Look for the Cross

May 19th, 2010
Heather Gebelin Hacker

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

There was a compelling article in National Geographic last year that recently came to my attention. It is about the plight of North Korean defectors attempting to escape from the brutal regime and the Christian missionaries who come to their aid. (Don’t miss the haunting photographs that accompany the story).

One girl, only 15 and alone when she escaped across the Tumen River, fled because she felt she was a burden to her impoverished family and because she did not want to take a job that required her to read the propaganda of “Dear Leader” over the town loudspeaker. One man who was converted to Christianity through his experience escaping from North Korea insists that he wants to return to his homeland one day to share the gospel, even though he could be shot for even carrying a Bible into the country. He says, “When I read about street demonstrations in Seoul, I get so happy. If I did that in North Korea, I would be sent to prison.” the rest