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Christianity Today, February, 2009

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Gas-Powered Gospels

Christians in South Korea use helium-filled balloons to spread gospel tracts.

Jeremy Weber | posted 1/22/2009 09:40AM

Christian activists in South Korea sent hundreds of thousands of gospel tracts over North Korea's closed border in November using helium-filled balloons. Equipped with a time-release mechanism, each balloon carried 10,000 leaflets that tell the story of a 1907 Christian revival in Pyongyang, and compare Kim Jong-Il to Nebuchadnezzar. The effort is part of a resurgence of balloon launches, used for decades by political and religious groups to send propaganda past the North's information blackout. Such launches worsened relations between North and South in 2008. In response, North Korea's government further restricted travel and communication between the two countries.

Related Elsewhere:

Christianity Today has previous coverage of North Korea and South Korea.

February 2009, Vol. 53, No. 2

Comments (2)

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P Sayia, Kenya

January 26, 2009 12:35am

This is a challenge to me living in a country where christianity is unrestricted. Brethrens this is an eye opener to us, lets learn from them and spread the Gospel to the four corners of the earth concerning the coming of the King Jesus Christ. Time is out for the Church and the Lord Jesus is coming for her but she is to be a holy,mature and perfect bride for her to be taken in the rapture.

bjourn judah

January 23, 2009 6:17am

i think its a great idea that the church in south korea is doing and fulfilling the scripture that the violent take it by force.force is needed for north korea to break long after even china has embraced christianity unofficilly.kim jong-il is going down!!!!and the gospel will be freely taught in north korea

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