“45 Day Prayer Challenge & A Pastor Imprisoned in North Korea”  

During a recent worship service we agreed to pray every day for 45 days. Prayer journals were passed out to keep track of our prayers and provide ideas. We were praying for and expecting something to happen. But we were simply praying for people in our community. God had something else in mind.

Distraught, Ester Kim walked into our church one evening looking for a place to pray. However, she soon found herself wandering the halls, unsure of where to go or what to do next. We found out later that her pastor-husband is being held prisoner in North Korea and she herself has just returned from a grueling session of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Tired, frustrated and feeling abandoned by the world, Ester needed the comfort and reassurance only God could give.

Normally, she would not have been noticed. The Bible study classes had already started and were in their rooms. No one was supposed to be in that particular area. But, a prayer group, running a little late was hurrying to their room and noticed Ester Kim’s confusion and asked if she needed help. Ester handed them a letter and between anguished sobs told the following story.

This is to ask you to join the lifesaving movement for my husband, Pastor Dongshik-Kim, who opened up ‘Little Men’s Church’ for the physically handicapped and has taken care of refugees in China for the past twelve years. Last year, Pastor Kim helped thirteen prominent refugees escape North Korea and travel 2200 rugged miles through China to Mongolia and secured their protection as United Nations refugees. Shortly after that, my husband was lured from our house, arrested and imprisoned.

(Pastor and Ester Kim and son with North Korean official)

I am in this country to work for his release and attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Shortly after my husbands arrest, doctors discovered that I have breast cancer. I had surgery and continue chemotherapy. Please pray for us. I have been here nearly a year and I don’t know where else to turn.

At this point she began to cry, as did the prayer group. They continued talking and listening and finally they all began to earnestly and fervently pray for an answer from God. Sonya Prillaman, one of the prayer group leaders drove Ester Kim home assuring her that something would happen… but what?   

There is nothing on earth more powerful than heartfelt prayer. There is no ministry more important.

U   They… devoted themselves to… prayer. (Parts of Acts 2:42)

U   Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2)

U   I urge you first of all, to pray for all people. (1 Timothy 2:1)

The next day, Ester Kim returned and repeated her story to a local Korean pastor, Boohang Jung and us. She brought photographs of her family and newspaper articles of her husband’s dramatic rescue of the thirteen refugees. We found and telephoned a North Korean official at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia who knew Pastor Kim. He refused to listen or help. “Now what do we do?” I asked.
 
Ester recited a telephone number from memory and quietly said… “Call Jimmy Carter.”
 
There was a long pause before I asked: “Do you mean, former President Jimmy Carter?”
 
“Yes. Call him. I sent him a letter. He will know what to do,” she said confidently.

(The 13 Rescued Refugees and Pastor Kim)

 
So we called and reached Brett Lacy at the Jimmy Carter Center for Health and Peace. After introducing myself, I began to explain our situation but before I could finish Brett said, “I have Ester Kim’s letter on my desk now but we didn’t know where to find her. Can you send us more information? We are concerned and want to investigate the circumstances behind her husband’s imprisonment.” 
 
After sending the information, I looked at Ester Kim and asked: “How did you know?”
 
She smiled and with absolute confidence replied, “Prayer!”