The Impossible Story of the Gospel in North Korea

When Cho* first met Eun-Yeong*, she was hiding from him. She’d made one of the most dangerous journeys in the world – escaping from North Korea – and knew there could be spies looking to find people like her. If discovered, she’d be sent back to face interrogation, imprisonment and even death.

She was right about one thing. Cho was looking for people like her. But not for the reasons she feared.
 

“Leave us alone!”

“God be with you!” said Cho when he approached Eun-Yeong, putting his hands up to show he was unarmed. As he drew closer, he saw that she wasn’t alone. Another figure was hidden behind a tree. Cho could tell by their dirty clothes and their exhausted, terrified faces that they had only recently escaped across the border.

“Get away from us!” shouted Eun-Yeong. “Leave us alone!”

Cho knew he had to keep her quiet: if they were heard by a passing guard or patrol, they’d all be punished severely. “I’m not here to hurt you,” he whispered urgently. “I want to help you. Please, don’t shout – we don’t know who is listening.”

Cho was here with a purpose. An impossible mission. Because he knew that, in human terms, it is impossible for North Koreans to hear the gospel and choose to follow Jesus. He also knew that he followed the God of the impossible.
 

Cho’s purpose

We’re able to share Cho’s story because his ministry is over. A few months ago, he sadly died from a long-term illness and he is now in glory. That’s why it’s safe to tell you about his extraordinary calling and his work as a secret Open Doors fieldworker.

“My purpose in life is to save souls,” he said simply. Every week, Cho – known by many as Evangelist Cho – hiked through the mountain forests to find the North Koreans who had risked everything to flee their country.

Christians in North Korea face extreme persecution. Even owning a Bible is enough to get you and your whole family thrown into prison for life. But Christians certainly aren’t the only ones who suffer under the country’s harsh dictatorship and dire shortages: every year, many North Koreans flee across the border to try to find food and work. And Cho tried to meet as many of them as he could.

  “Every day, every week, every month and every year I return to the forest to help whoever I find,” he said. “Because, with God, anything is possible.”
 

Vital food

When North Koreans cross the border, they are usually desperate for food – so that’s what Cho brings, to show he is a friend.

“Look here,” he said to Eun-Yeong and the man with her, Cheol-Ho*, putting down his bag and backing away a few paces. “I have some food and water. It’s yours.” The desperate couple ate and drank, and began to trust Cho.

“There’s also a tarp and some blankets in the bag,” he added. “I’ll come back again to bring you more food. It will be much safer for all of us if I come after dark, so no one is watching. Stay in the shelter until then and make sure you are not found.”

The next day, Cho returned. This time he’d brought something even more precious than food.
 

 

A precious book

Using a headlamp to guide his path, Cho found the couple near where he’d first met them. He’d brought more food and water, and some blankets. As they ate, Cho could see something was troubling Eun-Yeong.

“Sir… can I ask you a question?” she asked. “You carry food around the mountains and you say you do this each week. There must be some reason. So – why do you do this?”

That was the opening Cho had waited for. “It’s because of a man named Jesus,” he said. “He’s the son of God, and He loves you very much. In fact, I brought you a book that’s all about Him.” Cho pulled out a Bible, handing it to Eun-Yeong.

Immediately, the young woman shook her head. “I don’t believe in God,” she said. “We’re grateful for the food but we don’t want anything to do with superstition.” She pushed the Bible back toward Cho.

  “This book is yours to keep,” he said. “Read it or don’t read it – it’s up to you.”

He was used to this response. North Koreans often haven’t heard of Jesus, but have been warned against Christians. The authorities say that Christians are spies who want to kidnap and abuse them. It can take time to break down this mistrust.

“I give a Bible to every North Korean I meet,” Cho would say. “Sometimes they read it. Sometimes they refuse. My job is to tell people about Jesus. It’s up to God to touch their hearts. And anything is possible with God.” 
 

“Something I need to tell you”

As often as he could, Cho returned to see Cheol-Ho and Eun-Yeong. One night, Eun-Yeong rushed towards him as he approached. “I have something I need to tell you,” she said. “I’ve been reading the book you gave us. Then yesterday, I had a dream. There was a person in my dream. He called me by my name. I think it was this ‘Jesus’ this book talks about, and I want to find out more about Him.”

Cho was delighted! He began explaining the gospel: how Jesus lived, died and rose again to save humankind. They asked question after question, eager to learn more.

When he finally had to leave, he told them: “You know, if you really want to know all about Jesus, I can take you somewhere where there are more people from North Korea; people asking many of the same questions you have. Think about it and let me know tomorrow.”
 

 

Safe house

The next day, the couple were waiting when Cho arrived. They’d packed up their few belongings and were ready to join him at the safe house. “I was praying you would say that,” he said.

The safe house where Cho took the couple is supported by Open Doors. At the house, North Koreans are cared for and given food and basic necessities. They’re also invited to learn more about Jesus from Open Doors local fieldworkers, like Cho.

It was at the safe house that Eun-Yeong and Cheol-Ho dedicated their lives to Jesus! In human terms, it seems impossible that North Koreans would ever make this decision – but God used Open Doors fieldworkers to ensure it could happen.

  But now that they were Christians, being caught and sent back to North Korea was even more dangerous. They might be executed. Even having met a Christian would mean their punishment would be more severe, let alone having chosen to defy the North Korean authorities and decide to follow Jesus themselves.

But Eun-Yeong and Cheol-Ho didn’t have to be caught by spies. They chose to go back themselves.

What greater example of God’s impossible plan could there be? Despite the dangers, the courageous couple were determined to share their newfound faith with North Koreans desperately in need of the gospel.

A few months later, Cho received a coded message sent from North Korea. It simply said: “Our family has grown to five.” Three more North Koreans had heard the gospel and chosen to follow Jesus!
 

 

God’s impossible plan

Open Doors estimates there are more than 400,000 secret Christians in North Korea, risking their lives to follow Jesus. Thousands of believers are praying in whispers, asking God to do the impossible once again.

Your prayers and gift today can equip Open Doors fieldworkers who bring crucial relief aid, discipleship and the gospel to brothers and sisters from countries like North Korea, Somalia, Iran, Nigeria and others where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

Cho was part of God’s impossible plan. You can be too.

*Names changed for security reasons and re-enactment images used