Source: Back to Jerusalem, December 22, 2024
In May 2024, I found myself in a small chapel in the remote countryside of Wales, standing unexpectedly in front of a picture of Robert Jermain Thomas, North Korea’s first Christian missionary martyr.
Inside the walls of Hanover Chapel in Llanover, South Wales, an energetic Korean named Pastor Daniel Yoo pointed to the picture on the wall and revealed to me a story that I had never heard before about the first missionary martyred in Korea on August 1, 1866.
The tiny chapel is now a popular destination for South Korean Christians, with thousands making their pilgrimage to the Welsh church every year. “Korean Christians owe so much to this man,” Pastor Daniel said as he pointed to the photo of Robert Jermain Thomas. “He gave his life to preach the gospel in Korea, and Korean Christians want to come here to honor his sacrifice.”
Pastor Daniel was from South Korea. His church sent him as a missionary to Wales, bringing the connection full circle.
Read the full story. Remarkable!