I live in a land where silence is safety and faith must stay hidden. Here in North Korea, every part of life is controlled \u2014 where we work, what we say, even what we think. Our leader\u2019s image is everywhere, and loyalty to him is demanded above all else. To question or believe differently is considered treason.<\/p>\n
I cannot gather openly with others who follow Jesus. We whisper our prayers in the dark, sing without sound, and hide the Word in our hearts because owning a Bible could mean death. I have known brothers and sisters who were taken away in the night, never to return. It is said that tens of thousands of believers suffer in prison camps \u2014 some entire families condemned for one person\u2019s faith. Still, we pray. Still, we believe.<\/p>\n
Even in the darkness, I feel the nearness of Christ. His presence is our strength and our joy. When we cannot speak His name aloud, we live it quietly \u2014 through kindness, courage, and forgiveness. We believe the harvest here is ripe, that the prayers of believers around the world are shaking the walls of fear and control. One day, I know this land will be free \u2014 and the name of Jesus will be sung out loud across the mountains of Korea once again.<\/p>\n