{"id":56175,"date":"2025-11-04T14:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T05:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=56175"},"modified":"2025-11-04T16:04:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T07:04:21","slug":"vomk-report-370","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2025\/11\/04\/vomk-report-370\/","title":{"rendered":"SEEKING A \u201cRESET\u201d FOR NORTH KOREAN MINISTRY, MINISTRY SENDS 32,000 BIBLES TO SOUTH KOREAN PASTORS"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”56171″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea is best known for sending an average of 30,000 Bibles a year to North Korea, but this week the ministry mailed out nearly 32,000 copies of the John Ross Bible Gospel of Luke to South Korean pastors of churches in Seoul, Daejeon, and Busan. Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley says that the mailing is a call for South Korean churches to \u201creset\u201d their ministry to North Korean defectors. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Today is the day for gospel ministry to North Korean defectors,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Many churches have focused on aid ministry to North Korean defectors, giving them gifts, inviting them to parties, and even doing boarding schools for their children. But as Christians our first responsibility is to <\/span>make sure<\/span> they <\/span><\/span>hear the gospel<\/span> and then to equip them to share <\/span>it with other North Koreans.<\/span> We want to use our twenty-five years of experience in North Korea ministry to equip South Korean churches to do gospel-focused ministry to North Korean defectors.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The mailing to pastors includes a letter from Representative Foley inviting the pastors to one-day North Korean defector ministry training events at Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s offices in Daejeon (<\/span>Thursday, November 13<\/span>), Seoul (<\/span>Thursday, November 27<\/span>), and Busan (<\/span>Thursday, December 4<\/span>), <\/span>from<\/span> 10AM to 3PM. Pastors interested in attending the events can register by calling Voice of the Martyrs Korea <\/span>at<\/span> 02-2065-0703<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”56173″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”This week, Voice of the Martyrs Korea sent the John Ross Bible Gospel of Luke and an invitation to an NK ministry training event to 32,000 South Korean pastors. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative F<\/span>o<\/span>ley says that in her letter to pastors she explains why her organization has <\/span>mailed <\/span>them <\/span>a <\/span>copy of the John Ross Gospel of Luke.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Ten years ago, a North Korean mission team from a large church in South Korea visited Voice of the Martyrs<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>They <\/span>requested a<\/span> discipleship training <\/span>system for North Korean defectors, but until then, there was no gospel-centered textbook. However, by the grace of God, <\/span>we are <\/span>now able to introduce <\/span>the ideal <\/span>\u2018<\/span>textbook<\/span>\u2019<\/span> for <\/span>North Korean<\/span> defector discipleship: The John Ross Bible.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that during the Covid pandemic, Voice of the Martyrs Korea rebuilt its ministry to North Korean defectors around the work of having North Korean defectors create an <\/span>updated<\/span> version of the John Ross New Testament for modern readers.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Missionary John Ross translated the Gospels of Luke and John in 1882 through Korean merchant<\/span>s,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>However, he did not preach to the merchants first to make Christians and then have them translate the Bible, but the merchants themselves translated it and met Jesus <\/span>through his <\/span>words. After that, the merchants asked for baptism themselves<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>They even smuggled Bibles into dangerous Joseon. In this way, 15,000 Bibles entered Korea, and before Western missionaries entered Korea, they had already spread throughout Korea.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”56174″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”NK defectors update the Ross Bible in the Voice of the Martyrs Seoul office.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that the Gospel<\/span> of <\/span>Luke <\/span>sent to pastors <\/span>last week <\/span>is the <\/span>first part of the Ross New Testament updated by North Korean defectors. In early 2026 Voice of the Martyrs Korea will publish the North Korean <\/span>defectors<\/span>\u2019<\/span> updated version of the G<\/span>o<\/span>spels and the Book of Acts, to be followed in 2027 by the publication of the complete, updated Ross New Testament. She says the updating work is reviewed by an external committee of translation experts to ensure accuracy. But she says the main updating work is not theological but grammatical. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>The John Ross New Testament was created before the standardization of the Korean language, and it was done in the Pyongan dialect,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>North Korean defectors are the most well-suited to update the work because they understand the meaning of many of the words Ross<\/span>\u2019<\/span> translation team used, which are not known to South Koreans.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative F<\/span>o<\/span>ley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea sent out the Bibles and is hosting the training events for South Korean pastors <\/span>in order to<\/span> help South Korean pastors see what is possible for <\/span>g<\/span>ospel-focused ministry to North Korean defectors. She says the Ross Bible update is for all Korean people and that all South Koreans should read it. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>The Ross Bible is the original translation of the Bible into our language,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>It is how God first spoke to us, and Bible translation experts <\/span>today\u00a0 still<\/span> praise Ross<\/span>\u2019<\/span> translation work.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says the one-day training events for South Korean pastors <\/span>are <\/span>\u201c<\/span>hands-on<\/span>\u201d<\/span> training events where the pastors will have the opportunity to <\/span>participate<\/span> in the kinds of training activities Voice of the Martyrs Korea does with North Korean defectors.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>During the training events, we will <\/span>have<\/span> pastors join us in the actual work of updating a passage from the Ross New Testament, so they can see how we do this work with North Korean defectors,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> Representative Foley says. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>We will also have the pastors <\/span>participate<\/span> in the Bible drama skits we do with North Koreans, as well as learning about our <\/span>g<\/span>ospel-focused <\/span>\u2018<\/span>mobile camping ministry<\/span>\u2019<\/span> to defectors.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative F<\/span>o<\/span>ley says that the goal for the training events is to challenge and nurture South <\/span>Korean church pastors <\/span>the same way <\/span>as <\/span>her organization challenges and nurtures <\/span>North Korean defectors.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>If we do so, both the <\/span>South <\/span>Korean <\/span>pastors<\/span> who nurture and the North Korean defectors who are nurtured will be able to <\/span>become ‘people of the Bible’ again<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>In the past 25 years since the establishment of Voice of the Korean Martyrs, I have seen many North Korean defectors who were underground Christians in North Korea fall into materialism and focus only on making money when they come to South Korea, losing their former faithfulness<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>I think this sad reality<\/span> is the result of all Christians in South Korea not being able to fulfill our role well. I hope that through this event, we will share how to nurture North Korean defectors and that all <\/span>Christians in South Korea will be able to unite and serve the North Korean defectors sent by God properly.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”56172″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”NK defectors update Hebrews 2 of the Ross Bible as part of Voice of the Martyrs gospel-focused ministry.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Individuals interested in learning more about Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s ministry to North Korean defectors can visit its website, <\/span><\/span>www.vomkorea.com<\/span><\/span><\/a>. South Korean pastors interested in attending the organization<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s training can call the V<\/span>o<\/span>ice of the Martyrs Korea office at the numbers shown below for more information.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]*Date: Thursday, November 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Venue: Voice of the Martyrs Daejeon Office (detailed address will be provided upon registration)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inquiries and pre-registration: 02-2065-0703 (Tue-Sat\/9am-5pm) \/ 010-3174-2065<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]*Date: Thursday, November 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Venue: Voice of the Martyrs Seoul Office (detailed address will be provided upon registration)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inquiries and pre-registration: 02-2065-0703 (Tue-Sat\/9am-5pm) \/ 010-3174-2065<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]*Date: Thursday, December 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Venue: Voice of the Martyrs Busan Office (detailed address will be provided at the time of registration)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inquiries and pre-registration: 02-2065-0703 (Tue-Sat\/9am-5pm) \/ 010-3174-2065<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”56171″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea is best known for sending an average of 30,000 Bibles a year to North Korea, but this week the ministry mailed …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":56170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56175"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56182,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56175\/revisions\/56182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}