CBSI decided to extend the prayer movement for NK

▲CBSI Country Link Night

▲CBSI Country Link Night

Community Bible Study International (CBSI), which disciples Christ’s followers through Bible study and prayer all around the world, decided to extend the prayer movement for North Korea one more year.

CBS (Community Bible Study) originally started in 1975 in Bethesda, Maryland, as a women’s prayer group that prayed for the provision of an effective Bible study to the residents of the Washington D.C. area.

When CBS began, its main missions were to make Bible study and prayer movement available to all, promoting unity in the midst of diversity in the Christian community. It has now extended its missions to around the world. Members use prayer calendars and are committed to pray daily for the nations and cities listed on the calendar.

Recently, “Korea” was added to their prayer list and served as their country link this year. The Leaders Council asked Jenny Lee to share cultural insights of the country and its prayer needs. Mrs. Lee began to participate in the Bethesda CBS ten years ago. This year, a few more Koreans joined this group.

Jenny Lee, whose husband is Patrick Lee, the president of Pyongyang Bible Institute (PBI), introduced Hyun-sik Kim to CBSI. Professor Kim, a former professor of Pyongyang University of Education, defected from North Korea in 1992.

“CBSI Country Link Night” began with a Korean dinner at the home of Jenny and Patrick Lee, located in Potomac, Maryland. Soprano Julia Kim, tenor Daniel Chae, and pianist Sunha Yoon performed beautiful music and praise songs. Professor Hyun-sik Kim gave his testimony about God’s grace on his life, on North and South Korea, and concluded by sharing his vision of spreading the Gospel through North Korea and into the world. His wife, Mrs. Kim, a Hanbok designer, exhibited delicate traditional Korean dresses, by which the guests could experience a part of the Korean culture, as well as through its food and music. About 80 guests present that night stayed until 10 P.M. They showed great interest in the current situation of North Korea.

Professor Kim told the guests, “Pyongyang, once called Jerusalem of the East, experienced great miracles of God; however, after the Korean War, most Christians in North Korea escaped to the South. By this huge movement of the Christian population, spiritually, South Korea became a powerful nation.”

In addition, Professor Kim said that “North Korea became a country well trained in the basis of Christianity, such as the concept of the trinity of Kim Il-sung (the Father), Kim Jong-il (the Son), and the Party (the Holy Spirit); Unitarianism (which believes its leader to be the only god); and, all citizens are born to be Christians (the leader’s faithful followers). North Korea has close relationships with Islamic countries such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Indonesia, which can be called ‘brother countries’ with North Korea.” Professor Kim added that “we can send at least fifty North Korean missionaries to those countries with the budget of one missionary in the United States… thus, North Korea can be a base camp to spread the Word to any country in the world if North Korea accepts God’s Word and has a correct understanding of the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

The guests who heard his testimony were burdened and expressed compassion when they heard the reality of North Korea, repeatedly saying “Oh my goodness.” They also gave assurance that they would pray for Professor Kim’s mission, convinced that God’s specific plans and works were active in North Korea.

(Edited by J.C.)