Korean Pastor Imprisoned in Isolation.

Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian pastor, is serving a life sentence in North Korea for subversion. In a recent, monitored interview, he told CNN that he spends eight hours a day digging holes at a labour camp, where he has not seen any other prisoners.

Lim, who is in his 60s, was the head pastor at one of Canada’s largest churches, has been held by the North since February. He was sentenced to hard labour for life in December, accused of attempting to overthrow the North Korean government.

In North Korea, simply leaving a Bible in a public place can lead to arrest and severe punishment. The country has strict rules against missionary and religious activities that could be seen as threatening to the supremacy of the regime.

Lim said he works eight hours a day, six days a week and has no contact with the outside world. He gets three meals a day and regular medical attention, but his church are concerned for his as he suffers from “…very high blood pressure.”

He said he is desperate to hear from his family and has also requested a Bible.

“I hope I can go home some day,” he told CNN. “Nobody knows if I will ever go home, but that is my hope. I miss my family. I am longing to see them again, and my congregation.”

Lim had visited North Korea more than 100 times since 1997 and helped start an orphanage and a nursing home.

• Pray for Pastor Lim and his family, as they live with no knowledge of if, or when, they will be reunited. Pray for peace for Lim and his family, for the presence of God to surround them and protect them.
• Pray for North Korean Christians, who face the daily threat of persecution, imprisonment and death for their faith. Pray that, even in quiet ways, they can be a witness to the hope, grace and love of Jesus.
• Pray for an end to the totalitarian government in North Korea, and for freedom to live and worship without fear.

Acts 12 vs 5: “While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.”

Source: http://www.persecution.org/2016, http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2016