Do you find it difficult to relate to your persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ? It’s strange to think about keeping your faith, your Bible, and your worship a secret from your closest friends and family.
But try for a moment. Put yourself in the shoes of a Christian in North Korea:
As you scurry home, you pray no one stops you — especially the police.
You try to appear nonchalant as you pull your coat tighter while crossing the street. Clutching your right arm against your chest, you wonder if it’s obvious that you have a treasure hidden inside the thin fabric.
You’ve seen neighbors disappear without a trace. Could you be next? Maybe they already suspect you. If you’re caught with your Bible, jail — or worse — is the next stop.
Putting ourselves in a persecuted Christian’s shoes should prompt us to petition God about their desperate situations. And International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is the perfect opportunity to reflect, pray, and give.
So we’re asking churches across the nation to pray for our oppressed brothers and sisters on Nov. 5 and to take up a love offering to send Bibles to Christians in North Korea. But even if your church doesn’t take up a love offering, you can still contribute to this urgent need by giving online. For just $10, you can send a Bible to a North Korean Christian who is starving for the Bread of Life.
Christians in North Korea are hungry for a copy of the Word. They cherish any small scraps of Scripture they can attain. But nothing means as much as owning a personal copy of the Bible.
You may not be able to fully understand what North Korean believers go through every day, but you can give them what they long for most — God’s Word. All it takes is $10.
As you prepare to intercede for persecuted believers on Nov. 5, download this bulletin insert on North Korea to share with your congregation. Or use it yourself to learn how to better pray for North Korean Christians.
The next step can be to provide a copy of the Scriptures to a secret believer in North Korea, the most oppressive country for Christ-followers. By giving a $10 gift, you can show one Christian that you empathize with his sacrifice.
Imagine the impact if people and churches across the country sent Bibles to North Korea on Nov. 5! We could flood that nation with the Gospel.
Today, stop and think about what it would be like to walk in the shoes of a persecuted Christian. And please consider giving a Bible in honor of their courage and faithfulness.