A North Korean evangelist has been executed for possessing and distributing a Korean New Testament, according to a January 8 press release from the World Bible Translation Center (www.wbtc.com/).
Although there are few details regarding the nature and circumstances of the death, there have been reports that have confirmed the incident. WBTC's U.S. office is attempting to gather additional information at this time.
Persecution of Christians in North Korea is wide-spread but few reports are available because of the oppressive situation in the nation. Those who possess or distribute the Bible are subject to a minimum sentence of thirteen years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of death. According to reports, the simple one-colour cover of the New Testament had become recognizable to the North Korean authorities. WBTC is working to put the Scriptures into other formats in order to help protect those putting their lives at risk to spread God's Word to the people of North Korea.
In response to the severe persecution of Christians in North Korea, a coalition of organizations, which includes the World Evangelical Alliance and Christian Solidarity Worldwide, has proclaimed 2007 an international Year of Prayer for North Korea. Visit the Pray for North Korea 2007 website (www.pfnk.org/ ) for more information on the inter-agency prayer effort.
Pray that those who are mourning for this Korean evangelist will find comfort in the fact that Christ is victorious over death and that those who die in Christ will be raised with Him. Pray that Christians in North Korea will confidently entrust themselves to Christ so that they can preach the gospel without hesitation (2 Timothy 1:7-12). Ask God to use His Church to bring Christ's love, forgiveness and blessing to those who persecute His people (Romans 12:14, 21).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in North Korea, click here.
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