for the first time, her father told her the story of Adam and Eve, the serpent, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—and the Creator who made it all. Miraculously, she didn’t question it. “Somehow, I just believed,” she recalls.

Night after night, her father shared more stories: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and then Joseph. “It all made sense,” she said. “And I found it incredibly fascinating. I knew that in a communist country like N. Korea, I could face persecution for believing in God—but I loved hearing about Him. I wanted to know more.”

HOW TO PRAY

Pray for other families such as Mrs. Lee’s to be able to share their Christian heritage with the younger generation, that they too, may know and believe in Jesus as Lord

Pray for copies of the Bible to be preserved and protected from prying eyes, so that family members may be nourished in God’s Word.

Pray for more and more young people to recognize the Truth of God when they hear it and be freed from the mental bondage of brainwashing.

Pray for hearts to be softened through God’s testimony in His creation to affirm His Word and lead more North Koreans into faith as Christ’s disciples. 

Flames Erase, Hope Remains

Flames Erase, Hope Remains

by | Jul 11, 2025 | Prayer

“When I feel overwhelmed and weep in solitude, I think of our Lord who gave His life for me. I write down the scriptures I’ve memorized on a small piece of paper. After meditating on the words, I burn the paper. Though the flames erase the ink, the truth remains engraved on my heart. No matter the storms I face, His Word will triumph.”

These powerful words come from Ms. Park, a courageous believer in an underground church in N. Korea. Like many others, she burns her handwritten scriptures to protect herself and her household from the danger of discovery. Possessing even a scrap of God’s Word can be life-threatening in her country.

Yet in the midst of fear and isolation, these believers hold fast to the promises of God. As Daniel 2:23 declares, “You have given me wisdom and strength, and have now made known to me what we asked of You.” Praise God, who is glorified today through the quiet, unshakable faith of His people in N. Korea.

Though they face constant danger and discouragement, our N. Korean brothers and sisters draw strength from Scripture. They whisper it, write it, and burn it—yet it cannot be erased. As they reflect on God’s Word, they are filled with a peace the world cannot give and find victory through the truth that lives in their hearts.

HOW TO PRAY

May God, who knows the situation of those who live under this oppression, grant them the grace to persevere in the strength of His Word and Spirit.

May the day come soon when the believers in N. Korea can gather together and worship freely, speaking God’s Word aloud to one another in praise of His Name.

May those in underground churches in N. Korea, who are discouraged, regain strength through the words of God that they are reciting and reflecting on.

May the peace of the Lord that the world cannot give, lead them into victory and triumph through His Word.

Committing the Word to Memory

Committing the Word to Memory

by | Jun 9, 2025 | Prayer

“You know that book I brought home last time—can you get me another one?” Mr. Park asked. “I didn’t realize how precious it was until I got home and read it. I regret only taking one.”

The connection with Mr. Park in North Korea was poor, and Mr. Kim couldn’t catch every word, but he heard enough to follow up: “Did you just say you memorized the entire book because it was so meaningful?”

Mr. Park confirmed: “Yes. When I’m alone, I whisper it to myself and memorize it so I won’t forget.”

Mr. Kim was deeply moved. Sensing Mr. Park’s desperation, he reassured him, “You’re doing well. I’ll make sure to include more in the next food shipment. By the way, have you seen any other believers around you?”

Mr. Park hesitated before answering. “Sometimes, when I listen carefully to what people say, I think, ‘That person might be a believer.’ There’s an elderly woman nearby who hums a song that sounds like a hymn I once heard in China. I asked her to teach it to me, but she was startled and changed the subject. Her children also seem… different. I can’t be sure, but when I see them, I feel a sense of peace. Most people here are barely surviving—it’s heartbreaking. Please pray for us, a lot.”

As Mr. Kim hung up the phone, his throat tightened. Tears filled his eyes as he whispered, “Ah, Lord… You haven’t given up on North Korea. Your love reaches even here.”

How to Pray:

  • Pray that more Bibles to make it into the hands of NK believers who keep their faith by reciting the Bible sections carried in a long time ago and holding on to the word of life in their memory.

  • Pray for creative ways to transmit Bible recordings or ship printed Bibles to those NKs earnestly longing for their own copy of this precious book.

  • Pray that the day will soon come when NKs can read God’s word to their heart’s content.

  • Pray for NK believers to be able to share the joy of worship with other individuals or small groups.

  • Pray that more NK people will either hear or read this Good Book and respond to God’s grace.

Risking Everything for the Word

Risking Everything for the Word

by | May 15, 2025 | Prayer

Years ago, my mother received a Bible that came with a food donation. As she read it, she began to believe in God. Even today, many North Koreans go to food distribution sites where they spend the night learning the basics of the Christian faith and return home with a Bible hidden in their backpack.

A friend of my mother’s reported her for reading the Bible. She was arrested, detained, and tortured in a political prison. I have not seen her since. Still, there are many underground believers in North Korea who continue to read Scripture, fully aware of the severe consequences if they are caught.

At one distribution site, a woman shared her deep frustration over not having a Bible to read and memorize. As she spoke, a field worker noticed her eyes shining like diamonds, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

Moved by this, another North Korean woman stepped forward and said, “It makes me angry not to fully understand the Word. That’s why I am willing to risk everything to take this small Bible back with me. Without it, I’ll feel the same deep yearning you’re describing.”

The two women embraced and began to pray with tears of joy, overwhelmed to finally have their own Bibles. Their hands trembled—not only from the joy of holding God’s Word but also from the fear of what it could cost them.

How to Pray:

  • For these two women and others like them to be nourished by God’s Word and commit Bible verses to memory.
  • For people who yearn to have their own Bibles to securely receive relevant messages about where and when field workers will be distributing copies of the Word.
  • For channels of distribution across various borders to continue to flow smoothly.
  • For the Word to yield an abundant harvest in the lives and relationship networks of those who have received a copy.
  • For those imprisoned for possession of a Bible to be strengthened in faith and hope.
In Hushed Voices and Hidden Corners …

In Hushed Voices and Hidden Corners …

by | Apr 8, 2025 | Prayer

A young NK woman was caught trying to defect, crossing the river in a desperate attempt to escape. When she was found, she was brutally beaten—so severely that she couldn’t move. Left in pain and silence, she lay there until an older woman came along and gently cared for her.

Three days passed. When the young woman finally opened her eyes, she saw the face of the one who had nursed her back to life. Weakly, she asked, “Why are you doing this for me?”

The older woman simply replied, “Because I have been loved.”

Confused, the young woman asked again, “What do you mean… loved?”

For NKs, the concept of love is foreign. Many grow up without ever experiencing it. Real love—sacrificial, unconditional love—is something they do not know and cannot name.

Three months later, the older woman—the one who had shown such kindness—was executed. Before she was taken away, she scratched a few final messages into the walls of her prison cell:

“I will lift up the One who has lifted me.” And “Receive love—the love that comes from the Lord, from God.”

These simple, powerful engravings stirred something deep within the young woman. Her curiosity turned to seeking. Her seeking led to faith. And there, in that prison cell, she met Jesus.

Since then, she has become a quiet evangelist among the other women prisoners. Though they are held in separate buildings, they find ways to pass messages of hope and truth during rare moments in the yard or shared spaces.

Today, at least 24 women gather in spirit—though not physically—to worship Jesus every Sunday morning. In hushed voices and hidden corners, the gospel is spreading… not through a mission plan, but through the obedience of the broken and the beauty of God’s love.

Join us in prayer:

  • Pray for the thousands of incarcerated NK Christians who are moving and working quietly. Ask that Holy Spirit continues to give them creative ways to sublimely share God’s love.
  • Give thanks that these disciples of Christ have been able to continue communicating the Gospel quietly in amazing ways. May they experience much grace in being God’s instruments.
  • Petition our Lord that this communication will not be exposed to those in power, but that the Spirit will have freedom to keep moving in an instrumental way as these precious brothers and sisters share the gospel to brighten up the night.
  • Give thanks that the Lord is good and works through His NK servants, as angels among their compatriots, that those who do not yet know Him will be refreshed and come to walk with Him in the Light.

    United In Prayer at Noon

    United In Prayer at Noon

    by | Mar 7, 2025 | Prayer

    Years ago, after hearing a Christian broadcast, Mr. Kim was stirred with curiosity. He listened more and soon obtained a rare copy of the North Korean Bible. For months, he studied it diligently, and as understanding dawned, so did overwhelming joy. Unable to keep the truth to himself, he quietly began sharing the gospel with family and friends.

    One by one, lives were transformed. Over a hundred people in his town embraced Christ—fully aware of the grave risk they faced. In North Korea, being caught as a believer often means public execution. Yet, their faith grew.

    Their underground fellowship, however, was eventually infiltrated by a special security agent. Arrested and confined in the town’s security compound, they faced relentless interrogation and brutal treatment. But when the noontime siren sounded each day, their voices rose in unison, boldly praying the Lord’s Prayer. No beatings could silence them. Even their guards stood in astonishment at their unwavering courage.

    Then, the unthinkable happened. Around 40 of them were secretly executed. The rest were condemned to a notorious prison camp, vanishing into the darkness of North Korea’s brutal system.

    We have no further updates on their fate, but we know this: God has not abandoned them. He is with them in their suffering, and He treasures each one.

    Will you stand with them in prayer?

    • Pray for the continued spread of Gospel broadcasts across North Korea, overcoming every barrier.
    • Ask God to deliver printed and digital Bibles into the hands of those hungry for truth and hope.
    • Intercede for believers who pay the ultimate price for their faith—that they be strengthened and encouraged.
    • Pray for the very ones who persecute them—that their hearts would be softened and their eyes opened to the truth as they witness the unshakable faith of Christ’s followers.
    • Wherever you are in the world, commit to joining in prayer at noontime, standing in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters.

    The world may not know their names, but heaven does.