Suzette
Gutierrez-Cachila (Oct 11, 2016)
When it comes to dealing with Christian organizations, North
Korea is not at all like China, where Christians are associated with negative
things like the Opium Wars and colonialism.
(North
Korea)—[Gospel
Herald] North Korea Christians have endured 70 years of persecution,
but these have not stopped the work of God in the communist nation. (Photo
via BosNewsLife.com)
Since 1995, the North Korean government has allowed about 480 foreign
organizations to work in the country, and 70 of these are Christian, including
Samaritan's Purse and World Vision.
These Christian organizations have covered 85 of the 145 counties and 23 of
the 27 cities in North Korea, which means a large part of the country's
population has been exposed to Christian work, according to an article from the
Lausanne Global Analysis.
The North Korean government extends tolerance toward these Christian groups
not only because of the benefits they give but also because they are perceived
to be people of integrity.
"In one of my trips, one minder commented to me, 'Many of the people coming
into our country want to take advantage of us, but you (Christians) want to help
us,'" the article author wrote.
When
it comes to dealing with Christian organizations, North Korea is not at all like
China, where Christians are associated with negative things like the Opium Wars
and colonialism. In North Korean history, Christianity had been perceived as
being generally helpful to the nation. (Photo via Pinterest)
Korea first opened its doors to Christianity in 1884 when American missionary
Horace Allen was able to help heal the Queen's brother through the use of
medicine. Because of this, more missionaries were invited into the country,
leading to the establishment of 293 schools and 43 universities and a surge of
Christian activity particularly in Pyongyang, which at the time was dubbed as
the Jerusalem of the East.
Thus, from a historical perspective, Christians in North Korea have been
associated with education and progress.
However, Christian persecution in the country became intense since 1945. The
government, seeking to remove all traces of Christianity, conducted a massive
crackdown against Christians. In the 1970s, the government announced
Christians no longer exist in the country.
For the fourteenth year in a row, North Korea has been...
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continue reading. Source: www.breakingchristiannews.com/
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