NORTH KOREA – Call to prayer for world's worst persecutor of Christians

Release is calling a day of prayer for North Korea this Friday (September 9) and urging its supporters to join a prayer vigil outside the country's London embassy. The day of prayer, on North Korea's National Day, is part of Release's continuing One Day campaign, which is pressing for freedom of worship in a nation where even just owning a Bible can result in imprisonment. Friday's prayer vigil will be attended by North Korean defectors who have fled the so-called 'hermit kingdom', as well as South Korean Christians. North Korea's regime is widely considered to be the world's worst oppressor of Christians. Believers have been sent to concentration camps as 'political prisoners' and subjected to brutal treatment in appalling conditions: torture, abuse, execution or simply being worked to death. Others are forced to worship in secret or to hide their faith completely. Life for ordinary North Koreans remains harsh. Flooding this summer has left large areas of farmland water-logged and thousands homeless, according to news agency Agence France-Presse. The severity of the crisis has prompted the US and South Korea to send shipments of aid, despite tense diplomatic relations with Pyongyang. About 28,000 people have so far signed Release's petition calling for greater religious freedom in North Korea. Release CEO Andy Dipper presented an interim petition to the London embassy in July; the full petition will be presented at the end of the campaign. (Sources: Agence France-Presse, Release International) For a country profile of North Korea and news stories, go to:http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/north-korea.php Act: • Join the prayer vigil on Friday outside the North Korean Embassy at 73 Gunnersbury Avenue, London W5 4LP. The vigil will run from 2pm to 4pm – so please arrive from 1.30pm. If you are planning to come, please let Release know in advance by calling 01689 823491 or emailing info@releaseinternational.org • Sign our One Day petition calling on the North Korean Government to allow greater religious freedom at: www.releaseinternational.org/petition For a paper copy, ring Release on 01689 823491. Pray: • Please pray that Friday's vigil will be well attended and will pass off peaceably. Pray that North Korean embassy officials will be moved by the vigil and that they will report the event to officials in Pyongyang. • Continue to pray for Christians in North Korea: that God will protect them and strengthen their faith; that North Korean leaders will repent and end their repressive policies; that one day Pyongyang will again witness a spiritual revival and that Christians in North Korea will be able to worship in freedom. Release has produced a special prayer guide for North Korea, included in issue 62 (July-August 2011) of Release magazine. To download a copy, go to:www.releaseinternational.org/media/download_gallery/North-Korea-prayer-guide.pdf

The information in this email can be reproduced in church magazines and news bulletins, provided the source is acknowledged Release International, PO Box 54, Orpington, BR5 9RT, UK Tel: 01689 823491 General enquiries: info@releaseinternational.org Website address: www.releaseinternational.org