Ministry News

Returning to the Landmines

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Published on Tuesday, 17 February 2009 11:40

Written by Marcus Yoars

For more than 50 years, Christians in North Korea have lived under the constant threat of death for their belief in Jesus Christ. Yet despite ongoing poverty, famine and persecution, the underground church in North Korea continues to not only exist, but also increase. Now a new movement is growing among these Communist-ruled believers, according to a ministry leader that trains North Korean exiles to return to their homeland as missionaries.

"Many Americans have heard about the tens of thousands who are active in the underground North Korean church, but an equally amazing trend is the growing number of North Korean exiles who are eager to return to China and North Korea to reach their countrymen," says H.S. Foley, chief executive officer of Seoul USA.

Though based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Seoul USA takes in North Korean exiles in Seoul, South Korea, and trains them for a year to take the gospel to fellow North Koreans in North Korea, China or various other countries. The ministry recently launched this equipping program under a new initiative called Underground University.

Said Foley: "The fact that North Koreans are eager to risk their lives by returning to North Korea to spread the Christian message makes us want to equip them with the comprehensive training they'll need to survive." [christiannewswire.com, 2/12/09]