THE RUMBLE OF tanks and the boom of artillery fire became commonplace to a group of student missionaries who completed their training just five miles from the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea.

A team of 74 students and staff from a Discipleship Training School at Youth With A Mission's University of the Nations campus in Kona, Hawaii relocated to near the DMZ in November, after school leader school leader Mike Steinmeyer sensed God wanted them to pray for famine-ravaged North Korea.

The group, from a dozen countries, began a 24-hour prayer vigil for the neighboring country soon after arriving in South Korea, and also befriended soldiers from some of the military bases surrounding the prayer center that had become their new home.

Some soldiers began regularly visiting the students - whose six-month course includes teaching on the character of God, and missions - to play soccer and volleyball, or enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation. One frequent visitor was a South Korean tank commander, whom staff and students led to faith in Christ

The students' prayers for the spiritual reunification of the two Koreas centered on one Bible verse - Ephesians 3:14, which declares that Christ "is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility".

In addition to the roar of artillery training fire, the students encountered bitterly cold weather, food shortages and primitive living conditions at the prayer center - a former school.

"It was hard for all of us, but learning to live together in these conditions created a special unity among us," said team leader Jennifer Barler. "In Kona, we don't have to worry about where our next meal is coming from, but in Korea we had to be100 percent dependent on God."

Once the group finished its three-month class training, it divided into three teams for the outreach phase of the school. One team went to Vladivostok, on the borders of Russia, North Korea, and China, while a second traveled to Japan, serving in the cities of Tokyo, Chiba and Hirasuka.

Twenty-six staff and students stayed on at the DMZ to continue their intercession for the nation. They and the two other teams are due to return to Hawaii from Kona mid-month, at the end of their outreaches.

"Korean Christians were surprised by how the Lord brought these young foreigners from many nations to stand in the gap for Korea," said leader Moses Kim after he accompanied the team to various Korean churches.

"They realized that reconciliation of both Koreas is an issue not only for Koreans but also for many Christians in other parts of the world." He added that many Koreans were greatly challenged by the team's deep commitment to intercessory prayer.
- reported by ND correspondent Karen Goodell

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