[imText1]About three hundred churches across the nation formed an alliance organization to pray for North Korean freedom and human rights improvement.
“The Churches Praying and Acting for Mission and Human Rights of North Korea, CPANK” held an establishment ceremony as well as a special prayer session on Feb 23, at 2pm at Suhdaemun Church in Seoul. Their purpose was articulated as, “In order to rescue our brethren who suffer, pray for their human rights and salvation and take action.”
As the senior advisors for the CPANK, in which 334 churches are participating, Rev. Kim Joon Gon (Korea Campus Crusade for Christ, CCC), Rev. Sohn In Woong (Duksu Church), Dr. Lee Won Sul (Soongsil University, Director), and Choi Sung Kyu (Inchon Full Gospel Chuch) were nominated.
The advisors urged in the Establishment Declaration, “Pyongyang, which used to be called the Jerusalem of Asia, became the womb for the birth of many churches in the world, awakened the nation, became the base for South Korean development and made it a nation for mission. Now, South Korean must rise for missions in North Korea.”
Actions to Be Taken – March 1 Parade, Wailing Prayer Session
“International interest in North Korean human rights increased much last year and within the nation, centering around the Christians, there have been conferences urging for improvement of North Korean human rights but it was not sufficient enough to change the government that ignores North Korean human rights. As drops of water together make a river, let’s make a strong voice for North Korean human rights by gathering small churches,” they further urged.
The organization declared to be involved in ▲Mission to North Korea and realization of freedom of region ▲Human Rights improvement in North Korea ▲Return of abductees and POWs ▲Rescue and protection of North Korean defectors and ▲ Nationwide, Church-wide mass campaign.
About one hundred Christians who participated in the day’s ceremony expressed their hearts by singing “Our Hope is Unification”, replacing the world Unification with freedom, human rights, peace and Gospel.
Rev. Choi Sung Gyu, the former president of the Christian Council of Korea, CCK, who gave sermon that day, said, “Here are many churches that pray for our brethren in North Korea, thinking about them, and praying for their salvation and human rights.” He continued emphasizing, “For the brethren suffering across the wire barb, it is time for us to take action beyond praying for them.”
The organization, on March 1 (national holiday, celebrating liberation movement against the Japanese invasion), will be holding “Church Van Parade” where 301 church vans and about 3010 participants are assigned to participate. The area where the parade will be held is from the City Hall to Youngnak Church.
After the parade, the participants will join the “KCC Seoul Wailing Prayer Conference” held by Korea Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom, KCC, for two days, Feb 28 to March 1, to continue the ardor for prayer for North Korean human rights improvement.
