July 2024 Action
Zhang Wen Shi, also known by his Korean name and title as Deacon Jang, is an ethnically Korean Chinese citizen who lived in Changbai, China, a town on the border between China and North Korea. Though it is illegal to cross into China without permission, North Koreans often visit Chinese border towns to purchase goods for reselling in North Korea, to seek medicine or other help, and to conduct business. Deacon Jang regularly hosted these visiting North Koreans for days and weeks at a time before they returned to North Korea, giving them warm clothing, feeding them and providing supplies they might need for their return to North Korea. He saw this as his Christian duty. A number of these North Koreans accepted the message and became Christians. In November 2014, Deacon Jang was kidnapped from China and put in a North Korean prison. Deacon Jang was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his ministry to the North Korean people. Since his imprisonment, a number of other prisoners have either encountered Deacon Jang in prison or heard a report about him. Join Voice of the Martyrs’ in writing to the Korean UN Ambassador Song to respectfully request the return of Zhang Wen Shi.
Write to:
Suggested talking point:
The Voice of the Martyrs’ field workers in the region advise that you keep the letter brief and limit the request to the following:
Dear Ambassor Kim Song,
We request the return of Zhang Wen Shi to China.
Yours respectfully,