If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
North Korea’s nuclear test this weekend brought the spiritual needs of its people into sharper relief. Sunday morning I read the October issue of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter, which focused on North Korean Christians risking all to return to their country to share the gospel. According to Crossing Borders, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il starved to death 2 million citizens between 1995 and 1998. Basic living conditions are so terrible in North Korea that many cross the border into China, where they risk immediate deportation if found by authorities or capture and forced labor and prostitution if discovered by unscrupulous Chinese citizens. In spite of the grim prospects they face in China, North Koreans find them a better choice than staying in their own country.
One might wonder what could induce someone to return to North Korea, especially since those suspected of being Christians are guaranteed imprisonment, torture, and possible execution at the hands of their government. The state religion says that North Korea is an earthly paradise and that Kim Il Song, father of the current dictator, is a divine being who still guides the country though dead. These North Korean believers have discovered the true Savior, and they desire to bring hope to their families and friends. Crossing Borders estimates that 99% of North Koreans have never heard the name of Jesus, so truly, this is a field ripe for harvest. Roli, a Christian who has made more than 100 trips into North Korea to share the gospel, said that, read the complete post
Tagged as:
Christian activism,
gospel,
Kim-Jong-Il,
North-Korea,
nuclear-weapons,
persecution,
sharing-the-faith,
Voice of the Martyrs
While the world focuses its attention on Abdul Rahman, Compass Direct reports that two more Afghan converts to Christianity are in jail, and a third has been hospitalized after being beaten for his faith.
Christian Freedom International (CFI), also reporting on Rahman’s release, indicates that while Rahman’s case has received international attention, it is by no means unusual. Jim Jacobson, CFI President, says,
The arrest and imprisonment of Mr. Rahman for converting to Christianity is a cause of major concern for all freedom-loving people, but it is the tip of the iceberg. His case is one of the few times in recent history the “mainstream media” actually covered a story on Christian persecution. While we want Mr. Rahman to go free, there are thousands of other persecuted Christians in Islamic nations just like him. Becoming a Christian should not be considered a crime in Afghanistan or elsewhere.
If you would like to learn more about persecuted Christians and find opportunities for helping them, these are good sources:
Voice of the Martyrs
The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ, fulfilling the Great Commission, and educating the world about the ongoing persecution of Christians.
VOM offers a free weekly email report as well as a monthly magazine. They also provide information on how to write letters of encouragement to persecuted Christians and letters of action to government officials. Go to VOM
International Christian Concern
ICC is a coalition of concerned Christians who believe we can, and must, do something to demonstrate our love and support for persecutedChristians. We are a human rights organization for religious freedom and for assisting Christians who are victims of persecution and discrimination.
ICC offers a monthly newsletter as well as the opportunity to sign online petitions to offending governments. Go to ICC
Compass Direct
Compass Direct is a Christian news agency that reports exclusively on Christian persecution around the world.
They offer an RSS feed of their news stories. Go to Compass Direct
Christian Freedom International
CFI is an unparalleled organization that combines advocacy in Washington, DC, with humanitarian assistance for persecuted Christians on the front lines.
CFI offers a monthly newsletter as well as the opportunity to support persecuted Christians through the purchase of handmade goods. Go to CFI
Forum 18
Forum 18 is an instrument for promoting the implementation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and concentrates on serious and obvious breaches of religious freedom, and particularly on situations where the lives and welfare of individual people or groups are being threatened and where the right to gather around one’s faith is being hindered.
Note that Forum 18 identifies all religious persecution, not just against Christians. They offer daily and weekly email reports as well as an RSS feed. Go to Forum 18
It takes little time to be involved in making a difference in the lives of persecuted Christians around the world.
Tagged as:
Christian activism,
persecution,
Voice of the Martyrs
Charis means grace, and that’s what this blog is about: grace, in all its—sometimes messy, always magnificent—manifestations. I’m Dan Butcher, and I invite you to join me in learning to lead a Christ-centered, grace-filled life. 
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.