Please pray for North Korean Christians – World Watch List #1

Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – North Korea – #1 (worldwatchlist.us)

“For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. One of the remaining Communist states, it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution. There is a system of labour camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians.”

Please click on this link to Open Doors US to learn more about Christians in North Korea.

Please join me in prayer –

Heavenly Father: May your Holy Spirit strengthen and comfort all North Korean believers in Your Son, Jesus Christ… especially those who are imprisoned and suffer great hardship, those who gather in secret to worship and pray, those who are afraid for themselves and their families, those who are sick and tired, those who are refugees, those who hunger and thirst, and those who labor to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus: Bring Your Truth to Life – reveal Yourself through signs and wonders that demonstrate Your mercy and grace. Move among North Korean believers with wisdom, healing graces and power.

Holy Spirit move across the entire country of North Korea – its leaders, its military, all of its people at every level of society. Turn their hearts to Jesus Christ and lead them to repentance and faith… that one day soon the country of North Korea will know God’s deliverance and finally be free.

I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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For more information on Christians in North Korea – click here.

Sign up for weekly emails from Open Doors 5-5-5, highlighting one of the top 50 most difficult countries to live in for our brothers and sisters in Christ – click here.

Persecuted Church Prayer Challenge – 2013 Open Doors World Rankings – North Korea #1

Peanut Gallery: In America, we pretty much take religious freedom for granted – not so for Christians around the world. Open Doors (USA) has just released its 2013 world rankings of persecution by country.

North Korea is still the worst, but the situation in Africa is deteriorating – see Mali. And the civil war in Syria has placed Christians in great jeopardy.

This link (click here) will take you to the Open Doors(USA) website with rankings and background information on each country.

What can you do? Pray, pray and pray again. Please check out this video that explains how your 5 minute weekly prayer can make a difference.

You can sign up here for weekly 5 min prayer updates… eventually you will pray for all 50 countries in 2013.

Special thanks to rodiagnusdei for bringing this update to our attention. Please check out their website here. Their original post is re-blogged below.
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Open Doors USA releases its world ranking of persecution by country – North Korea still #1, Mali newcomer to list #7

Information and watch list from the non denominational group http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org. Rankings released January 8,2013 –

North Korea – For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. In a country of 24.5 million, there are just 400,000 Christians. North Korea is one of the remaining Communist states, and it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution. There is a system of labor camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians. We have written on North Korea several times in the past year. At the bottom are some noteworthy articles you can read in order to become more familiar with the brutal hardship that is endured by the Christians of North Korea. You can also read about North Korea’s hidden gulag, below all of the links, and visit the website that published The Hidden Gulag Report.

African countries surge – Open Doors reports that persecution of Christians in Africa vastly increased in 2012. Mali is a newcomer on the list and holds the No. 7 position. Tanzania (No. 24), Kenya (No. 40), Uganda (47) and Niger (No. 50) also moved onto the World Watch List and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers (from No. 38 to No. 15) on the list. In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at No. 10. Libya climbed from No. 26 to No. 17.

Syria made the largest jump on the World Watch List. The country is No. 11 on the list, compared to No. 36 in 2012.

Christians are persecuted in at least 60 countries for their faith. They suffer interrogation, arrest and even death in some of the most dangerous and restrictive countries in the world. For 58 years Open Doors has supported and strengthened believers worldwide through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development and prayer and presence ministry. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 ( 888-524-2535 ) or go to our Website at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.

Pray for North Korea Church w/ video

Pray for the North Korea Church

On April 15 all of North Korea will celebrate the “Day of the Sun” in honor of Kim Il-Sung’s 100th birthday.

To the outside world, the picture will be one of prosperity and wealth; that North Korea is a great place to live under their caring leaders. But outside of the media’s eye the vast majority will continue to quietly suffer extreme poverty and starvation.

For Christians, as the birthday celebration draws near, their fear has increased as their actions are watched closer than before. They know that outwardly they must participate in the nationwide celebrations to avoid arrest …but in their hearts they will be celebrating the true “Son” Jesus Christ.

North Korea is the most hostile country in the world to live and practice the Christian faith. Continue reading “Pray for the North Korea Church” →

North Korea’s Rogue Missile Launch | Heritage

The Fizzle Missile… but not from lack of trying –

North Koreas Rogue Missile Launch. Mike Brownfield April 13, 2012 at 8:48 am

“North Korea’s actions are taking place as the Obama Administration is failing to adequately resource its much-vaunted Asia pivot. Drawdowns in U.S. forces in Europe and Afghanistan are not shifting to address growing Asian threats–a case of robbing Peter to not pay Paul. The planned cuts to the U.S. military undercut Washington’s ability to fulfill its security commitments, even as North Korea and China are acting more assertively”.

In defiance of international pressure, North Korea last night launched a long range missile, underscoring the belligerent regime’s continuing threat to U.S. interests and regional stability in Asia.

The launch comes as the rogue nation is continuing its transition to new leadership under dictator Kim Jong-un, who replaced his father Kim Jong-il after his death in December. In addition to the missile test, it has been reported that North Korea may also be in the “final stages” of preparations for another nuclear test, leading to escalating tensions that could spur Jong-un to undertake more provocative military actions. Continue reading “North Korea’s Rogue Missile Launch | Heritage” →