Quiet Sobs

Today I watched smuggled footage of a North Korean Christian publicly tried and executed for his faith just a few months ago (a woman was also killed, but the footage was not shown). They were declared "traitors" and "betraying their nation." I was horrified and broken hearted at the coldness of it -- the government made it almost like a celebration, inviting onlookers with bright music and announcement. The man was shot after a quick "trial," where basically his execution was announced (they set up the execution post before the "trial" even began). After he was executed, the onlookers were warned that "this is how miserable fools end up," and they stuffed our brother in Christ's body into a bag.
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I don't even know what to say in response to this. Millions of North Koreans are being starved to death as their leader plays political games and feeds his own greed for wealth and power. My mother was the first person to open my eyes to the atrocities of North Korea -- she is from South Korea for those of you who don't know. When I was ten or twelve I sat with her and watched a copy of a recorded videotape that had been smuggled out of North Korea. The images of starving women and children are still burned into my memory.

Are you aware of the many many MANY followers of Christ who are living in persecution, whose lives are in danger if they are found with a Bible or sharing their faith with their family or friends? Do you want to know what you can do for them?

The Voice of the Martyrs is an excellent resource for finding specific news about countries... they also distribute a free newsletter to enable us to pray specifically for people as well as give us opportunities to help financially, materially, and politically. Go to their website now for more information: http://www.persecution.com/. Pray for our brothers and sisters who suffer. Write to protest the imprisonment of innocent Christians who are being starved and tortured by going to http://www.prisoneralert.com/.

God, forgive me for taking for granted the freedom of reading Your Words, worshipping You publicly without fear, and sharing Your Gospel with others without the possibility of disappearing in the night never to be seen again. We pray for those who do live in this reality: for Your comfort for their hearts and provision for their bodies, for protection and the blinding of authorities who seek to destroy the work of the Gospel, that those authorities will come to a saving knowledge of You through Your Son Jesus Christ, that the truth of Your existence and atonement will be spread throughout all the world, and that our dear brothers and sisters in Christ will be reminded that their suffering will one day be over and they will be able to rest for eternity in Your arms.

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.'"
- Revelation 12:10-12