So i've got this book called "Jesus Freaks: Volume II" put together by the fellas from DC Talk. I've had it for a while, but have recently rediscovered it since my brother's had it for a long time. Its a great book--basically a collection of stories of revolutionaries who've been persecuted for there faith. It includes stories from bible times all the up to 2001, a year before it was published. I want to start typing some of them up to share--i LOVE all kinds of testimonies, and especially these types of radical stories. I just cant get enough of hearing testimonies from anyone, so i want to share some of these. I actually might start putting them on facebook so others can see them too.
For the first selection, here is a story about Kim in North Korea in 2001 (so quite recent):
Kim had come home, unable to speak. His mother could tell he was in shock and sat with him, soothing him and trying find out what happened. Finally he began to open up to her.
"I was with one of my best friends today when two police officers approached us. They grabbed my friend and accused him of being a Christian. One of the officers knocked him to the ground while the other took out his gun. My friend didnt get angry or curse anyone. He.....he didnt even try to defend himself."
"Even as the gun was pointed directly at him his face remained peaceful. He looked straight into my eyes, and without speaking a word, I knew exactly what he was saying. He wanted me to believe the same thing he did. And then he just said, 'Bless them.'"
"He was executed right in front of me--because he was a Christian. I do not even know what a Christian is. I dont understand any of this!"
Kim's mother held his head in her hands. There were tears in her eyes. Now it was she was in shock. She then told him simply, "I understand."
"How could you possibly understand why they would kill my friend?"
She slowly began to hell her son about her Lord Jesus Christ, how he had miraculously been born of a virgin and crucified on a cross to save all those who would believe in Him. As she continued sharing with her eldest son, she began to sob. Now it was she who couldnt go on. She felt the pain of never daring to tell her son about Jesus Christ, lest his fate would be like that of his friend. She also felt the overwhelming joy of knowing that God had not forgotten her son, but allowed someone else to bring him the Gospel.
Finally she told him, "God allowed you to witness the martyrdom of one of His brave children. As those bullets hit his heart, a seed of hope was planted in yours."
The son prayed that night and received Jesus Christ into his heart. He was filled with joy as he embraced his mother and thanked her for telling him the truth. But suddenly he began to weep again and appeared distraught. Confused, the mother asked, "Now whats wrong?"
"My brothers," Kim cried, "they do not know Jesus. We must tell them!"
His three brothers soon came home and discovered their older brother and mother crying together. Their first thought was that something terrible had happened to their father, and they quickly knelt down beside their mother, asking what was wrong.
With unnatural boldness the eldest son stood up and responded, "You should also receive Jesus Christ." Before the evening had passed, all three had done exactly that.
The mother was filled with joy. Although she had never dared to speak to her children about her Christian faith, she had diligently prayed for them every day. Now that her children had accepted Jesus, she began cautiously looking for a Bible so they could learn more of God's Word. But she could not find any.
Eventually her oldest son secretly crossed the Yalu River into China in search of Bibles. You can imagine the look on his face when he finally came across a miniature Bible in the Korean language. He pleaded with the Christians in China, asking how he could obtain some of these Bibles. Regrettably no more were available. Refusing to admit defeat, he told the Christians the drmataic story of how he had witnessed his friend's death and how he and his brothers had learned of Jesus Christ. Before departing for North Korea, he said, "I am in need of five thousand of these Bibles to share with my family and others in North Korea. I will be back in one month pick them up.
Hearing of the request, some Christian workers hurriedly printed five thousand copies of the mini Korean Bibles. Over the next year or so, Kim returned on several occasions to smuggle the Bibles back ocross the border. All four of these brothers are nowactively sharing their faith, knowing firsthand the consequences if they are discovered. Since their last pickup of these Bibles some months ago, no one has heard further news of them.If there are typos I apologize, i chose not to proof read right now. Hope thats encouraging!
--L-Diggy
