Verfolgung

Kim Sang-Hwa* is the daughter of a North Korean church leader. She now lives in South Korea; the most fortified border in the world separates her from her parents and her North Korean brothers and sisters in Christ. This is her story.

I come from a Christian family, although for a long time I wasn't even aware my parents were believers. Like so many Christian families, our family was banished in the 1950s to a remote village. However, my father was very good with his hands. I cannot share what his job was, because I don't want to endanger him now. But he was able to make good money. And my mother had relatives in China.

My parents continued to hide their faith from the outside world, but I remember waking up one night when I was six. Our house was very small, so we all slept in the same room. When I opened my eyes, I saw my father and mother under the blanket and I could hear the soft noise of the radio. Later I learned they were listening to a broadcast from a Christian radio station.

You can send a message of encouragement to believers in North Korea, which will be broadcast over the radio.

'I WAS AFRAID TO TOUCH THE BIBLE'

In our house was a hidden closet. When I was 12, I accidentally found it. I don't know why, but I started to feel inside the cabinet with my hand and I felt a book. I pulled it out, opened the book and began to read:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light...

I began to shiver and dropped the book. I was so scared. My discovery could cost me my life. I was afraid to touch the Bible, but I couldn't just leave it there. I closed my eyes, picked up the book and put it back.

I weighed up my options. Should I tell my teacher? Should I visit the local security official? For fifteen days I couldn't think about anything else. I knew it was my duty to report this illegal book. But it was my family which was involved. And I also had all these questions: Who is this God? Or 'what'?

Finally, I had the courage to ask my father. He was very surprised and sat next to me. "Do you see those old trees?" he asked me. "Who made those?" I said I didn't know.

My father explained the story of creation to me, including how God had made Adam and Eve. Then he turned to me and asked me another question. "What is the most dangerous animal?" I did not know why, but I answered: "The snake." He told me how sin came into the world.

It was the first of many conversations we had about the Bible, about God, Jesus and the Gospel. He explained many Bible stories to me. I was not a real believer yet, but they did make a lot of sense to me. I felt sorry for all those people who didn't know the truth. Even my older siblings were unaware.

My mother taught me to memorise Bible verses and the Apostolic Creed and also explained the gospel to me. My grandfather showed me how to pray. "It is just talking to God. Nothing more, nothing less." He spoke a lot about Jesus' Second Coming. He really longed for that.

To me all those stories and ideas were so interesting. I also read the Bible for myself. But I realized it was dangerous. My father always emphasised not to share anything with anyone else. Then he would start to pray in whispers, almost inaudible. "Father, help the North Korean people to seek your Kingdom first."

Every £20 can provide Bible study materials for two courageous North Korean believers, to build their faith and bring them comfort.
Continuation is on:
https://www.mojakomunita.sk/en/web/persecutedchristians/other-world/-/blogs/north-korea-illegal-bible-led-kim-sang-hwa-to-jesus