The Council of Korean Churches in Greater New York hosted a prayer meeting on behalf of Pastor Hyeon Soo Lim, who is detained in North Korea.
The Council of Korean Churches of Greater New York hosted a prayer meeting for the safe return of Pastor Hyeon Soo Lim, the Korean Canadian pastor who is currently detained in North Korea. The prayer meeting took place on March 12 at 10:30 AM at the Korean Church of Queens.
Pastors and laypeople who were present at the prayer meeting prayed that the movement to pray and work for the early and safe return of Pastor Hyeon Soo Lim would spread throughout the world, and that he would be able to return safely home. The Council also held an executive meeting after the prayer meeting for the next steps.
Those at the meeting also announced the letter that will be sent to the North Korean government, the Canadian government, and the United Nations, to ask for Lim's release.
"Pastor Hyeon Soo Lim went to help people in North Korea solely for a humanitarian purpose, purely to put the love of Jesus Christ into action," the letter reads. "We call on the North Korean government release Lim and allow him to return safely to his family and loved ones, and we call on the Canadian government and the United Nations to put in their efforts to help secure his release."
The letter further reminds the North Korean government that Lim was "helping those undergoing difficulties and pain in North Korea," and said, "Lim was detained while visiting once again to help people in need."
Jason Noh, the pastor to whom Lim was preparing to give the position of senior pastor at Light Presbyterian Church, and Kang-Hee Ahn, who shared a co-presidency with Lim at Global Assistance Partner (GAP), were also present at the prayer meeting.
Noh explained the situations surrounding Lim's visit to North Korea and his eventual detainment, and said, "I want to thank the churches that have been praying together on behalf of Pastor Lim."
"Particularly, the speculative ways in which the media has been covering this issue has brought about pain to the family," Noh continued. "This may play a part in hindering Lim's release, so I ask for everyone's cooperation throughout this process."
The Korean American Clergy Association of Greater New York, the Council of Korean Churches of New Jersey, the Council of Korean Churches of Greater Philadelphia, the Council of Korean Churches in Southern California, the Council of Korean Churches in Canada, and the Council of Korean Churches in Ontario, are among some of the organizations that financially supported the prayer meeting and are planning to host their own prayer meetings in their respective regions.
