Veteran Australian missionary arrested

For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 23 Feb 2014.

North Korea is a notoriously difficult place for Christians, especially Christian missionaries, as Australian missionary John Short discovered this week when he was detained by North Korean authorities after allegedly distributing religious tracts in Pyongyang.

Mr Short, who has worked in Asia for 50 years, and was twice arrested for evangelism in China, may face up to 15 years imprisonment.

Family friend Merv Knight told Eternity newspaper that John would remain resolute in the face of his arrest. He said he had “the greatest confidence in John that he will be somebody that will be very hard to intimidate in any way.”

“He will refuse to deny his faith … and use the opportunity wherever he is to tell others that, in his view, the answer is to be found in Jesus Christ.”

Christians around the world will be praying today for John Short and for the people of North Korea.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.