During IDOP Sunday, it's the North Korean Underground Church Who is Praying for the American Church
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church November 11th
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 8, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- As millions of Christians around the world unite in prayer for the persecuted church this Sunday, prayers can sometimes tend toward feeling sorry for Christians experiencing persecution, coupled with thankfulness that we're not. But the founder of one organization that partners with the North Korean underground church says that it's the American church, not the North Korean church, for which North Korean Christians pray with concern.
Reverend Eric Foley, CEO of Seoul USA says he was surprised when he first asked members of the North Korean underground church how Americans could pray for them.
"They answered, 'You pray for us? We pray for you!' When I asked why, they responded, 'Because Western Christians often put so much faith in their prosperity and political freedoms that they don't know what it's like to have to depend completely on God. And because of that, they often do not get to know him in all the ways he invites us to.'"
Foley is the author of the new book, These Are the Generations, a rare, first-person account of generational imprisonment and Christian faithfulness of one North Korean family. The story begins with the experience of the family patriarch in World War II and continues through the imprisonment and escape of his grandson, one of the book's co-authors.
NK authorities captured and imprisoned the grandson, Mr. Bae because he believed in God and evangelized a friend.
Bae says being a Christian in prison is far from a pitiable situation. "It's like seminary," he says. "I prayed for others daily. My faith grew by leaps and bounds even as my body decayed."
Foley's hope for this Sunday's International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is that Americans would not pray for persecuted believers but with them. "North Korean believers like Mr. Bae always tell me not to pray that they would be removed from persecution but that they would be faithful in the midst of it -- and that we, too, would be fully faithful to God in the midst of our own situation, which is often the persecution of prosperity, that is, the ability to be insulated from suffering rather than taking up our cross daily as well."
*Interviews with the author, Reverend Eric Foley may be arranged by contacting Tim Dillmuth at Seoul USA. A press kit which features bios of the author and the Baes, a North Korea fact sheet, and translated video and audio clips from an interview with Mr. and Mrs. Bae are available for download at www.thesearethegenerations.com. Printed copies of the book and a press kit are available on request from Seoul USA.
Christian Newswire
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Tomorrow there will be a 12 hour conference call to pray for the persecuted church. Call is open to all. Time of call is 8am EST. Call in number is 209.255.1000. Access code is 109083#.
Please remember the persecuted in your prayers.
Posted by Blaine Scogin
North Korea Underground Church Leads Unprecedented Worldwide 100 Days of Prayer COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 17, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Starting September 23, 2013, the North Korean Underground Church will lead Christians around the world in one hundred days of worship in the common places.
Daily, through December 31, 2013, Christians are invited to follow the lead of their North Korean Christian brothers and sisters to do what led to their persecution in the first place: Gather together in small groups for daily public worship in the common places of life -- their homes, schools, workplaces, parks, libraries, bus stops, and more -- using the historic four pillars liturgy of the North Korean underground church.
Rev. Eric Foley, CEO of Seoul USA, says while Americans are pledging to join in the effort, their goal is not to evangelize others.
"These will be outwardly modest and unremarkable gatherings. There will be no megaphones, no shouting, no political messages, no recruitment, no voices of concern about the state of religious freedom in America. Neither will the liturgy be conducted in hushed whispers in private corners when no one else is watching."
Some American participants expect like NK Christians, they may experience persecution as they publicly express their faith.
Rev. Chuck Huckaby, of First Protestant Church, New Braunfel, Texas, says his congregation will join in despite the risks.
"We are one with our suffering brothers and sisters both in North Korea and around the world... We're taking the '100 Days' to learn what they have to teach us!"
The 100 Days of Worship campaign features the four pillars of the North Korean Church:
Those wishing to participate can visit the Seoul USA Facebook page to sign up:www.facebook.com/seoulusa.
Registrants will receive a package by priority mail containing the 100 Days worship booklet and communion packages (one for each week of the campaign) consecrated by North Korean Christians. They'll be invited to view an on-line inaugural worship service for the campaign, led by North Korean Christians.
They'll also be asked to share their experiences on the Facebook page.
*For more information and to arrange an interview with Eric Foley, contact Tim Dillmuth at Seoul USA. A press kit containing the 100 Days worship booklet and other information is available on request from Seoul USA.
Christian Newswire
A Surprising Reversal on IDOP Sunday
Contact: Tim Dillmuth, 719-362-5234
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 29, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- As Americans gather to pray this Sunday (November 3) during the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), they should remember Christians in the world's most persecuted country.
Rev. Eric Foley, CEO of Seoul USA, says instead of praying for members of the North Korean underground church, Americans should pray with them. "They don't ask God to deliver them from persecution. They pray they'll remain strong and faithful in the midst of their suffering."
Foley says Americans may be surprised to learn that North Korean Christians often pray for people of the USA and South Korea. "They pray for us because they feel we are persecuted by our prosperity and it distances us from God. They pray that we will remain faithful to the Lord."
Seoul USA recently obtained exclusive new video of faithful North Korean Christians worshipping inside a North Korean home. The rare, amazing video may appear shocking because the underground Christians shown are not poor. "It means the gospel is spreading among those in the higher classes," says Foley.
And China has recently joined NK government efforts (ultimately unsuccessful) to prevent the gospel from spreading inside North Korea by jamming Seoul USA's Christian shortwave radio broadcasts. "The co-opting of the Chinese government suggests the North Korean regime feels threatened by these broadcasts," says Foley.
The North Korean government has tried repeatedly to extirpate Christianity from the country, but the underground church has survived and has overcome severe suffering. "The NK Christian's example may help Americans better prepare for the persecution that may be coming soon to the USA," explains Foley. "Their experience reminds us that a commitment to the four pillars of worship is integral to the Christian life."
The four pillars are featured in Seoul USA's 100 Days of Worship campaign that runs through December 31.
Contact: Tim Dillmuth, Seoul USA, 719-362-5234
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 19, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Thanksgiving is fast approaching -- a day every year when Americans stop to give thanks. But in the country of North Korea, Thanksgiving to North Korea's "Eternal President" Kim Il Sung must be given at every meal.
"The best wall on every house in North Korea must have well cared for photos of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il," explains Seoul USA CEO Eric Foley. "At every meal families look up at the picture and pray, thank you, Father Kim Il Sung, for this food."
While most Americans view the Hermit Kingdom as an atheist nation, Foley says in reality, it is perhaps the most religious nation on earth because one hundred percent of its citizens are required to worship Kim Il Sung. North Korea is the world's only "necrocacy" -- ruled forever by its deceased eternal president.
"This is challenging to Christians who refuse to worship anyone other than God," says Foley. "Those seen bowing their heads in prayer are considered seditious citizens and are persecuted."
Overcoming this idolatry is the most pressing issue for the North Korean church. The way they've done this is to rely on four pillars: The 10 Commandments, The Lord's Prayer, The Lord's Supper, and The Apostles Creed. Each of these is a protection against idolatry, and helps them navigate through NK's state religion known as Juche.
"As Americans thank God for our blessings and prosperity this Thanksgiving, let's also consider our need to combat idolatry in our own lives," says Foley. "We can grow stronger in this overcoming faith by learning from the example of our North Korean brothers and sisters in Christ. Reliance on the four pillars of worship is the key."
The four pillars are integral to Christian life. That's why they're featured in Seoul USA's 100 Days of Worship campaign running through December 31.
* To arrange an interview with Foley, and to obtain an exclusive NK worship video, contact Tim Dillmuth at Seoul USA.
A press kit containing the 100 Days worship booklet and other information is also available on request.
A video presenting background on the persecution of North Korean Christians and explaining the 100 Days campaign may be viewed at this link:www.seoulusa.org/100-days-videos.
Learn more at our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/seoulusa.
Praise God for his faithfulness to those who are suffering for their faith in North Korea and elsewhere!! He has not abandoned nor forsaken them - and neither must we. "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." -- Hebrews 13:3. Thanks, Phil, for keeping these posts coming!