Pitfalls Of North Korea Ministry

Interested in North Korea ministry? I'm told that when one enters the struggle for the lives of this isolated nation, he/she may be up against more than bargained for. North Korea is a Satanic stronghold on earth the likes of which does not come around every day. The fate of this nation will determine the fate of many nations, and the enemy is strategically and therefore firmly entrenched there, or so he thinks. One nod from the Father and a host of angels will be released to defeat him and change the course of history. For this we enter into spiritual warfare, though never forgetting to address the day to day suffering of the people.

Many questions begin to form as the battle is waged as to the nature of the struggle, when one gets beyond prayer. Perhaps many will not be called to "get beyond prayer" since the spiritual battle is the only one that counts ultimately anyway.

But, for those who feel called to give material aid or assist in escapes, what happens if:

• a person that you are helping tries to escape and is killed, or imprisoned for life?
• a person you are assisting does come out, but his family left behind is rounded up and imprisoned or executed?
• you are asked to "pay off" a lot of criminal mafia types and to bribe guards to get your target person out?
• the released person actually succeeds in getting to South Korea or even America, and becomes so engrossed in Western worldliness that they lose the precious faith that once saw them through every difficulty?
• you yourself get caught up in emaciated bodies and forget the higher calling of ministering to emaciated souls?
• you get so involved in people "over there" that you forget the hurting around you?

All of the above have happened, I'm sure you can imagine.

Then must come the question, of course: Is the hurting around me to be compared with the pain of a North Korean? Will your wife or children be pleased with your answer to that question?

What about the cross? you will eventually ask. Am I a soldier of the cross or are those only soldiers who must pay for their warfare in starvation, torture and death?

Hard, hard questions for one who falls in love with North Korea. Do I love her because Christ loves her or because I "feel good" loving her? Is my love "romantic", unreal, unconnected, or do I have scars to show for my love?

Thankfully for my readers, I stopped being omniscient years ago. The questions I have asked are still questions, and must be tackled by those who hear them as they seek earnestly their God. And I'm still trying to hear the answers fully myself.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.