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VOMRadio

Arrested in North Korea

VOMRadio

The Voice of the Martyrs

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.91.4K Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2016

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Australian John Short was taken prisoner in North Korea. He was repeatedly interrogated. He was forced to write a "confession" of his "crimes," including the offense of wanting more North Koreans to follow Jesus.

But if God asked him today, Short would happily go back to "the hermit kingdom." Short shares with VOM Radio how God strengthened him during his captivity, the Scriptures and earthly examples that most encouraged him, and how he managed to take a measure of control back from his captors — and even make them nervous.

Mr. Short agreed to only two media interviews after his release; one with his hometown newspaper back in Australia, and the other with The Voice of the Martyrs Radio Network.

Hear the rest of the story when you listen also to our interview with Short's wife, Karen.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

If it was a crime to tell other people about Jesus, would you be guilty?

0:06.6

Would there be enough evidence to convict you?

0:10.3

That theoretical question has been asked many times in the Western Church.

0:14.7

It's even been the subject of popular songs. But when John Short found himself detained

0:20.8

by officials in North Korea, the question was very real.

0:25.0

He looks back and remembers what his interrogators said.

0:30.0

You committed the crime of carrying Bible literature into China.

0:36.0

And I said, yes, I admit this is a crime against their law.

0:41.0

Your second crime is that you want more and more North Koreans

0:46.6

to believe in Jesus. I said yes, and guilty.

0:51.6

Jesus never promised his followers an easy path. In fact he told his disciples that the

0:57.4

world would hate them. He sent them out as sheep among wolves. Jesus's words came true in the life of the Apostles and

1:04.7

they're still coming true today in the lives of his followers around the world.

1:08.8

Join host Todd Nettleton's we hear their inspiring stories and learn how we can help.

1:14.0

Right now on the Voice of the Martyrs radio network.

1:16.8

Welcome to the Voice of the Martyrs Radio.

1:19.0

This is Todd Nettleton, and we are on the road this week for Voice the Martyrs Radio.

1:24.0

There are not many people that you can talk to in the world who have been detained

1:29.7

in North Korea and came out to tell the story and we have one of those people. I'm with

1:36.8

Mr. John Short. He is an Australian gospel worker. He was detained in 2013 in North Korea, eventually was released and we're

1:47.8

going to talk a little bit about that, about his story and about what God is doing in North Korea, what God did through this situation.

1:57.0

And so, John, it's an incredible blessing to be with you today on BOM radio.

...

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