Does God Love the North Koreans?
Despite the fact that it’s one of the most religiously restrictive countries in the world, North Korea is experiencing significant growth in the numbers of new Christian believers who are joining the underground Church. Miraculously, as previously reported in the July 2012 and April 2013 issues of The Voice of the Martyrs publication, God’s Word is seeking out and finding the people of North Korea. As a result, the power of His Holy Spirit is effectively transforming lives – setting them free even while they’re constrained in the expression of their new-found faith. God’s Word is a powerful force that the enemy will never overcome by earthly might. Keeping in mind who the real enemy is, what should our response be to his evil attacks? More to the point, does God love the North Koreans?
To one who walks with God, the answers may seem obvious. But let’s allow the Spirit to examine our hearts against the backdrop of His Word and the simplistic and practical faith of some school children whose story I will share with you in this article.
We, here at VOMC, well know that God loves the North Korean people because He so motivates us through our partners to take steps of faith in translating and delivering the North Korean version of the Bible into their outstretched hands. Imagine the impact His Word will have on the many thousands of hungry recipients who symbolically reach skyward and receive the “Bread of Heaven” as His Holy Scriptures drift down to earth in brightly coloured helium mini-balloons. As a result, God’s Word is actually coming to dwell among the increasing number of hidden believers within the shadows of a captive and suppressed populace.
“In the same way your Father in Heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”
As reported in our April 2013 issue, VOMC has partnered in the reproduction of 2,300 Bibles in the North Korean dialect, many of which are being distributed to Christians who have fled North Korea as defectors and are now living in South Korea. And then in our July 2012 issue, we reported on some of the historical and current ways by which VOMC has delivered North Korean Bibles and other powerful Christian literature to many of the country’s spiritually destitute citizens. Of particular interest to me are the stories of helium mini-balloons carrying translated Bibles. Each of these balloons, which were prayerfully launched in faith, had drifted to unknown targets as if guided on the wings of the Holy Spirit.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Today, over 100,000 helium mini-balloons – carrying hope, life and eternal freedom – are being launched in faith over North Korea every year. God deeply loves these people, and I believe His Spirit guides every one of the messenger balloons to drift into the hands of individuals whose hearts are ready to receive the power of His forgiveness.
We received a letter and some photos the other day from Anne Helgerson of London, Ontario. Anne has graciously given us permission to quote her letter and include some photos from a recent home school co-operative in which she was teaching a high school missions class. Here is Anne’s letter and a couple of photos relative to their class missions project. (Anne’s letter, along with all of the photos we received, will also appear on our www.persecution.net website.)
- Doug
Dear Friends at VOM Canada,
This past session of our home school cooperative, I (Anne) taught a high school missions class. We touched on a number of topics, including the least-reached and more-persecuted countries in the world. The kids wanted to do a fundraiser and, after much thought and prayer, we decided to raise money for VOM’s work in North Korea.
We hosted the “Great Balloon Creation Contest.” All of the children at the home school co-op were invited to create a “hot air balloon” which would be decorated with the theme of North Korea, a Scripture verse and a prayer. Once they were all on display, parents and others could “vote” on their favourite balloons, with each vote costing 50 cents. We were bowled over when we counted up the results – $531.62!
Along with the contest rules, we distributed prayer materials about North Korea and the balloon initiatives. We encouraged families to pray for North Korea (and to keep praying after the contest was over!).
Thanks for VOM supplying me with resources and information that I used in my class and for the contest.
In Him,
Anne Helgerson
