The Korean Pentecost and the Sufferings Which Followed

The Korean Pentecost and the Sufferings Which Followed

“The Korean Pentecost shows what God can do when His people take Him at His Word.”
— J. G. Vos

This is a remarkable account of the first 60 years of the church in Korea (mainly North Korea). William Blair (1876–1970), in his first term of missionary service, was at the center of the great revival of 1907, and his account of this and the events leading up to it forms the first part of the book. Blair includes a thrilling description of how the gospel first came to Korea.

His son-in-law Bruce Hunt (1903–92) then continues the story. Born in Pyongyang (capital of North Korea), he shows how the revival was followed by a baptism of suffering under the Japanese and Communists. During his 48 years of missionary service in Korea, Hunt personally knew many of the Korean Christian martyrs.

This new edition of The Korean Pentecost has been completely re-typeset, and includes twelve additional illustrations.

A Reader Review:

Here is a volume coming back into print where I had heard rumors of its being outstanding. By missionaries William Blair and Bruce Hunt, this book covers the first 60 years of the Gospel coming into Korea. The title The Korean Pentecost And The Sufferings Which Followed gives a hint of what you will discover here. It is hard to comprehend so much happening in 60 years and that the ministries of two missionaries went through it all. What the reader gets through it all is a strengthening of faith, the amazement of seeing God’s hand at work, and the inspiration of others serving our Lord through tribulation and even death.

The authors well tell a story of the preparation for the Gospel in Korea before Mr. Blair arrived. The story of the seed sown by Robert Thomas in 1865 in chapter 3 is one you will never forget once you read it. It moved me in a way nothing has in a long time.

Then the work is described until in 1907 the Lord graciously sent revival. It is so compelling to read of real revival, what it looks like, and what transpired. Negatives as are present in any revival were not hidden, but they were few. As you read you will catch yourself praying: “Lord, send such a revival today.”

Persecutions of the Japanese and the Communists

The second half of the book tells of the sufferings that came next over several decades, first at the hands of the Japanese, then from the Communists. Amazingly, the work of the Lord continued to grow though sufferings reached horrific levels. The book was never about gratuitous violence, but just enough to explain what happened. What says more in the reader’s mind is the calm, pure dedication to Christ of those who suffered. When we have no idea of what we may face, it is good to read of what can be true in Christ in the worst of times.

The authors were humble and made the stories about the Korean Christians, yet I believe I discovered two more Christian heroes in them. This is the kind of story that needs to be in every home. More than merely biography or history, it is a gripping portrait of what Christianity should be.  — Jim Reagan