The fuel for Crossing Borders’ ongoing work in ministry is not grit, wisdom, or good work. While our staff and missionaries thoroughly believe that we must put forth maximal effort in serving North Korean refugees and their children, we are often faced with the reality that in circumstances outside of our control and the oppressive, overwhelming odds of working in places hostile to our ministry, we need help.

In this, Crossing Borders turns to prayer. Our prayers are often for grit, wisdom, and good work - but they extend further than these requests as well. We ask for guidance, for barriers to be overcome, for safety or protection, for hearts to be opened and lives to be transformed. Again and again, prayer has yielded in good fruit and understanding for our workers and our community. As we focus on sharing the gospel to the unreached again in 2020, our staff in the US and overseas continue to ask for your support through prayer.

This past year, Crossing Borders staff made an effort to better understand and pray for the refugees in our network. With the vast number of women and children who are being served, it is often tempting to lose track of how many are being cared for with personal ministry. As a part of this endeavor to serve more intentionally, Crossing Borders missionaries asked the North Korean women in China to share some answers to questions we had about their lives. Each of these answers were collected over the year in interviews and surveys.

We would like to share their thoughts and feelings with you, along with something very important: their prayer requests.

As you begin 2020, please join us in reflecting on these individuals. They are in desperate need of loving prayers on their behalf.

2020 Prayer Requests:

Lois (Age 48, When I remember my home in North Korea, I think of school days, living with my siblings.): To be used as an instrument of the Lord in serving missionally. For my family in North Korea to be healthy.

Victoria (Age 48, My health is affected by sciatica. Sometimes the right side of my body feels paralyzed.): For unity between North and South Korea for the sake of sharing the gospel. For my family - husband, son, daughter - to accept Christ. That I will lead a godly life.

Emily (Age 35, My favorite animals are deer.): Please pray that God would open the doors in North Korea for the gospel to save its people.

Esther (Age 43, I love the color lavender.): For my husband to become a Christian, for my children to grow healthy, for unity between North and South Korea.

Ellie (Age 50, When I remember my home in North Korea, I think of being a young woman, spending time by the sea.): Being a young woman, spending time by the sea): Please pray that my children will be able to go to college. Please also pray that the nightmares I have of North Korean detention centers would go away.

Zina (Age 52, I am sad when I am fighting with my husband and I see my daughter crying because we are arguing.): Please pray over my daughter’s headaches and stomach troubles. Husband’s left knee is infected. Please pray for family to be one in faith.

Miriam (Age 52, My favorite foods are noodles and octopus): Please pray for my husband’s health and that my son will be a child of God.

Carolyn (Age 50, My health is affected by bronchial asthma): I hope my family will learn to pray and to evangelize. Please pray that my husband would quit smoking and that my children will accept Christ.

Cindy (Age 51, When I remember my home in North Korea, I think of my mother’s 60th birthday with our family): For my family to accept faith, for my family to be harmonious. I pray that I would not become greedy and think of God first.

Elizabeth (Age 49, I am happiest when I see my family in harmony because of God’s grace): Please pray for our local church, for my children’s future and my husband’s health.