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October 19, 2010
Fleeing from North Korea
The strongest response so far at Cape Town was to an 18-year-old woman.
The high point of the first full day of the Cape Town 2010 Congress turned out to be a testimony from an 18 year old girl, Sung Kyung Ju. She told how she and her family fled from North Korea when she was six years old. In China, relatives led them to a church where they were exposed to Christianity. But her father, who she said was a ranking North Korean official, was forcibly sent back to North Korea in 2001.
After spending three years in prison, he was allowed to return to his family in China. This time, though, he went back to North Korea voluntarily--in order to witness to the gospel. In 2006 he was caught and imprisoned, and his family has not heard from him since. His daughter said they imagine that he has been executed.
Sung Kyung Ju herself became a Christian when she saw Jesus in a dream. She now hopes to study diplomacy so that ultimately she can play a part in reconciling the country she loves to Christ. "I want to bring the love of God to North Korea," she said, her voice faltering.
Her tearful testimony obviously moved the assembly. She was given a standing ovation that lasted so long she was called back to the platform to acknowledge the response.
Some have raised questions about whether Cape Town 2010 will lose the Lausanne movement's focus on evangelism in favor of social justice concerns. Apparently not, if the audience's response to this North Korean witness was any clue.
Photo taken by James Krabill, courtesy of the Lausanne Movement Flickr stream.
Comments
I am Korean.
I love Jesus.
Posted By: Cho Youngjun | October 19, 2010 9:04 AM
I belive that Sung Kyung Ju's father's secrificial death is going to be a foundation of rebible of the North Korean underground churches.
I am praying for the North Korean underground church members.
Posted By: John Kim | October 19, 2010 10:59 AM
I know there are many many true Christians in N. Korea who has no fear of death at all like her father. Thank God & praise God that He always prepared the 'Kingdom People' everywhere even in N.K. This testimony proves that God is alive and His glorious day will come soon to that land. I pray and hope Cape Town 2010 could focus more to those Blocked countries and networking to impact them anyway possible, of course with Prayer 1st. We are living the end of the End time, I believe.
God bless you all - who are persecuted & suffered for Gospel of Jesus Christ ! Glory to GOD.
Posted By: JUSTICE LEE | October 19, 2010 12:01 PM
Surely her testimony will encourage even more to fervently pray and intercede on behalf of the persecuted church. She is a very brave girl and her love and passion to share the love of God to her countrymen despite the possibilities of being persecuted is inspiring and much to be admired. Like her father, she is convinced of the transforming power of the gospel.
Posted By: C Koh | October 19, 2010 3:24 PM
Only Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ can reach into the dark
and rescue people out of countries like China, North Korea and Islamic countries where there is no God what so ever...pray always
our Lord and God taught us..God Bless you!
Posted By: Henry | October 22, 2010 10:20 PM
Blessed are the persecutors indeed. Also, the voice of those persecuted in Iraq and in Palestine should also be heard. North Korea is considered an evil country and it's correct to show empathy, but is it the same case for the Palestinian Christians suffering in Israel? As Christians we ought to show the same amount of sympathy and applause.
Posted By: A Christian from Middle East | October 25, 2010 8:41 AM
I believe that God always works beyond our guess and plan. His strategy is also the best for us. One of the leaders at present time in south and one of the upcoming generation who represents the unification era in the near future,they stand in the presence of the world Christianity.This is the miracle God made and showed.
Love and Bless Sung Kyung Ju in Jesus name. -post script to editor: would you protect the exposure of S.K.Ju in the web? In my opinion, she should not be on the press yet.Hope your consideration.Thank you.
Posted By: michelle.J.Hwang | November 5, 2010 10:08 AM
Was her testimony recorded? I would like to read/hear/watch it if it is available.
Posted By: Dennis Conroy | November 9, 2010 8:38 AM