THE KUKMIN DAILY

“I almost died crossing the 38th parallel. At that moment I made a pledge to God, that I would become God’s servant if I was saved from that crisis. Now that I’m 40 years old and getting older, it will be more and more difficult to keep my promise.”

These were the words of Vice-principal Hong Jong-man (1930∼1982·bottom left in photo) of Geochang High School in Gyeongsangnam-do as he resigned and departed from the school one day in 1970. After his ordination, this family head with two sons and four daughters moved to Hong Kong. Under his leadership as the third pastor of Hong Kong Korean United Church, his congregation became a bridge with China and the outer world, and he extended his efforts to evangelizing in China as well. He was the first president of the Korean Missionaries Comrades, which later became the World Korean Missionary Fellowship (WKMF). Rev. Yu Gwan-ji of the North Korean Church Research Institute said, “I wish we could see more lives like Missionary Hong’s these days; he showed complete obedience and devotion.”

The Korea Evangelical Fellowship (KEF) held its first monthly meeting of the year on January 9 at Bundang Hanshin Church (Rev. Lee Yun-jae) in Gyeonggi-do. The presenters shared introductions of their role models of faith, the persons they wished to resemble.

Rev. Lee Yun-jae reflected on the life and spirituality of Jeanne Guyon (1648∼1717), who endured a harsh life just like Job’s in the Bible, but kept her deep love for God. She never spent a day without meeting with the Lord through quiet time and meditation. Rev. Lee said, “Every moment, standing before God, we need to question ourselves and check our degree of satisfaction and unity with God.”

Ms. Vonette Bright (91·bottom right in photo) is the mentor of Representative Kim Yun-hui of Faith & Work Institute Asia (FWIA). Ms. Bright, wife of Rev. Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC), is often referred to as “the modern woman of Proverbs chapter 31.” Rep. Kim said, “I had several opportunities to get close to her. She’s graceful, beautiful, lovable, meek, and overflowing with strength and wisdom… I was impressed with the way she does her best and works together with others in living out her calling from God and her faith.”

Rev. Choi I-u of Chongkyo Church picked Rev. Ju Gi-cheol (1897∼1944·top left in photo) as his mentor, for his exemplary faith and refusal to take part in Shinto worship under Japanese colonial rule. Rev. Choi said, “His refusal of Shinto worship taught me that being faithful to one’s beliefs means loving one’s country… Rev. Ju’s ministry was consistently ‘Jesus only.’”

Rev. Lee Cheol (retired pastor of Nam Seoul Church), representative of Korean Peacemaker Ministries, introduced “Love A-bomb” Rev. Son Yang-won (1902∼1950·top center in photo) as the pastor he respected the most. Rev. Lee said, “He lived a life of forgiveness and reconciliation; he is the most beautiful peacemaker of our time.”

As the pastor he would like to resemble, Rev. An Man-su (senior pastor of Hwapyeong Church) picked “Jeong Am” Pak Yun-seon (1905∼1988·top right in photo), who emphasized “the Bible only” as a matter of life and death. Rev. Shin Dong-wu (Sandol Jungang Church) picked as his most admired pastor the late missionary Seo Man-su, who died during his ministry in Indonesia; there he had worked for 40 years and established 384 churches in rainforest and remote regions.

Reporter Jaechan Park (jeep@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)


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