Centre of Hope

North Korea Prayer Bulletin 2007 November-December

Download Korea-31-prayer-points-2007-Nov-Dec.pdf

Center of Hope

Ever since the end of the Korean War, the DPRK has been known as a closed country. Many do not know and understand the intrinsic values and principles of the DPRK’s unique culture and ideology.

Due to many factors, including the floods in the second half of the 1990’s, the DPRK then needed to make more contact with the outside world; this was difficult for that country. For many years, the DPRK had not related much with many nations. When it had to approach various international governments and agencies for aid purposes, this proved quite a challenge for all involved. Moreover, the DPRK had little experience in dealing with organizations that claimed to be ‘non-governmental’, a concept unknown in the DPRK since everything was and is conducted under the supervision of the government. It was hard for the DPRK to understand NGO’s, despite the good intentions of the NGO’s.

Even so, various NGO’s did and still do try to assist the DPRK. At one point, at the peak of the country’s food crisis, there were up to 130 international agencies contributing to humanitarian needs within the country (1). Nowadays there are far fewer, but those that are present still make a difference in the lives of many DPRK citizens. Among the different kinds of NGO’s, some rely on public sympathy campaigns, and some coordinate things with their respective governments. Perhaps those who have been able to negotiate more effectively and respond more directly within the DPRK, though, have been smaller NGO’s with a religious affiliation (essentially due to their lack of political affiliation). One such NGO is the Lighthouse Foundation, based in Seoul in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

As its name suggests, the Lighthouse Foundation seeks to shed the light of God’s love among those it comes into contact with. Since its inception in 2004 and stemming out of the sincere giving nature of its founder, Ms. Park (pseudonym), this organization has a simple, pure desire: to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. It aims to bring hope and help where they are most needed. Scripture tells us that without vision and without hope, people perish. Most of us have the advantage of being able to define what we hope for; but not everyone shares this privilege. This particular NGO not only brings aid and assistance in various ways, it also seeks to actualize hope and bring strength to hearts. For us who pray, we too hold out hope in our hearts for the ordinary citizens of the DPRK, hope which drives us to our knees. Let me then now share with you some examples of hope realized in this country through this particular NGO.

HOPE REALIZED

For the past few years, this non-profit organization has been working among hundreds, if not thousands, of children and adults in the North. As a result of their work, a center of hope exists in Pyongyang that brings food and employment to the physically challenged and those that are not and also brings purpose to the people in that community. This center exists due to the love, prayers and financial support of many individuals and churches in several countries including the ROK and the US, together with the wholehearted cooperation and assistance of the Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled (KFPD), a DPRK organization. May 2007 saw the opening ceremony of a Disabled Rehabilitation Center in Pyongyang, the DPRK’s capital city. This center houses a variety of services including tailoring, a bathhouse, a barber shop, watch and shoe repairs and also a food area. One cannot imagine the joy and difference to people’s lives this unique building has made.

But this NGO and the KFPD haven’t stopped there. Together they have made plans to open another center in 2008 that is primarily for senior citizens. The elderly in the North have gone through many harsh experiences including the Japanese occupation, the Korean War and subsequent separation from family members; and so it is the Foundation’s desire that this new project will bring them blessings in their later years. Physiotherapy, a much-needed bathhouse (running water, heating and baths are not often available for ordinary citizens), a workshop and a large feeding area where between 800 and 1,000 people can receive a free meal every day, will be provided at this second center. Women will enjoy taking part in hobbies such as knitting and quilting, while men will enjoy hobbies such as woodcarving. It is hoped that through this new project, the elderly will also be able to generate some income for themselves. It is ambitiously estimated that between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000 will be needed for this new peace-making project. Please remember this in your prayers!

One project that this NGO has established in the past few years is their Children Support Program. Through this, they have established soymilk and bread factories that provide soymilk, bread and cookies to thousands of children in orphanages, schools and day-care centers. Since cow’s milk and basic nutrients are not largely available, soybean, which is high in protein, helps to improve the overall state of health in children. One function of protein is that it boosts their immune system, thus alleviating sicknesses and diseases related to malnutrition. Since establishing these centers, the health and wellbeing of many children has noticeably improved.

Another project the Foundation has been working on is its Health and Medical Aid project through which donations of ambulances, surgical equipment and medicines have been made. All in all, where there is hope and where there is prayer, there is God’s help. Please continue to pray for the people of the DPRK and please continue to hope for the people of the DPRK.

If you would like to find out more about this Foundation, please contact northkoreanews@omf.net .

Reference: (1) pp 16-17 from Paved With Good Intentions: The NGO Experience in North Korea, edited by L. Gordon Flake and Scott Snyder. Westport, CT: Praeger/Greenwood, 2003.