NEW SHORT FILM ABOUT KOREAN-CHINESE MARTYR’S DISCIPLE TO BE SHOWN BY 100,000 CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD ON DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
On November 3rd and 10th, an estimated 100,000 church congregations worldwide will participate in the World Evangelical Association’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Participating churches will show a short film created by award-winning producer John Grooters in partnership with Voice of the Martyrs Korea. The film tells the story of one of the disciples of Pastor Han Chung-Ryeol, the Korean-Chinese martyr who shared his faith with at least 1,000 North Koreans before his assassination on April 30, 2016 in Changbai, China.
Grooters Production Scene - 「Sang-chul: North Korea」
The English version of the film was released in September and has already received more than 150,000 views worldwide. Today, Voice of the Martyrs Korea released the Korean version of the film, an extended “director’s cut” which contains Korean dialogue and additional scenes not included in the English version. The film may be accessed for free at www.vomkorea.com/nkstory. A poster is available for free download for Korean congregations wanting to show the video on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 3 or 10.
The viral response to the English language version of the film did not surprise VOMK representative Foley Hyun-Sook, who expects a similar response to the Korean director’s cut version.
“Pastor Han was our long-time friend and ministry partner,”
Representative Foley says.
“North Korea tried to silence him and the North Koreans he evangelized. But 1 John 2:17 says, ‘The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.’ So we believe that God is not only keeping alive but also amplifying the witness made by Pastor Han and his North Korean disciples, so that it is reaching Christians all over the world.”
Grooters Production Scene - 「Sang-chul: North Korea」
Award-winning producer John Grooters and Judy Grooters
John Grooters, head director at Grooters Productions, adds,
“We want to honor Pastor Han’s legacy and inspire Christians around the world by telling the story of Sang-Chul, one of the thousand North Koreans Pastor Han evangelized. The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is an important time every November for church congregations worldwide to take a few minutes during their worship services to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being faithful unto death.”
Representative Foley encourages Korean pastors to show the video during their worship services on November 3 or 10, but she also encourages all Korean Christians to share the video with their friends and families.
Grooters Production Scene - 「Sang-chul: North Korea」
“Let’s make sure that the voice of persecuted Christians never falls silent,” Representative Foley says. “Every time this story of Pastor Han and Sang-Chul is seen by someone new, God’s kingdom wins another victory against those who wish to destroy it. Let’s work together to ensure that all of South Korea hears Christ speaking through this powerful story.”
The Korean language “director’s cut” of the film may be accessed for free beginning today at www.vomkorea.com/nkstory.
