Life Under the Kim Regime
In a land where the worship of Kim Jong-un is mandated, and any allegiance to another deity is met with severe punishment, the underground church in North Korea thrives in secrecy. Eun-Young, a defector, grew up worshipping the Kim regime, unaware of any other form of faith. She recalls her life before Christ as one preoccupied with material wealth and social status. "Back then, I was only thinking about money. Now, I see those things as meaningless," she reflects, acknowledging the profound shift in her priorities since finding Jesus.
Encountering the Gospel in China
Eun-Young's journey to faith began not in her homeland but in China, where she first encountered the gospel. There, she heard about Jesus Christ and experienced a love that reshaped her understanding of life. With a newfound perspective, she realized the emptiness of her previous pursuits. Through God's intervention, she felt guided and provided for during her perilous escape from North Korea.
Hiding the Bible
In North Korea, the possession of a Bible is a crime that could lead to execution or imprisonment in labor camps. Eun-Young recounts having to disguise her Bible with covers featuring images of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il to avoid suspicion. Yet, despite the dangers, Eun-Young and others like her found solace and strength in the Word of God. "Because of the many sudden and random house searches, we had to hide the Bibles in our home," she shares.
The Underground Church Lives
Through whispered prayers and memorized hymns, Eun-Young and her fellow believers cultivated a deep, resilient faith. As one North Korean believer described, the underground church is "alive…praying in whispers, worshipping with memorized Scripture." The transformation in Eun-Young's life is a testament to Jesus' power to change hearts, even in the most oppressive environments.
Now in South Korea, Eun-Young is emboldened by her faith. She prays fervently for her brothers and sisters still in North Korea, believing that God is at work through their prayers. Her story is a powerful reminder of Jesus' transformative power in the darkest of places.
