2017 Annual Report (2 of 5)

International Christian Concern
Annual Report 2017
Restoring
HOPE
PERSECU ION.org
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

The Bridge
Francis Chan
As one of the spotlight speakers at the Bridge Conference 2017, Chan
describes the Western Church’s connection to North Korean Christians:
“To think that Christ sacrifices for me to be a member of His Body and
you’re attached to me, and therefore, I cherish and I nourish you.”
The Bridge is ICC’s annual gathering of the persecuted,
government leaders, ministries, and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) to bring focus to one particular
country or region experiencing persecution.
The Bridge 2017 focused on North Korea and consisted of
a policy day held on Capitol Hill and the main conference
held at Saddleback Church in southern California.
Government leaders, including Senator Ted Cruz,
Senator James Lankford, Congressman Chris Smith, and
Congressman Ed Royce, discussed policy initiatives.
Church leaders such as Rick Warren, Francis Chan, and
Johnnie Moore encouraged attendees to care for the
persecuted as Jesus did.
Defectors, including Hyeonseo Lee and Joseph Kim,
shared personal stories of life within North Korea and how
they escaped. Leaders from all over the world banded
together to ensure that the voices of those suffering in
North Korea were heard.
2 |InternationalChristianConcern

Left: As ICC sought to host its first
conference on the West Coast, Saddleback
Church generously agreed to host the
event. The hospitality did not stop there
as, time and time again, Saddleback went
above and beyond to ensure that the
conference went smoothly. Rick Warren,
senior pastor of Saddleback, shared an
address with the attendees.
Left to Right: Dr. David Curry, President of Open Doors USA; Mervyn Thomas, CEO of
Christian Solidarity Worldwide; Todd Nettleton, Public Relations Director, Voice of the
Martyrs, USA; Jeff King, President of International Christian Concern.
““I felt encouraged by the people who cared about
it but left profoundly impacted by the magnitude
of the problem for people under that regime.”
“It motivated me to get more involved.”
“The stories from the North Korean refugees
were very moving and eye-opening.”
”
Annual Report 2017 | 3
“The REAL heroes in this life are those who have
survived and tell us what is going on inside.
Life-changing for us who live in a free society.”

Bridge Partners
Speakers
Government Policy
The Call to the Church
The Bridge 2017 featured a variety of speakers who
brought different topics to the main stage. North
Korean defectors, experts, US officials, church leaders,
and many others joined us.
The dedication and unity of our speakers was an
invaluable aspect of the Bridge 2017.
Rick Warren
“In North Korea alone, estimates of 70,000
Christians are languishing in dark prisons.”
Johnnie Moore
“We have to do a little bit more. We
are obligated to.”
Francis Chan
“God, I hate suffering, but I hate my
pride even more.”
Mark Rutland
“Those people in North Korea must somehow
know that we know they are there.”
Hyeonseo Lee
“I believe God works through His believers. It is our
duty to part the Red Sea for North Koreans.”
Joseph Kim
“Unfortunately this isn’t just my story, but the
story of millions in North Korea.”
Policy Change
To share expertise on the political and legal scene
surrounding North Korea, the Bridge 2017 included a
Policy Day in D.C. with numerous government leaders.
Their knowledge and experience brought new levels of
understanding to the Bridge 2017.
US Senate
Senator Ted Cruz
Senator James Lankford
US House of Representaes
Congressman Chris Smith
Congressman Ed Royce
Amnesty Interna
T. Kumar
Hudson Ins e
Melanie Kirkpatrick
Heritage Founda
Bruce Klinger
One Free Korea
Joshua Stanton
Na e of
Chris ship
Dr. Mark Rutland
ee for Human
Rights in North Korea
Greg Scarlatoiu

The Bridge 2017
Ministries & NGOs
The Church
Pr
Church Leadership
Our partners across the country and the world
joined us this year to share their work and hope for
the people of North Korea. They brought real-life
experience and knowledge to the Bridge.
Bridge attendees were given special insight into the
work happening on the ground in North Korea.
The Bridge brought together church leaders
and communities from across the United
States. A united American Church is the first
step towards a united global Church.
Our spiritual leaders are awakening a revival
that will soon reach North Korea.
Interna
Open Doors USA
Voice of the Martyrs
Chris orldwide
North Korea Fr
Liberty in North Korea
Jusor North Korea
Crossing Borders
Improving North Korea
Human Rights Center
Free North Korea Radio
Saddleback Church
Crossway Community Church
Bethel English Church
Young Nak Celebra ch
We Are Church
Revival Church
Grace Korean Church
King of the Nach
The JESUS Film

Senator
Ted Cruz
“Thank you for the good work you
do. Thank you for shining the light
on religious persecution. Thank you
for speaking the truth.”
Policy Day
On May 24, International Christian Concern hosted a
policy day for members of Congress, their staff, nongovernmental
organizations, and the concerned public
on Capitol Hill. The meeting was dedicated to raising
awareness and crafting solutions to the major human
rights challenges facing the people of North Korea.
Many influential individuals spoke, including Senators
Ted Cruz and James Lankford, Congressmen Ed Royce
and Chris Smith, as well as Joseph Kim, a North Korean
defector and Ted Talk speaker. Other speakers included
a myriad of North Korea policy experts.
ICC’s president, Jeff King, opened the event by
presenting the atrocities happening across North
Korea, but also providing the hope that “the fall of North
Korea is not impossible. It is inevitable.” He encouraged
government leaders to do their part and “become a
more passionate advocate on behalf of the 25 million
North Koreans.” The Bridge Policy Day opened the
week for The Bridge: The Annual Conference on the
Persecuted Church held in California this past June.
6 |InternationalChristianConcern

Congressman
Ed Royce
“Thank you for all your good work.”
Senator
James Lankford
“Many of you are advocates for this cause, and this is
nothing new to you, and you pray for, encourage, and track
what’s happening in North Korea and the Korean Peninsula
often. So, thanks for doing that, for staying engaged, and
for not giving up hope...Thank you for staying engaged,
thanks for praying, and for not forgetting the people that are
there, because most certainly they are counting on someone
praying for them outside the places they are located.”
Congressman
Chris Smith
“I want to thank ICC, and I want to thank Jeff for the
leadership in not just praying and fasting, on behalf of the
beleaguered people of faith and all of the North Koreans,
frankly, who suffer under Kim Jong-Un; but also to be wise
as serpents, as our Lord admonished, to promote policies
that will lead to a positive outcome for those individuals.”
36 Thousand
Facebook Livestream event aacted over
unique viewers, which resulted in a total
reach of over 137,000 people.
Annual Report 2017 | 13

CONTACT INFORMATION
icc@per g
1-800-422-5441
2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW #941
Washington, D.C. 20006-1846
www.per g
www.facebook.com/persecuted
www.er.com/persews
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