Christian Friends of Korea has been helping ordinary people affected by flooding, disease, malnutrition, and ongoing challenges in North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK) since 1995.
We work with many different individuals, churches, organizations, and businesses to send life-giving support to TB, hepatitis, and pediatric care centers located throughout North and South Hwanghae Provinces, Kaesong, and Pyongyang. Through the generosity of our donors and partners, we have sent and confirmed over $82 million worth of goods to desperate segments of the population.
We engage in technical projects such as: solar-gravity water system installations, renovations of care centers, and hepatitis treatment clinics that bring lasting change to many communities and individual lives. In all that we do, we strive to build trust and relationships with the people while honoring the name of Jesus Christ.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to glorify God by ministering to the 25 million people of North Korea through humanitarian and developmental aid, technical projects and exchanges, and confirmation visits.
OUR WORK
Our organization provides ongoing support to more than 30 care centers including the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NRL), 7 provincial tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis hospitals, and nearly 18 TB and hepatitis rest homes located throughout the geographical region—many of them in remote locations.
We regularly assist our supported TB and hepatitis care centers by providing developmental assistance; confirming the arrival, distribution, and use of goods we send; and assessing current needs. Most of our aid is targeted to respond to the medical needs of patients. Our aid includes: food and medicine; medical equipment and supplies; agricultural support (tractors, greenhouses, seeds, etc.); bedding and blankets; and clean water. We are also involved in the renovation of multiple health care facilities, solar powered water and lighting projects, water well drilling, greenhouse construction, medical staff training, and so forth.
CFK seeks to be responsive to the needs expressed and observed by others. While the need is extensive, we are grateful for the resources and the opportunity to respond.
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.— 2 Corinthians 4:1--
In 1995, CFK responded to large-scale flooding that impacted millions of lives precipitating a famine that set the stage for the TB epidemic and humanitarian needs that followed. We responded by sending containers of brown rice from Louisiana and by confirming the arrival and delivery of emergency food aid. From that small beginning, our work has expanded significantly.
1995–1996
Christian Friends of Korea is established in the spring of 1995 under the name Eugene Bell Centennial Foundation (EBCF) in honor of one of the early missionaries to Korea. People involved in facilitating Dr. Billy Graham's visits to North Korea in 1992 and 1994 establish EBCF as a means for continuing humanitarian and educational exchanges identified during these early visits. Our initial efforts included sending food in response to the flooding and other disasters that occurred.
1997
EBCF sends a state-of-the-art ambulance and also hand carries TB medicine to the DPRK at the request of officials. Retired, life-long missionaries to Korea participate in a confirming visit to help establish strong relationships and trust between their officials and our organization. We are invited to support TB care centers that are seeing a large increase in the number of patients due to the hardships facing the nation. We also begin sending small greenhouses to help local facilities grow more food for their patients.
1998
EBCF undergoes a restructuring and changes their name to Christian Friends of Korea to better reflect our identity and purpose. Soon after, our efforts are refocused on the Southwestern region (North and South Hwanghae Provinces, Kaesong, and Pyongyang). CFK continues to send regular shipments of food and medicine while regularly confirming their arrival and distribution.
CFK continues providing support to TB facilities, sending food, TB medicine, medical equipment and supplies, greenhouses, a Mobile Survey X-ray Vehicle, and other support.
1999–2000
CFK installs 30 kilowatt generators at our three provincial-level TB hospitals to provide a baseline of electric power for x-ray and other equipment at these facilities. This is the first of many technical projects to be completed by teams of skilled CFK volunteers working side by side with local colleagues.
2001
We begin providing assistance to the Kaesong Provincial Pediatric Hospital (KPPH) (formerly known as the Ivey Hospital) which was established and built in Kaesong by Methodist missionaries in 1907. An x-ray machine is successfully installed at South Hwanghae #3 TB Hospital by a volunteer technical team. Efforts to provide clean water to the North Hwanghae #3 TB Hospital commence, and CFK supplies the first doctor’s kits to TB doctors.
2002
CFK teams continue efforts to bring clean water to North Hwanghae #3 TB Hospital and also make assessment and delivery visits to Ryanggang Province—related to a special request to provide Painted Mountain Corn Seed to this region. On the home front, CFK moves from a one-room office to a larger office with enough warehouse space to facilitate growing work. CFK hosts a delegation from the DPRK’s Mission to the United Nations in New York at our home office in North Carolina. In September 2004, CFK's office in NC is severely flooded by rains from hurricane Frances and Ivan, disrupting work for several months thereafter.
2003–2004
CFK continues to send more greenhouses and walking tractors to help care centers produce more food locally and to transport goods more easily between care centers. Medical and dental equipment sent to KPPH is installed with a 30 kilowatt generator needed to provide basic power to this facility. Basic ambulances are also provided to our supported hospitals to enable them to transport patients between facilities.
2005–2006
Technical projects completed by skilled volunteers increase in 2007. Operating room suits are reconstructed at the Sariwon and Haeju Provincial #3 TB Hospitals; Kaesong and KPPH follow in 2008 and 2009. Among other major renovations, the first solar-powered, gravity-fed water system is installed at KPPH establishing a new model for sustainable, year-round distribution of clean water at care centers.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) also provides CFK with a new warehouse facility to house incoming shipments, and CFK delivers the first lab training workshop for TB physicians in Kaesong. CFK also sends building materials that enable Hwangju #3 TB Rest Home to completely rebuild their care center providing the ground work for the rest of the country. Late in 2008, CFK is asked to visit the National TB Reference Lab (NRL) and assess it for a full renovation.
2007–2009
Large-scale flooding in 2007 causes extensive damage and food shortages throughout the DPRK. In response, the US government negotiates a new food aid program, including 100,000 metric tons of food that is to be distributed through US non-governmental organizations (USNGOs).
CFK along with World Vision, Mercy Corps, Samaritan's Purse, and Global Resource Services partner together over a 9-month period to deliver this food aid on behalf of the American people. The program is funded by USAID and Food for Peace, staffed by 16 resident USNGO representatives, and 71,000 metric tons of food is delivered to more than 900,000 people in the North Pyongan and Chagang Provinces.
2008–2009
In the late fall of 2009, CFK was urged to begin providing support to hepatitis care centers. At the request of MoPH and in partnership with Stanford University, the Bay Area TB Consortium, Global Care Partners, and other experts, we began a major renovation of the National TB Reference Lab (NRL) in Pyongyang. The lab was fully equipped and supplied. A grand opening celebration, attended by the Vice Minister from MoPH and other dignitaries and donors, was celebrated in October 2010. Since 2010, CFK has continued to facilitate ongoing high-level training of the staff to build proficient diagnostics for TB patients.
In 2010, the effort to drill for clean water at the North Hwanghae #3 TB Hospital was successfully concluded. CFK learned many important lessons along the way. Out of this effort, Wellspring for Life, a NC-based NGO dedicated solely to the establishment of an indigenous water well drilling industry in the DPRK, was formed. CFK continues to partner with Wellspring for Life to drill wells at CFK-supported care centers. Significant redesign of greenhouses commenced including the construction of new quarter-round style greenhouse. Solar-powered gravity-fed water systems were installed by volunteer teams at Hwangju and Unpa #3 TB Rest Homes transforming these communities. Finally in late 2010, CFK purchased its first permanent home in North Carolina—a property that includes an existing house converted into an office with additional space for a warehouse to be built on the premises.
2009–2010
CFK teams renovate the operating room and construct a passive solar greenhouse at Central #3 TB Hospital, and ongoing training takes place at the NRL. Along with Stanford, CFK brings a team from the NRL and MoPH to Shanghai for a study tour. Water systems are installed at the Central Hospital and KPPH, and renovation materials are delivered to three TB care centers to improve shelter for patients. A new vehicle is sent and dedicated to support regular team visits, and CFK also delivers emergency flood aid to affected areas as part of a USNGO consortium effort funded by the US Office of Foreign Aid Disaster Assistance.
2011
CFK initiates fundraising for two large projects: construction of a warehouse building in North Carolina to help facilitate shipping and assembly of materials needed for technical projects, and a new Training Center to be constructed at the Central Hospital. Training at the NRL continues, and water filters and greenhouses are delivered to many TB and hepatitis care centers. CFK also installs solar-powered water systems and connects them into new wells drilled at Kaesong #3 TB Rest Home and Kaesong #2 Hepatitis Hospital. CFK signs MOU's with MoPH to expand water well drilling at CFK-supported care centers and to guide the construction and use of the new Training Center building.
2012
Construction materials arrive, and construction volunteers work alongside local staff to construct the new Training Center at the Central #3 TB Hospital. By the end of 2013, the building shell and roof are completed, meanwhile training efforts continue at the NRL. A shipment of water well hand pumps arrive in Pyongyang facilitating expansion of well drilling efforts. New wells are drilled at South Hwanghae #3 TB Hospital, Paechon County People’s Hospital, Paechon #3 TB Rest Home, and Haeju TB Sanitarium. A new patient ward is completed at Changyon #3 TB Rest Home supported by renovation materials supplied through CFK.
2013
Construction of the new training center is completed in Spring 2014 with a grand opening ceremony; two-day training workshops are held in May. This in-depth workshop brought together primary care physicians and laboratory specialists from Global Care Partners and Stanford University. They are on the front lines of diagnosing and treating regular and multi-drug resistant TB patients at many different care centers.
Co-founder of Hepatitis B Free (Australia), Dr. Alice Lee, joins a CFK delegation for the first time, opening new pathways for expanded hepatitis treatment. The warehouse in NC is also completed, expanding our capability to assemble and send materials for technical projects, and receive donations. Twenty-seven motorcycles and cargo tricycles are sent to CFK-supported care centers to enhance basic transportation. Solar-powered water distribution systems were installed at Changyon #3 TB Rest Home and Sariwon #3 TB Rest Home. Solar lighting systems were also delivered and installed at multiple care centers.
2014
After a delay in travel caused by a 7-month long Ebola quarantine, CFK teams return to confirm the completion of nearly a dozen renovation projects, to continue lab training at the NRL, and to develop a new hepatitis B treatment program in partnership with MoPH, Hepatitis B Free, and Global Care Partners through discussion and negotiation. The 10-year pilot program established guidelines for improvement of diagnostic capability, screening, follow up care for qualified program participants, and support for life-saving antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B patients. Solar powered water distribution systems were installed at South Hwanghae #3 TB Hospital and Paechon #3 TB Rest Home, and deep-water wells were drilled at 10 more care centers.
In October, CFK celebrates its 20th Anniversary with an open house at their headquarters in Black Mountain, NC. Following in November, the first patients are screened for the hepatitis B treatment program.
2015
Full ground up renovations of the clinical laboratories, located at Pyongyang #2 Hepatitis Hospital and Kaesong #2 Hepatitis Hospital, are completed throughout 2016 by teams of technical volunteers working side-by-side with local staff. When available, solar, battery, and inverters provide power to these labs with grid power. Modern lab equipment is installed and lab staff receive initial training. In mid-summer, the first antiviral hepatitis B medication arrives, and pre-screened patients start treatment for the first time in September. More patients are started on treatment in November bringing the total number of patients on treatment to 458.
In late August, the northernmost areas are hit by devastating floods. CFK releases pre-positioned emergency flood relief support to the affected areas and sends 14 greenhouse kits. A small team visits the area in late October to confirm the arrival and use of the flood relief support. Additional wells are drilled bringing the total drilled thus far to 25.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ROB ROBINSON BOARD CHAIRMAN
DR. JOHN AKERS BOARD MEMBER
KAY RADER BOARD MEMBER
STEVE ACETO BOARD MEMBER
SISSEL TOPPLE, MD BOARD MEMBER
FRED MOORE, MD BOARD MEMBER
Liana graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. She worked as a missionary dentist for some time in Trinidad, Tobago, and spent 6 years working in Guam before moving to Asheville. Liana has made several visits to the DPRK with CFK.
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