“If I Perish” – Esther Ahn Ei-Sook

This is Esther Ei-Sook Ahn and her husband, Pastor Don Myong Kim. Born in 1908 and passing away in 1997 at age 89, she was known as the “Living Martyr” after being sentenced to death by the Japanese government and later released due to the end of WWII. She expressed sadness for not dying as a martyr but was grateful to share stories of faithful Christians persecuted by the Japanese. Esther authored the autobiographical book “If I Perish,” which has been translated into English, along with other books and Christian hymns. She and Pastor Don Kim moved to the United States and founded Berendo Street Baptist Church, the second historical Korean Southern Baptist Church in America. Pastor Don Kim was also a respected pastor and preacher.

Esther Ahn was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ by her Christian mother at a young age, which served as a foundation throughout her adulthood. Living as a Christian and attending church were challenging endeavors during the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1937-1945. As a music teacher at a Christian school, she faced adversity when the Japanese government mandated individuals to bow to their Shinto shrine, a directive she steadfastly refused. Her faith was profoundly tested, yet she emerged victorious. Although she initially evaded arrest, she later felt compelled by a divine calling to travel to Japan alongside Elder Park to oppose the evils of tyranny. Following her preaching, she was arrested and subsequently imprisoned for six years back in Korea. Throughout her incarceration, her faith remained unwavering, providing encouragement to fellow inmates and jailers alike despite facing suffering and the prospect of death for her beliefs. Out of the 34 Christians who entered Pyongyang prison, only 14 survived, including Esther Ahn. According to her book, the jailor declared to the crowd outside, “Ladies and gentlemen! These are the individuals who, for six long years, refused to worship Japanese gods. They endured severe torture, hunger, and cold, triumphing without succumbing to the idol worship of Japan. Today, they stand as champions of the faith!”

Subsequently, she married a young engineer named Don Myong Kim and immigrated to the United States due to the encouragement of American Christians who wished to hear her testimony. During one of her testimonies, she disclosed that her mother desired her to marry a pastor, despite her own reservations. Humorously, she recounted how she would run up and join her mother in prayer early in the morning, countering her mother’s prayers by asking not to marry a pastor. Interestingly, Don Kim immigrated with the intention of studying at MIT but ultimately pursued theological studies at a seminary and became a pastor! Together, they founded Berendo Street Baptist Church and mentored numerous Korean immigrants from the 1970s to the 1990s. My wife was among those whom they discipled during the 1990s. Additionally, Pastor Don Kim established several Korean churches in South America. Both have passed away, but their legacy endures through the lives of those they influenced and mentored.

Here is my mom with Esther Ahn: