S.Korea & China Ministry September 2007
MISSION
September and October were busy months for Emmaus Road Ministries
and Priday Productions, as Huw, Stella & Stephen set off in
various directions for ministry. {see www.priday.com}
Stella’s commission was to come alongside numerous churches and individuals
who have been working in Christian ministry in Wales for many years; to support,
encourage, and also inform them of her research into the life of Robert Jermain
Thomas,…the subject of her recent book “Chosen for Chosun{Korea}”
Although Thomas was martyred at the age of 27 in Pyongyang, N.Korea,
his contribution to building Christ’s Kingdom in China & Korea was crucial,
and his “life-study” challenging to many.
Huw & Steve flew to Seoul, S.Korea on September 12 for what proved
to be an intense & challenging 3 weeks of mission. The theme of their presentation…..”God’s
presence through time”……a multi-media production detailing
the role Wales played in bringing the Gospel to Korea; its role
in the Great Pyongyang Revival of 1907 and the contribution both
countries are presently making in Christian mission.
KOREAN CHURCH
The Christian Church has flourished in S.Korea during this last century.
Despite intense persecution……forced Shintuism during the Japanese occupation
from 1905-1945 and the Communist insurgency from 1945 to the Korean war of
1951-3…….Korean Christianity is vibrant & strong.
In the history of the Christian Church “persecution has often lead to
proclamation” & this is certainly true for the Korean peninsula.
There is known to be a flourishing underground Church in North Korea, & S.Korea
sends as many missionaries into the World as the Western Church.
God’s timing & the providential “stepping-stones” that
were placed in our path enabled us to achieve the appointed tasks.
PRESENT SITUATION
The “mood” of many Christians in S.Korea was somber following the execution
of 2 pastors & the hostage-taking of Korean aid workers in Afghanistan
during the previous months. Evangelical Christians had been berated by others
in the Church, & elsewhere, for bringing disrepute to S.Korea. The account
of Thomas’ life, & evidence of God’s faithfulness through time,
proved an encouragement to many.
It has been said ….“There is no place for ‘triumphalism’ when the Church
is at a low ebb”….reminding fellow-believers of the work of the Holy Spirit
in the past, during the Welsh Revival of 1904-5 & the Pyongyang
Revival of 1907, proved timely!
THOSE WHO SERVE
With the assistance of Kuday Lee of Llanelly {Nations Ministry} Huw
Priday mastered a number of hymns in Korean. “Dyma Gariad”….the ‘love-song’ of the
Welsh Revival….was well received. At Sarang Church, Seoul {a Church of 37,000}
they have made it the ‘theme-song’ for the next several months!
Paul
Griffiths, & Emyr Jones of Priday Productions, worked extremely
hard, under the pressure of time, to master the multi-media presentation
which was punctuated by Huw singing hymns which were relevant to
the text.
Dr. David Ryo, Professor of Homiletics at Chongshin Seminary, proved
to be an amazing host, coach & interpreter. Nothing was too much
trouble for him, as he organized our itinery.
THE MINISTRY
During the first weekend we ministered to persons who had recently fled
North Korea. One lady found it difficult to accept how the Holy Spirit had
placed a passion for her homeland in the hearts of many in the West, who are
fasting and praying for her country; that 2 Welshmen had been sent to remind
others of the need for prayer & reconciliation as understandably
many in S.Korea carry resentment to the North.
Every day was filled with ministry to one group or another…to a Reformed
Presbyterian Ministers’ conference at Samyang Church…..a mid-week ‘Praise service’
at Sarang Church…..Chongshin Seminary……National Prayer Breakfast in the Congress…..a
Centennial Celebration of the Pyongyang Revival of 1907…..a World Conference
of the Grace Mission International Church……3 Sunday services at Sarang Church…..and
Evening service at the inner-city Samyang Church {where we were blessed by
the hospitality of old friends, Chongwon & Myunga Shu
PHOTO GALLERY
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| PYONGYANG REVIVAL |
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| Grandson of Korean Evangelist GIL, SON JU |
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| GRACE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL |
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CHANGWON & MYUNGA SHU |
REVIVED by SAINTS
The National holiday of Chosook came during the time we were in S.Korea.
During this 4 day period, when people go to their families, the Holy Spirit
opened the door for ministry to the elderly lepers at Ae-Yang-Won, near Kwangju,
S.Korea. They became our family……and indeed by their dedicated prayer & worship…..ministered
to us!
It was in this place that the saintly Rev. Yang-Won Sohn had bravely
served the ‘outcast lepers’. He had been brutally handled during his 4 years of imprisonment
by the Japanese from 1941-45…..suffering deprivation & torture!
He and his dear wife, Yang-Soon Jung, had later adopted the murderer
{a fellow class-mate} of their 2 sons, who were beaten & then shot during
the Communist upheaval throughout Korea in 1948. This former young Communist
later became a leader in the Church…..a fact which, in an act of retribution
by other Communists… brought about the execution of Rev. Sohn in
1950.
At the leprosarium we were revived in our mission! Early one morning,….
walking uphill to the church, where the 4.30a.m. prayer meeting was being held……we
were holding on to each other like schoolboys. Praying & praising God but
…with our eyes shut…..& we fell into a 4ft. ditch at the side
of the road!
“The blind leading the blind”. But the worship at the predawn
service was well worth the ‘trip’!
BACK in the CAPITAL
Returning to Seoul we presented our programme at a mid-week service
at Sarang Church, which was accompanied by a prolonged time of prayer & praise.
Our final service was at Yoido Full Gospel Church, ….which under the
direction of the Holy Spirit & the leadership of Rev.David Yongi Cho, & the
present pastor Dr.Young Hoon Lee,… has grown to almost 2 million
members!
The congregation of thousands punctuated our message and Huw’s singing
with….”AMEN!”…as well as spontaneous expressions of praise.
A SURPRISE for HUW….CHINA!
The weekend before our return to Wales on October 2 took us to China & the
City of Yanji, near to the China-North Korea border. Ministering to a congregation
in a converted crematorium, at Yanbien University of Science & Technology{YUST},
we encouraged our fellow Christians to continue their work of building
their centre of educational excellence, which is accompanied by inter-personal
witness to their love for Christ.
President James Kim and the faculty were requested by Premier Kim,
Jong-Il to build a similar facility in Pyongyang, North Korea. Pyongyang
University of Science & Technology {PUST} is now nearing completion & is being
built on the site where the Robert Jermain Thomas Memorial Church had once
stood. This church had been built & dedicated to Thomas’ memory
in 1932, but had been destroyed by the Communists when they came
to power.
As we shared the account of Thomas, …& being reminded of God’s passion
for Korea throughout time, …proved a great encouragement to the faculty. There
had been many financial, political & organizational delays in
completing the PUST project, especially following the nuclear bomb-test
undertaken by North Korea in 2006.
God is building His Kingdom!
He has the last say in the affairs of men!
FUTURE MINISTRY
Huw & I have been invited to the proposed opening of PUST in April,
2008. It is our prayer that we can witness to many of our love for Korea, both
North & South; that ‘bridges of love’ will continue to be built
from Wales to Korea.
It seemed to us that the Holy Spirit kept a great blessing for us
until the last weekend of our mission. We worshipped, & Huw sang, to a congregation
of 3,500…..mainly young people….in the largest church in China, in Yanji City.
We long for such praise & prayer to return to many more churches
in Wales.
This service was an apt epilogue to our time in China & S.Korea, as we
then made our mammoth 2 day journey home from the China/N,Korea border to Incheon,
S.Korea & then to London & Wales via Hong Kong.
Blessed, but exhausted, we were met by our loved-ones. Huw…to a 10 day rest
before flying off to the USA with Elizabeth & Jess…..& Steve..
to celebrate with Stella, their 40th Wedding Anniversary in Ireland!
Please “Watch this space!” concerning China & Korea. We believe that
the story of “Wales & Korea…..God’s presence through time”…in
each of these countries is still being written!
Dr.Steve Price.
11/2/07
