Bongsu Church is a Protestant church in the Konguk-dong of the Mangyongdae District of Pyongyang in North Korea. It is one of just a handful churches in the country and one of only two Protestant churches, the other one being Chilgol Church. Bongsu Church was originally constructed in 1988 and was the first church built in the country during communist rule. The church was relocated to a larger building in around 2008 and now offers seats for 1,200 persons. It is debated whether the attendance consists of genuine Christians in the country or not, but service has been observed by visiting foreigners.
History
The original Bongsu Church was built in September 1988. At the time, it was the first church built in North Korea after the Korean War, during which all churches in the North were destroyed, and the first one built during communist rule as well. It was opened just ahead of the 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students that was held in Pyongyang. The church was built to showcase freedom of religion in North Korea, amid international pressure concerning the issue. The construction cost half a million won and was funded by Christians from overseas. Until the 1990s, there was no Christian cross on top of the church. One was added when visiting foreign Christians pointed out the omission. The church has since been rebuilt and relocated in 2008, for a price of four billion won, paid entirely by the South Korean Presbyterian Church Association. In 1992, when Kang Yong-sop, who acted as the chairman of the Korean Christian Federation, oversaw the church, Billy Graham paid a visit there to preach. Graham preached at the church again in 1994. Billy's son, Franklin preached in 2000 and 2008. Billy Graham's wife Ruth has also made a public speech at the church. Other visiting preachers include South Korean Han Sang-ryeol, who visited in 2010 without the authorization of the South Korean government.
Operation
Service takes place at 10 am every Sunday. Sometimes tourists have arrived only to find the church closed at that time. Others report that the sermons consist of political rhetoric. Whether or not the local congregation are authentic believers has been debated. South Korean pastor Soh Kyung-suk describes his observations during visits: "There were little signs of spontaneity during a service. I also found no child in attendance and no Bible study groups there, and we were even banned from talking to North Korean service participants... What was most startling was that church officials didn't even know any hymns at all." Bradley K. Martin, author of Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, also described his visit to the church. The congregation sang "Jesus Loves Me" and many seemed to know it by heart. Preaching and prayer were on political themes such as Korean reunification and nuclear non-proliferation. Churchgoers, according to Martin, were not Workers' Party of Korea members and all of them had removed their Kim Il-sung lapel pins. "This church is a sacred place. We call it the 'house of heaven'. That is why political symbols are not allowed", a church employee explained. The church is Protestant, but no denomination is specified. It is overseen by the Korean Christian Federation. The congregation was about 300 strong on Sundays before the church was enlarged due to increase in attendance. Now the church seats 1,200 persons. The building has three stories. The church is staffed by a head minister, a vicar, eight elders, five deacons and fourteen deaconesses. The church runs a theological seminaryfor 12 people, in a separate building in the premises. The church has an associated noodle factory, which is supported financially by the Presbyterian Church of the United States, and a bakery.
