Missionary And North Korean Refugees Share About Their Time In North Korea

Guests of all ages flooded the Liberty School of Business’s Towns Auditorium on Feb. 18 to hear missionary Kenneth Bae and four North Korean refugees talk about their experiences in the country.

Bae served as a missionary in China, where he led groups of people in tours of North Korea that doubled as missionary trips. During one of those trips in 2012, the North Korean government convicted him of trying to overthrow the government and sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor. After months of prayer and journaling, North Korea finally released him in November 2014.

“I read more (of the) Bible in North Korea than (at) any time in my life,” Bae said during the event.

Bae shared his intense testimony to the audience, sprinkling it with the occasional joke that elicited chuckles from them. Despite his tough experience, his trust in God showed through his calm recollection of how he was able to use his imprisonment for good. Even in prison, he took the opportunity to serve as a “little Jesus” to a group of people who had never heard of the Son
of God.

“What do you do when you’re a missionary where no one knows about Jesus?” Bae said.

A question-and-answer panel followed Bae’s testimony, allowing students to ask four North Korean refugees about their experiences. They recounted stories of their childhood in North Korea and provided insight into the culture. Finally, they shared how the Christian community in the U.S. can help North Koreans by raising awareness of their struggle.

“Their suffering is our suffering,” Bae said.

After the event, guests received a handout with QR codes allowing them to connect with groups meant to aid North Korean refugees like NK Relief and Nehemiah Global Initiative which Bae founded. 

During the panel, one of the refugees even mentioned that the audience could get involved with Bae’s organization by volunteering to teach refugees English. Overall, the speakers encouraged the audience to help in one important way – by not ignoring the conflict in North Korea.

“We are (the) same in God,ˮ one refugee said.

The College for a Weekend event drew a large crowd gathered in a line snaking around the School of Business while people waited to enter. Attendees filled every seat in the Towns Auditorium, and a collection of people sat on the floor after the auditorium filled. 

This Q&A with North Korean refugees was made available in part by the Center of Teaching Excellence Illuminate Grant and the Center for Research and Scholarship Work-Study Assistantship Grant.

For many of them, it was an opportunity to step outside American culture and connect with the rest of the world.

“A big passion of mine is God’s heart for the nations, so (I) always love to hear stories about how God’s moving around the world — not just in America or at Liberty University,” senior Taylor Carr said.

A motivating factor behind the event was a passion to one day see reunification of North Korea and South Korea. Megan Chaney, who helped plan the event, is eager to help people learn more about North Korea.

“Unification begins with awareness,” Chaney said. “We want to raise awareness on the campus and inspire students.”

To close the event, School of Law Dean Moris Tan and General Studies Dean Esther Warren led the audience in prayer. Tan spoke to the Lord in Korean while Warren prayed in English. In alignment with the goal of the event, the closing prayer tied American and Korean cultures together in one universal act – a conversation with God.

Kamman is a news reporter.