On New Years Day this year Crossing Borders celebrated our 10-year anniversary. It has been 10 years since Mike Kim packed up two duffle bags and boarded a one-way flight to serve North Korean refugees in Northeast China. Since January 1, 2003, we have assisted hundreds of North Korean refugees in China. We have raised more than $2 million. We have seen a transformation in the region, the refugees and ourselves.

As we look to our next decade of work, we know that our methods and our staff may change. However, our goal to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to North Korean refugees will not. At the heart of what we do is our relationship with a God who pursues.

In Luke 15 Jesus shares three parables that illustrate his heart: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. Each parable depicts God as a pursuer of what was lost.

This is exactly what Crossing Borders longs to do.

When Mike packed his bags 10 years ago, we believe it was because of a passion God placed in him to bring justice and hope to North Korean refugees who could not attain it for themselves. We take so much care to do what is best for the people we help because we believe that God did the same for us. He laid down His glory to live among us. He bore our shame so that we could live abundantly for Him.

How could we not do the same?

There have been many exciting moments over the past 10 years of our work but most of the time it has been a grind. Our staff and volunteers give a significant portion of their time and energy to make this organization work. We would not still be doing this if we didn’t truly believe in the power behind this work.

As we start our second decade, please pray that we would continue to pursue the lost sheep, the North Korean refugees of China, with the heart of Jesus Christ.