PRAY: New Christian in North Korea missing, in danger

A man who recently came to Christ in North Korea has gone missing and is believed to be in grave danger.

The man was arrested after giving his life to Jesus and an Open Doors USA's Asia representative says they are concerned about the man's wellbeing.

"He needs a miracle to be released," says the representative.

"The risk of being a North Korean Christian is always there. We’ve talked to enough former prisoners and North Korean refugees to know the dangers and consequences of their decision to follow Jesus. But when our field shares an urgent request like this, once again we’re brought up close to the reality of the North Korean regime’s intolerance and cruelty," writes Lindy Lowry for Open Doors USA.

The organization notes, however, the great courage of the man, like many North Korean believers, to step out in faith against a society that does not accept their new beliefs.

"We know that from an early age, North Korean children are subjected to stringent indoctrination. They  grow up learning to bow to and worship pictures of the first leaders of the country, Kim II-Sung II and his son, Kim Jong-II. They also learn that Christians are the enemy," says Open Doors USA.

One North Korean refugee says he grew up believing Christians were dangerous and evil.

"We watched the government’s propaganda alongside public executions. It told us that Christians wanted to kidnap children and that the cross was a symbol of the devil," the refugee says.

The first person the refugee saw executed was a Christian who had smuggled things into the country and encouraged people to attend church.

"The whole village was told to come and watch. The children were allowed to sit at the front to get a good view. It enforced this belief that Christians were dangerous."

It is counter to this culture of fear surrounding belief in God that new Christians are coming to faith. But they are also coming to harm.

Open Doors USA's World Watch List places North Korea in the number one position for the most extreme persecution against Christians in the world.

The organization is asking for prayers for their new brother in faith who has gone missing.