Kids of Courage

The following story tells about North Korean children at a “safe house” in China.

Background: In North Korea, the government tries to control every activity. Sometimes the people seem like robots. Children in North Korea wake up to speeches played over loudspeakers. The speeches praise North Korea’s leaders. Children march to school where they memorize more about their leaders in their school subjects. Before meals, the children salute a picture of the leader and thank him for their food.

If, as many do, they leave North Korea to look for food and freedom, children are told by their friends, “In China, look for a building with a small cross on it. You will find help there.” Christians in China secretly care for North Korean children and protect them from people who want to send them back to North Korea. They put a small cross on their houses so needy North Koreans can find them.

Mr. Choi is a Chinese Christian who helps care for the children when he visits these secret “safe houses.” He told the following story.

Mr. Choi’s Story
When I arrived, the children sang “Jesus Loves Me,” which they had recently learned from the Christians who take care of them. They said grace before our meal. At bedtime, they read a Bible story.

But something was not right. They were singing, praying, and reading like robots. They could not stop acting like they had been taught to act in North Korea.

At the safe house, some of the children were orphans, and others had come to China alone without their families. But they did not cry. I held their hands and sang to them. Then I began to pray for them aloud. I prayed from my heart, not like a robot.

“Is it really okay to pray like that?” one boy asked.

“Yes, of course,” I answered. “God is my Father! I can tell Him anything.”

Slowly they began to understand. Then they started to cry. “What would you like to tell God?” I asked.

“God, it hurts,” prayed one girl who missed her family. “I want to see my family again,” another prayed.

The children in the safe house continued learning how to pray to God as their Father. Now they understand that He can comfort them when they are sad. They know that they do not have to act like robots for their heavenly Father to love them. Please pray for them and for those still in North Korea who do not yet know the truth.

Discussion Suggestions for Classes

• Who told the North Korean children about Jesus?
• What might it look like if you sang a song like a robot? (Teachers and Parents: Encourage the children to sing a simple secular song, rather than a Christian song, so they will not appear to be mocking Christian principles in any way.)
• Do you pray before you eat? Are your mealtime and bedtime prayers from your heart, or do you ever pray like a robot?

(Source: Kids of Courage VBS curriculum)

Christians put food on the beds of North Koreans

In North Korea, it is against the law to share the gospel of Jesus. But Christians from other countries are finding ways to reach North Koreans with the truth. Balloons that carry Scriptures are floated into North Korea from outside the country.

Some North Koreans get jobs in other Asian countries. They return to their home country to see their families. But while they are away, VOM workers try to help them learn about salvation through Jesus Christ.

One Christian team traveled more than 3,000 miles in nine days to find North Korean workers to visit. The group faced a variety of difficulties on their trip.

A Hard Trip
On one of their stops, they quickly placed packages under the pillows and blankets in dormitories for 300 North Korean workers. The packages were filled with medicine, Christian pamphlets, and MP3 players containing Christian audio books.

After about 10 minutes, several people ran toward the team, yelling at them and threatening them. The workers quickly got in their cars and drove away.

The next day, the Christians tried to deliver packages to workers at another location. The North Korean workers were eager to receive the packages, but they ran away when a North Korean officer came into view. A few of the workers still managed to take a package.

At the Christians’ next stop, the North Korean workers were very poor and had little food. They were so surprised by the team’s visit that they almost cried.

But when a North Korean policeman appeared, the workers stepped away sadly and said, “We do not need anything.” Some of the workers had managed to hide MP3 players in their pants without the policeman seeing them. Perhaps they will listen to the books on the players and give their lives to Jesus.

Due to the poor conditions of the roads, a shock absorber was torn off one of the team’s cars, and the wheels will have to be replaced. But they hope to go on more trips in Asia to bring hope into the lives of North Koreans. They are asking the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of North Korean workers.

To Talk About
What are some of the difficulties the Christians faced when they visited North Koreans? Do you think you could share the gospel with someone you know? What are some of the obstacles you might face?