North Korea Tops 'Worst List'

CBN ^ | February 25, 2003

[Indy Pendance]

CBN.com –The Communist regime of North Korea has drawn strong criticism for developing long-range missiles and possibly nuclear weapons.

But this month it gained a new kind of notoriety. North Korea has now replaced Saudi Arabia as the world's worst persecutor of Christians.

On the "world watch list" compiled by Open Doors, a ministry of Brother Andrew, North Korea was the worst offender, followed by Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

Terry Madison, President of Open Doors ministry, said "It's because of the incredible intensity with which they're persecuting Christians. Christians are basically killed if they're found to be Christians. If they're not killed on the spot, we're told by those who've survived such terrible experiences, they're sent off to work camps where they are basically worked to death."

Madison explained, "There's something about the Name of Jesus and the fact that they love the Lord that just infuriates these Communist leaders and they persecute them literally to death."

Other oppressive regimes include Laos, Turkmenistan and Pakistan. China didn't make this worst ten list, but did come in at 11th place.

Although little is known about life in North Korea, there is enough information to put the regime at the top of this worst persecutor list.

The only worship permitted in North Korea is directed to its founding Communist leader, Kim Il Sung, in what could be considered a form of 'emperor worship'.

But, in spite of the severe repression of all faiths other than emperor worship, a Christian community still meets in secret.

Madison said, "The church itself survives in small units, basically family units, where the security level is so tight that only those that you really trust and know, which is basically your own family, gather together to worship the Lord.

Madison says there may be as many as 500,000 North Korean Christian believers, including some who are living across the border in China.

He says Open Doors has quietly provided believers with Bibles, medical supplies and radios pre-tuned to international Christian stations.

[happygrl]

BUMP!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[aimhigh]

I read one N. Korean account, where 2nd graders were told of a new game. The teacher told them to go home search for bibles, without telling their parents. Those who brought in bibles the next day were paraded in front of the other students as heroes. When they went home, their parents weren't there. The parents were never seen again, and the kids were put under government control.