North and South Korea
Rebuilding a Church in North
Korea
By Heather Sells
CBN News
February 9, 2007
CWNews.com
– The Christian cross stands on a mountain high above the North
Korean capital, Pyongyang.
The Bongsoo Church – currently under renovation – is one of
two official Protestant churches in North Korea. It has become a point of
connection for North and South Korean Christians.
That's because they're working to rebuild it together.
Last fall, a delegation of 90 Christians from South Korea came to the church
to celebrate completion of the first phase of renovation.
The Presbyterian Church of Korea in the South is partnering with the Christian
Association in North Korea to rebuild Bongsoo Church.
The church’s pastor says he hopes this partnership will help bring
the two Koreas together after more than 50 years of separation.
“I surely believe the renovation and completion of Bongsoo Church
is part of God's will,” said Kang Young Seob of the Christian Association
in North Korea. “I also believe that all the Christians who come to
the church will have their hearts filled with love for their brothers, their
neighbors, and for all Korean people.”
One South Korean church elder says the project is a gift from God.
“The construction of Bongsoo Church is a special privilege and a
special mission that God granted the South Korean church and the North Korean
church members,” Choi Ho Chul, a South Korean Christian leader.
South Korea's Christians know that state-sanctioned churches in North Korea
are mostly for show. They open only periodically, usually to show visiting
dignitaries the regime's religious tolerance. They know that North Korean
church leaders – and even the congregants – are hand-picked
by the government.
But as one South Korean Christian in the U.S. told Christian World News,
they believe that working with North Korea's state-sanctioned church is
better than doing nothing at all.
They believe that raising a church – and the Cross – high above
Pyongyang might have an impact beyond what natural eyes can see.
“We still have hope of the salvation as long as we have the cross
that reflects it and the church of God,” said Kim Tae Beom, a South
Korean pastor.
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