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Voice of the Martyrs is an international organization that supports and encourages Christians wherever they are persecuted– which is in many countries, the very worst which is North Korea. Each year VOM produces an short film for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in November. This year’s video tells the story of one North Korean Christian.
Sang-chul: North Korea offers a rare glimpse of the gospel advancing inside the world’s most secretive nation, where even those who have contact with Christians are considered enemies of the state. Those who own a Bible risk having their entire family sent to a concentration camp. Even mentioning the name of Jesus to neighbors eager to notify authorities can lead to swift arrest. Sang-chul: North Korea portrays how one man continues to share the gospel inside North Korea knowing fully it could lead to his death.
Filmed on the Korean Peninsula, the film shares the true story of Pastor Han, who was assassinated by North Korean agents in China because of his effective gospel work among North Koreans. The story is told through the eyes of one of Pastor Han’s disciples, Sang-chul. Sang-chul met Pastor Han while seeking work in China, and heard the Gospel from him. In time, Sang-chul became a Christian, and then followed his mentor’s footsteps by sharing the gospel with North Koreans despite the danger. This seven-minute video will inspire you and your family, group, class, and church to pray for persecuted Christians in North Korea and around the world. (This, along with other resources for IDOP, are available for download at https://www.persecution.com/IDOP. )
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You may view the video here:
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II Timothy 1:7-8 — For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
Matthew 16:24-25 — Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
Acts 4:18-20 — Then they (the religious leaders) called them (Peter and John) in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:25b-26 — Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.
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Heavenly Father, we pray for those who do not know you, and for those who hate you, and for those who hate us. Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do; open their hearts to the work of your Spirit so that they may come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; and may they, and we, learn to love all people as Jesus did. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.