In a recent event filled with both joy and risk, a group of North Korean women who had fled their homeland were baptised in a secret ceremony outside the country. The baptisms were organised by Open Doors fieldworkers as part of a project providing spiritual and practical support to women who have escaped North Korea, many of whom were trafficked and forced into marriages.
Despite being outside North Korea, the baptisms carried significant danger due to increased security in the area. Fieldworkers reported a heightened presence of police checkpoints and undercover officers. "We had to move with caution and say little," one fieldworker noted. "But we prayed and went forward in faith."
Before the baptisms, the women received teaching on the significance of the sacrament and participated in a worship service that included Communion. The ceremony was marked by tears, singing, and prayer. Each woman was given a cross and a traditional Korean dress, known as a hanbok, to commemorate the occasion. One participant expressed deep emotion upon wearing a hanbok for the first time since leaving North Korea.
Following the baptisms, the women attended further training at another secret location. Despite their own limited resources, they brought gifts of mushrooms and dried greens to share. One woman shared, "After I believed in the Father, everything started to change. I'm not alone anymore."
Many of these women continue to face challenges in their new lives, with some experiencing abuse. However, they often find their current circumstances better than those they left behind in North Korea. Some strive to support their families back home financially, despite the ongoing hardships there.
The fieldworkers emphasised that the project aims to show these women they are not alone. Through Bible study groups and leadership training, some have gone on to lead others in their faith journey. As one fieldworker stated, "We walk in fear sometimes. But more than that, we walk in faith."
Adapted from Open Doors UK.
