Suffering and Reconciliation Part 2

Monday night we heard a report on the state of the church in Asia. We also had as part of the evening focus a report on persecution. Then it was personalized.

A young woman strolled out to the stage. She is 18 and from North Korea. When she was a girl her father worked as an assistant to Kim 'Il Jung. They had a good home and lacked nothing though her fellow countrymen lacked everything. Then her father fell in disfavor. They had to flee the country into China. They lost everything and her dad had to find menial work.

Soon, they were exposed to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Her family was converted. Within months of their conversion her pregnant mother died of TB. Despite more sorrow her dad started a bible study to teach others about Christ with a special burden for his people - the North Koreans. Not long after her dad was found out by the government authorities, arrested, and returned to North Korea where he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Now alone in the world, she was taken in by a Chinese Christian family. She was treated as a daughter. But, this also was short lived. This family immigrated to the US. Soon though her dad was released from prison. They were reunited in China. A South Korean family sponsored them to come to South Korea.

Upon arriving in South Korea her dad felt the strong call to return to North Korea to preach and teach about Jesus so they would be reconciled to God. Not long after he was arrested. She has not seen nor heard from him since. It is believed she reported that "he was shot to death under the false charged of espionage and sedition."

And then, through many tears she gave a passionate plea for the church to join her in taking Christ to North Korea. She then told us how one night as she was sleeping Jesus came to her in a dream. In her dream Jesus was crying. He said to her "whatever happened to you in the past was because I love you." She then knew she had a heavenly father and a mission from God.

It was very moving to hear her story as we reflected that evening on the scale of persecution and suffering. So far she is the only one that has received a standing ovation.

The ovation was for her in love out of what she has suffered. It was due to her bravery and courage. It was in solidarity with her that the global church recognizes the need for Jesus to be know and worshiped in North Korea.
It was due to the fact she chose to love, forgive and wants to be an instrument of reconciliation.

Blessings

Mike

For a photo of her, you may go to this link:

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=hr96nzn6&v=001_bti-hHe0CxpNtIuStm504CX_HE_bHuPBMwyMmjAPEclLR7vMT2AygrHqio-WHyZgy0DrYUCdmWnQrI-WtM45iiqbrB-OrpadOCMn5p1TYY8dhAvfD3_bJNXZksT02jxLgynHQpPeluAriqjV7LNbArNmNGKAWMUVwGNK6axkusXX3GeL1oOgjdoRWuYhi6bBth6nbqD1McfI2zWtu3DuuW7S9m-Pd3VoR8KJo_d_MRjzddcuzh20NMsngOCwCs1Us020ukwyb0%3D
You will have top copy and paste this whole address. Then scroll down to the bottom right.