The Documentary Podcast

The right thing: A deal with God


Listen Later

***This programme contains references to imprisonment, child abandonment and references to suicide which some listeners may find upsetting***

Since the 1950s, North Korea has been an authoritarian, isolationist state, and in practice there is no freedom of religion. Timothy Cho and his schoolteacher parents had learned to distrust and even fear Christianity. But the faith was going to play a significant role in Timothy’s life.
At the age of nine, Timothy returned from school, to find that his parents had fled the country, leaving him behind. So, at the age of 17, he decided to follow them, but was captured by Chinese soldiers when he crossed the border and returned to prison in North Korea. Timothy made his second attempt at escape in the same year, and this time he was successful, arriving in the city of Shanghai with a group of other North Korean refugees. The group broke into the American school in Shanghai, thinking they would get asylum that way, but the school handed them over to the Chinese police. Back in prison, feeling hopeless and fearful, Timothy met a South Korean gangster, who taught him how to pray. Timothy made a deal with God, that if God gave him his freedom, he would dedicate his life to his faith.

If you are If you are affected by anything you hear in this programme, it is important to talk to someone about it and get support. You can find help by visiting the Befrienders Worldwide website: befrienders.org

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Documentary PodcastBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

1,603 ratings


More shows like The Documentary Podcast

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,685 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

369 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

526 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,043 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

292 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,431 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

955 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

585 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,786 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,088 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,916 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

370 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

602 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

962 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

737 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

841 Listeners

Today in Focus by The Guardian

Today in Focus

993 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,188 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

737 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,618 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

252 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

25 Listeners