[Prayer] Repenting for the Sin of Destroying Churches and Halting Worship

In 1907, Pyongyang was the site where the flames of a great revival blazed, and before liberation, it was known as the "Jerusalem of the East," where 3,188 churches worshipped God. However, on September 9, 1958, churches that worshiped God officially disappeared from North Korea. Kim Il-sung, using the Communist Party, intentionally organized meetings and gatherings on Sundays to prevent believers from keeping the Sabbath and exploited these occasions to identify and root out Christians.

"Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

Isaiah 56:2

Despite this command, North Korea intentionally held gatherings and meetings on Sundays to prevent God's people from keeping the Sabbath and identified and persecuted those who did not attend such meetings in order to honor the day. On their behalf, we repent in the name of Jesus Christ for these sins; please forgive them. Furthermore, we repent for the sin of persecuting and completely destroying the 3,188 churches established before liberation, replacing them with buildings for Kim Il-sung and the North Korean Workers’ Party, to prevent the worship of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, we repent and ask for Your forgiveness.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Photo: Jangdaehyeon Church, once the representative church of Pyongyang; today, the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il stand on the site where it once stood.