On Tuesday, September 30, Clapham will host the Shalom North Korean Children’s Choir at chapel.
In North Korea, life is tightly controlled by an authoritarian regime, headed by Kim Jong Un. The government, led by the Kim family, enforces a rigid system where every aspect of a citizen’s life—their education, their personal beliefs, their job, even where they can live—is dictated by the state. The economy is state-run, and severe economic mismanagement, along with international sanctions, has led to widespread poverty and food shortages in the rural regions, though the Kim family goes to great lengths to portray prosperity, contentment, and strength in its propaganda.
In North Korea, Christianity is perceived as an ideological threat to a totalitarian regime, which demands absolute loyalty to the Kim family. Practicing Christianity, owning a bible, and publicly worshipping Jesus are crimes in North Korea, punishable by imprisonment or even execution. The government encourages citizens to report on one another, so practicing Christianity is highly risky. Many North Koreans never get the opportunity to hear the gospel. The country’s strict isolation means that information from the outside world is censored, and citizens are indoctrinated to revere the state and its leader.
This ideological, political, and economic oppression is the primary reason people risk their lives to defect or run away from North Korea. North Koreans who flee are seeking basic human rights, food security, the chance to earn a living, and freedom from a system that monitors their every move. They may defect while traveling or through China. Defectors often endure incredible hardships, including the threat of being captured and repatriated, where they face imprisonment, torture, or even death.
The families represented in the Shalom Children’s Choir are all students whose parents have managed to escape from North Korea either as defectors, refugees, or through resettlement. Clapham students will have the opportunity to hear from two parents of choir members (Pastor L. and Mrs. H.) who will share their testimonies of God’s providence in rescuing them not only from North Korea, but through the gospel.
We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate their freedom in Christ and to expand our awareness of God’s movement in the global church. Clapham families are welcome to join for this special chapel, after signing in at the front desk.