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They came one by one, each with their own pain and journey.
As each woman took the beautiful and potentially dangerous step of baptism—knowing that claiming Christ is illegal in their homeland—they were overcome with emotion as they sang, prayed, and silently wept.
"After I believed in the Father, everything started to change. ... I'm not alone anymore."
A secretly baptized believer
When they began their escape from North Korea, many didn't foresee their current suffering ... that they would be deceived, trafficked, and forced to marry Chinese men. But they also never expected to be part of a ministry that would bring them to Jesus ... and to this inflection moment of faith.
The baptism was part of an ongoing project that provides North Korean women who have defected from the country with Bible study, pastoral care, and practical support.
Inside the modest safehouse, the women received final teaching before the ceremony. "They were nervous, but determined," says Rachel*, an Open Doors field worker who helped organize the baptism. "We prepared the communion elements in the kitchen while they studied the meaning of baptism. When we all gathered for worship, the tears began to flow."
After the service, they celebrated with a shared meal and gifts—each newly baptized sister received a cross and a hanbok, a traditional colorful Korean dress.
Rachel shared: "One of them told me, 'This is the first time I've worn a hanbok since I left North Korea.' She cried when she put it on."
The magnitude of such a gathering is hard to miss. These women grew up in North Korea hearing horror stories of Christian missionaries. They may have seen or heard about executions of Christians. And yet here they stood at the feet of the cross, declaring their faith in Jesus. God's work in their lives on display.
And the fact that a gathering like this could even take place is a miracle in itself. In fact, the ceremony almost didn't happen. Security had intensified in the area, with reports of increased police checkpoints and undercover officers.
"When I traveled there, I saw more police on the road than I imagined," reported an Open Doors local field worker. "Some were in plain clothes. We had to move with caution and say little. But we prayed and went forward in faith."
The team made the difficult decision to proceed with the planned gathering in a safer area after assessing the situation. The next day, they left that area and moved to another region for leadership training and a giving ceremony for the safety of all those involved.
"They brought us mushrooms and dried greens as gifts," Rachel shared. "It was incredibly humbling. These women have so little, but they give with their whole hearts."
That day, one of the recently baptized women stood up to share her story: "After I believed in the Father, everything started to change," she said. "I'm not alone anymore."
When the ceremony was over, all the women returned to their respective foreign families. Some are treated well, while others are abused. All never expected the turns their lives would take. Yet many of the women say that their life is better now than when they still lived in their home country.
"Especially now, with the current currency devaluation, life is even more difficult back home," one woman said at the secret meeting. Due to years of mismanagement, international sanctions, and closed borders during the pandemic, the value of North Korea's currency, the won, has decreased significantly. The exchange rate used to be 8,000 won per $1, but is now 23,000 won to $1. To put it into perspective, an average worker in North Korea earns only a few thousand won per month. A pound of rice currently costs about 4,500 won, nearly double the price from two years ago.
Women who have escaped often try to save money and send it to their relatives in North Korea to help them survive the harsh conditions.
"Sometimes supporting their family is the only reason they still want to live," says Open Doors North Korea coordinator Simon Lee*. "Our women's project in the [other] country shows them that they are not alone. Working with them is not easy, but we see many positive changes."
Lee notes that some women have become leaders and started their own Bible study groups for North Korean women.
"They learn about baptism during those studies, but being baptized is very dangerous, even in the [other] country," Lee explains. "That's why we are so grateful we could have this ceremony."
Your support makes moments like this possible. Thanks to your prayers and generosity that empower and equip Open Doors field workers to offer training and safehouses for North Koreans, trafficked women like these sisters are finding healing and hope. You are helping them take bold steps of faith in secret—but with great joy. You are leaving an eternal legacy.
As Rachel shared: "We walk in fear sometimes. But more than that, we walk in faith. And God meets us every time."
Thank you for standing with them.
*Name changed to protect identity
