Witnessing God’s Faithfulness Through Persecution and Hope
Sometimes God opens doors that only He could orchestrate. These moments are so clearly ordained that all we can do is stand in awe and give Him glory. Recently, Good Call Ministries was given one of those sacred opportunities.
By God’s grace, we were able to spend time with Chance Son, the son of Pastor Hyun-bo Son, who is currently imprisoned in South Korea for the simple yet powerful act of praying. Pastor Son’s imprisonment is a sobering reminder that persecution for faith is not a distant or historical reality. It is happening today. Yet even in the midst of hardship, God continues to reveal His presence, His power, and His purpose.
During this time, we were able to pray together, encourage one another, and stand united in the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Though separated physically from his father, Chance carries a deep faith and a quiet strength rooted in trust in God’s sovereignty. Prayer became more than words in that moment. It became a source of courage, a declaration of truth, and a reminder that no prison cell can restrain the work of God.
What made this encounter especially profound was that Chance was able to hear directly from Joseph Bondarenko, a man who has personally endured persecution and imprisonment for his faith. Joseph stood before Chance not as someone speaking from theory, but as a living testimony of God’s faithfulness. After all he had suffered, Joseph was alive, well, and boldly proclaiming that God truly works all things together for good for those who love Him.
In a powerful and deeply moving moment, Joseph shared how God sustained him through oppression and confinement, and how the Lord used those trials to strengthen his faith and refine his calling. Standing face to face, Joseph reminded Chance that suffering is never wasted in God’s hands. The same God who carried him through persecution is the same God who is holding Pastor Son today.
This was not merely an encouraging conversation. It was a picture of the global Church standing together. One generation encouraging another. One testimony speaking hope into another ongoing trial. It was a reminder that the body of Christ is not bound by borders, governments, or prison walls. We are one family, united in Christ, strengthened through suffering, and anchored in eternal hope.
Joseph’s life continues to point people to God’s faithfulness. In his book, The KGB’s Most Wanted, Joseph tells the captivating story of a young pastor whose life came to mirror that of his biblical predecessor. The book exposes the realities and truths of Soviet oppression that were hidden from the outside world behind the Iron Curtain of the 1960s. It stands as a powerful testimony of perseverance, faith, and the unbreakable hope found in Jesus Christ.
May these moments remind us to pray boldly, stand firmly, and trust completely in the God who is always at work, even in the darkest places.
