NORTH KOREA — Ji Ho* in North Korea counts the cost of following Jesus every day. Her father was taken away by police agents when his Bible was discovered, and she has to keep her faith secret – or face terrible consequences.

*Name changed for security.

Ji Ho*:

I didn’t know what the book was, but I knew it was dangerous.

Ji Ho’s Father:

He said, “When salt loses its taste, what good is it?” People are like salt.

Ji Ho*:

I had just come home from school the day the police came to our home. I couldn’t understand why he was taken because of a book. But I knew that when the police found it, I’d never see my father again. As I grew up, the pain of losing my father grew dimmer. Besides, I had bigger concerns, like what to eat. I know that my father had tried to get news about food from outside North Korea. So I decided to try the same thing. Sometimes, I heard about a food shortage in our country. But there was no information about where to get food.

But one day, I heard something else. Something that changed my life. “You are the salt of the earth. If salt loses its taste, what good is it?” That’s the day I first heard about Jesus, the God of my father. As I listened, I began to believe. The words of Jesus I head on the radio became precious to me. I don’t know what the future holds. I could die of starvation like so many others. Or I could be taken away like my father. But I have hope now. Things are so hard in North Korea, but god offers so much hope. I don’t know if I’m the only Christian in North Korea. All I know is that I love Jesus. And I will never lose my saltiness. Even though following Jesus is so dangerous, It’s worth the risk.

About Open Doors UK

Open Doors is a non-denominational mission that supports persecuted Christians in over 70 countries where Christianity is socially or legally discouraged or oppressed. In their work, they provide vital support, training, and resources to those facing persecution or discrimination.

Resources that they provide include distributing Bibles and literature, running leadership training, assisting with socio-economic development and intercessory prayer. They also help victims of violence and disaster, including widows and orphans, with practical support such as relief aid, livelihood support, and community development projects.

Their vision is of a world in which every Christian who is persecuted is remembered and supported by other Christians. They pray for a world where there is no persecution.

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