Christians launch ‘waterproof gospels’ toward North Korea

On Dec. 12, the government of North Korea launched a multistage rocket across the East China Sea, drawing international condemnation and raising fears of a nuclear conflict.
Less than two months earlier, Church of Christ members in South Korea launched something they believe to be more powerful than any missile into the airspace of their northern neighbor.
Near the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas, the Christians released 17 large helium balloons carrying sacks filled with copies of the Gospel of Matthew. The believers made sure that the wind’s direction would carry the balloons into the North.

A “waterproof” Gospel of Matthew, printed in the Korean language on sheets of plastic (Photo provided)

One of the church members, who fled to South Korea during the Korean War, financed the production of 1.2 million copes of the gospel, printed in the Korean language on large plastic pages.
The Christians also launched sacks of the “waterproof gospels” in 2010, whispering “Hallelujah” as each balloon drifted into the heavens.
One of the church members, who asked that his name be withheld, said that the man who financed the project hasn’t seen his family since he crossed the border in the 1950s.
“It is still his dream to meet his family, who might still be alive somewhere in North Korea,” the church member said. “He is now 86.
“With many tears he said to me, ‘I pray many people find this Good News on these waterproof plastic papers — hopefully my family also.’”

• Feedback
  By the way, this is the 1,000th post on <i>The Christian Chronicle’s</i> news blog. I think it demonstrates clearly the purpose behind the <a href=”https://christianchronicle.org/blog/2010/04/welcome-to-the-new-chronicle-news-blog/” rel=”nofollow”>launch of this blog</a> in April 2010. A big thanks to all of you who read and comment. God bless you.

  Erik Tryggestad

  December, 12 2012

  May the seed find hearts in which to grow!

  Eva P. Scott

  December, 13 2012

  This is one of the most inspiring works of the church that I have seen in a very long time! Not only is the work itself awesome but the evoked imagery is too. God bless these brethren in their endeavors to spread the Gospel.

  Billie

  December, 13 2012

  Amen! I also pray that these Gospels make their way to some precious souls that are eager to learn of the Lord and respond accordingly in faith.

  Stephen Wolf

  December, 13 2012

  This brought a tear to my eye this morning … gospel bombs. Amen!

  Wes Woodell

  December, 20 2012

  Love it!

  dewey leggett

  December, 20 2012

  While I was stationed with the American Embassy in Seoul for 3 years in the late 80s, we were in a small American church next to Yongsan
  Army Base. Our outreach was to bring in US preachers such as Parker Henderson, Tex Williams and Charles Cook to teach all of the Korean Church of Christ preachers in the country that we could bring to Seoul for one week per year. I have often wondered if the teaching was beneficial to them. If the preachers of today are doing such things as you illustrate here, I want to believe that it was.

  David Reed

  December, 20 2012

  Amazing story. We will probably never know of the efficiency of the project, but it is inspiring nevertheless. I wonder often of us who have abundances of the Bible and have allowed them to collect dust.

  Bledi

  December, 21 2012

  Praise God for the people that have been involved in this outreach and sharing of God’s love and His Good News to people of North Korea. I pray that the waterproof gospel will touch and change many hearts, and that countless people will get to know the Lord through this outreach. Dear Family in Seoul, keep up the good work! 🙂 May God bless you in this and all your ministry!

  Snezana Lepki

  December, 27 2012

  May God’s guidance to reach North leader.

  Shiro Obata

  February, 3 2013