Day: 26

One of our field missionaries in Northeast China felt lonely. CK felt he was the only one working on behalf of the North Koreans crossing the river along the border.  The Chinese PBS (Public Bureau of Security) installed new restrictions and high fines to prevent border crossings. The other missionaries left or shifted into a safer ministry, like providing humanitarian assistance or working with the official church rather than serving the suffering North Korean refugees.

Feeling a bit lonely, CK called one of the local workers to go with him to the bank of the Tumen river. He wanted to look into North Korea again.  It was a very familiar spot, a place he used to come and meet messengers sent by the Christians inside North Korea to get food and other supplies. He remembered how many times he had stood on the riverbank, watching as North Koreans trained to be secret evangelists crossed the river, taking the Gospel back into North Korea.

Regardless of the great personal risk, these men and women felt a Godly compulsion to return to evangelize and plant underground churches in their country. He remembered the many who crossed into China simply to get copies of the Bible.

CK’s friend, the local Korean-Chinese worker had brought his old guitar and as they sat by the bank, they started singing.  There was no fixed order or formality to their singing. They sang worship songs, hymns, and even children’s praise music.  As time went on, he noticed how dark it had become. The night mist was soaking his shirt. He was hungry, but he felt no need to return to his home as he was being filled with spiritual food.

Not burdened by the need to be watching out for the police or protecting a refugee, they both sang all

As the Spirit filled his heart, tears flowed down: not from loneliness or hurt, but because he felt the overwhelming presence of God embracing him.

More tears fell. Tears of gratitude for God’s patience, since he had fallen so many times. Many times he had wanted to return home to the US, thinking, I must go back home before I get frostbite. But there hadn’t been any release from his service. God was always patient and present and God working in his life, using him to serve North Koreans.

Invigorated, the next day he went back to the riverbank. Somehow word had gotten out, so a few people from the village came up and sat around him. Some were his disciples, others were total strangers. Yet, they sat near him and joined him in singing praise songs across the river and to their God.  A few said they liked the tunes, others said that they just liked to hear the soft music. Some participated with him, praising the Lord.

The next day even more villagers came and sang together. No one was preaching; no one was teaching.  No one was leading.  No one told them when to come back. They just sat there, watching the river flowing, without talking, only praising the Lord.  Some cried softly; some had tears flowing down their cheeks. Some sighed deeply as they turned their eyes towards Heaven.

Seeing God was doing something, the missionary kept coming to the riverbank. Within a few days, there were many people gathered. The missionary remembered how only a handful had come when he asked them to come to a church or a house Bible study. Seeing this large gathering, the missionary thought, I should start a church now. Then he realized, This is already a REAL church, and repented for his selfishness.

All of sudden, the singing stopped. Everything got very quiet. As he turned away from the river, he saw that he and 30 people were completely surrounded by the PSB. The PSB shouted and many fled. Those who stayed got caught. They were asked who led the gathering. No one told the whole truth. They all wanted to protect CK. Many were made to sign a paper saying they would not again have an illegal assembly without prior approval.

Because CK was a foreigner, he was treated differently. Though no one accused him, the PSB deduced that the missionary must have brought all these people to the riverbank. Yet, there was little evidence and no witness. So, after a few strong words, he was released.

A few days later, after the sun went down, CK took a walk out to the riverbank alone. As he walked, he noticed movement behind the bushes. Someone was there. When he stopped, the shadow also stopped. Often North Koreans crossing the river will not approach others until they feel safe. So he sat on the bank facing North Korea.  From behind him came a whisper, “Are you the one who sang for many nights?” He couldn’t turn around or the person would run. But he recognized a North Korean accent.  So he kept his silence. The person came a little closer. In the darkness, it was hard to recognize his face. “Why do you ask?” CK finally replied.

“Teacher, why did you stop? That sound encouraged us so much.” Now the North Korean was close enough for CK to see tears streaming down his cheeks. “Though we could not sing with you, we were able to listen and praise Him along with you.”  He told CK that a few curious people had gathered on the other side of the river on the very first day and listened. Over the next few days, the number of hidden listeners had multiplied into the dozens.

It had all been God.  CK wasn’t a song leader, and he doesn’t even sing particularly well. He had simply been publicly praising God from a full heart. Because of that praise, underground Christians in the North who could not sing out were fed and encouraged. In spite of the fact that their lives would end if caught, they sat by the river and were fed and were silently filled  the joy of their salvation and Holy Spirit.

There’s a lesson there that will never grow old. Praise seems to invite the presence of God and brings peace no matter what the circumstances.

Praise Him Christian. Don’t just praise Him in spite of your troubles. Learn from the persecuted and the North Korean believers.  Move to where you can even thank Him for the trial and the fire you pass through.

This is your door to freedom.