[News Scene] Unification Prayer Meeting in Front of Lincoln Memorial

[On-site recording: Song] “This world is tough and I am weak, but I will always pray and gain great power. Redeemed by the grace of the Lord, my sins, red as blood, will become white as snow.” People holding hands in the freezing cold of spring when the temperature dropped below zero. Tears fall as they sing softly and pray. The American and Taegeukgi flags, lined up on either side of the yellow sign that reads “Jesus Saves,” have been in the same spot for four seasons. The “Washington DC Unification Square Prayer Meeting” prays for the spread of the Christian gospel in North Korea, which has been designated as the world’s number one country in persecuting Christians for 20 years. The Unification Square Prayer Meeting originated from the Monday prayer meeting of St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig, Germany, which began in 1982. It began in 2011 at Seoul Station Plaza and is now held in approximately 50 cities in Korea. The Washington DC Unification Square Prayer Meeting was started a year ago by a Korean missionary who was dispatched to Washington DC via Philadelphia in the eastern United States, along with Dr. Cho Pyung-se, a North Korean studies professor. The prayer meeting that started with two families has grown to about 150 people in one year, and about 50 Korean Christians gathered for the 1st anniversary of the Unification Square Prayer Meeting on the 29th. Pastor Isaac, the founder of Cornerstone Mission, who was founded in 1985, shared his own experience and emphasized love to Christians, and he brought up the story of three young men. [Recording: Pastor Isaac] “I met him when his finger was cut off, and I shared the gospel with him, and surprisingly, what he said was, ‘I’m going back to North Korea. Yes. When I asked him why he was going back, he said, ‘I met you and came to believe in Jesus, but unfortunately my mother has never heard of Jesus, so we have to go to her.’ And the young man returned to North Korea shortly thereafter.” According to Pastor Isaac, the young man was arrested and died after meeting his mother. Pastor Isaac mentions Aijalon Marley Gomes, an American youth who was detained while traveling in North Korea in 2010 and returned to the country with former President Jimmy Carter, and brings up the story of another youth who entered North Korea shortly after the news of Gomes’ death. [Recording: Pastor Isaac] “After that, a young Korean youth entered North Korea to preach the gospel, and he really preached the gospel. He was released while preaching the gospel, and I’m sorry to tell you clearly. They didn’t just kick him out, they cut off his genitals and sent him out. What’s surprising is what happened next. It didn’t end with him just being sent back. This young man wrote a letter to Kim Jong-un. “I want you to be blessed and go to heaven with me.” When I heard that story, I honestly felt ashamed that I didn’t have that kind of heart.” Pastor Isaac emphasizes that not preaching the Christian gospel is “dereliction of duty” and not doing what one should do. He emphasizes that there are Christians in North Korea as well as China who are enduring difficult work for the Christian gospel. [Recording: Pastor Isaac] “I have seen through my ministry the appearance of those who endlessly obey God’s will regardless of what has tormented them. I have seen it in China. Churches have collapsed. Churches have been closed. Crosses have been taken down. Despite this, there are church workers who continue to preach the gospel for the sake of God’s kingdom. This is not something that only happens in China. There are people of God in North Korea who are keeping their faith and taking responsibility for preaching the gospel.” Pastor Isaac, who has translated the Bible for a long time to spread Christianity among North Koreans, took out a Bible. The pastor emphasized that participation and obedience in missionary work for North Koreans come from love for the people, saying that he had recently received a pledge to print 150,000 copies. Pastor Kang Ho of Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, who delivered a congratulatory message, said, “Washington DC is called the heart of the world,” and hoped that the prayer at Unification Square would be a source of strength for North Korean missionary work, just as the heart pumps blood to the entire body. At the commemorative event, eight pastors participated and delivered messages, and the event lasted for over an hour, with prayers for the current situation in North Korea, South Korea, and the United States. The Unification Square Prayer Meeting is characterized by changing the content of the prayer depending on the changing situation. On this day, they reported and prayed about North Korea’s recent ICBM launch, the child of a high-ranking official who was publicly executed while watching a Korean drama, and the severe food shortage. The political situation following the South Korean presidential election and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) new guidelines on abortion were also topics of discussion. On March 9, the WHO issued new guidelines stating that all countries should withdraw their policies restricting abortion, calling for the complete decriminalization of abortion, stating that abortion is a “life-saving treatment,” and causing controversy. Dr. Cho Pyeong-se explains the meaning and purpose of praying in Washington, D.C. [Recording: Dr. Cho Pyeong-se] “I check the news, look at the political, academic, and social circles, and come up with prayer topics for the United States, explain them, and pray. I think it’s important to pray for the United States. This is D.C., so there are situations in China, Russia, and Ukraine, and the United States plays a big role...” While the event was in progress, many tourists visiting the Lincoln Memorial passed by, took leaflets, and looked at the pictures displayed by the organizers. The illustrations are illustrated with Korean and English descriptions of the harsh experiences of North Korean defectors after they are repatriated, including forced abortions, forced labor, and various forms of cruel torture. Mr. Moss, an Indian-American man in his 40s living in Michigan, told VOA that he got information about the North Korean regime by reading the banners, saying that North Korea is an oppressive regime. [Recording: Moss] “I read some of the banners here and I got some information that they are basically against the North Korean regime. the North Korean..” Saraj, who is about to enter George Washington University’s Department of International Relations, said he chose this major because he hears stories of oppressed people all over the world and wants to help them. Saraj, who wants to create a peaceful world, said that watching Korean dramas made him realize that there are ordinary people like him living in North Korea, and that he hopes that the people of North and South Korea will live together someday. Serena Yang, who visited Washington from Nevada, said that it is very sad and horrible that forced abortions are taking place in North Korea, and that she hopes that Koreans’ prayers will help. [Recording: Serena Henry] “I think the one that affected me the most is the forced abortion, one that is really really disturbing and sad. I hope the prayers help, I mean, honestly all you can do is pray for this and so.” Meanwhile, Pastor Isaac, who has been a North Korean missionary for over 30 years, delivered a message to Korean churches in the Washington area. Pastor Isaac said that there has been a change in the perception of gospel unification and North Korean missions over the past 30 years. [Recording: Pastor Isaac] “Mission is about spreading the gospel, not unification first. Many people talk about unification when they talk about North Korean missions. So, I believe that rather than some kind of physical unification, we should pray and work for the restoration of God’s kingdom on that land. But I think those concepts are just starting to emerge. So now, I think people are starting to think about praying for the restoration of God’s kingdom on that land for the true meaning of God’s kingdom. “It wasn’t like that in the past..” Meanwhile, missionary Lee Jung-in said preparations are underway to expand the Washington D.C. Unification Plaza Prayer Meeting to Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Texas, and other places. This is Jang Yang-hee from VOA News.

---

Read the original article