A letter from Art and Sue Kinsler in Korea
March 31, 2009
And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
II Corinthians 9:8
Dear Friends everywhere,
In these times of economic downturn and many accompanying changes, I was reminded that we need to trust and give for God’s good work when one low-income family tried to give the Lighthouse Foundation more than they should (more than three months income) to help the needy and disabled in North Korea. I said, “But God wants you to take care of your own needs also with this money!” The promise in II Corinthians certainly says that God provides for our needs—physical and spiritual—and wants us to do good works for those in need. How does God tell us what to use for others and where?
Dean of Students Jung (left), scholarship recipient Ms. Jang, and SSU Chaplain Yeon (right) with Art in front of Han Kyung-Chik’s portrait.
Every year our mission treasurer’s office sends out one student scholarship each for 13 high schools, 4 seminaries, and 4 universities in Korea—all of which were founded by PC(USA) missionaries. Those who receive the student aid often send thank you notes. This year, Ms. Jang Eun-Ae of Soongsil University (SSU) wrote a very meaningful thank-you letter, which said, “Last week when I attended a teacher training program I was inspired to become a leader with a vision for the world, and I plan to attend the Presbyterian Seminary for the M. Div. course after I graduate from university.”
Ms. Jang is a third-year English major who sings in the praise team for English chapel worship and last summer participated in the university’s short-term mission service in Mongolia sponsored by school chaplain Rev. Yeon Yo-Han, whom Art helped by correcting his English in his dissertation. We took a picture at the Han Kyung-chik Memorial Chapel with Dr. Jung Jin-Gang, the dean of students, who started teaching at SSU when Art did in 1996.
Following serious discussion with our new area coordinator, the Rev. David Hudson, our mission office in Seoul is downsizing. Our accountant and office manager, elder Michael Minhee Chang, is moving to the United States. Art will still be the liaison person with the Presbyterian Church of Korea offices and other groups while continuing to help the North Korea work through the Lighthouse Foundation.
Pastors Cho, Aung, Seo-Paing, Chan, and Lecturer Khuma from Myanmar are flanked on left and right by Dan and Carol with Art in the mission office.
Sometimes the work of receiving funds and messages and then passing on the funds or replying to messages can seem rather routine, but meeting visitors brings an interesting change. I enjoyed the visit of five church leaders from Myanmar who are taking graduate theological studies at Hanil University. Their professors—mission co-workers Dan and Carol Chou Adams—brought them from Chonju for their first visit to Seoul.
In September, the 93rd assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea was held on Cheju Island. The moderator, the Rev. Kim Sam Hwan of Myung Sung Presbyterian Church, persuaded the commissioners to approve a two-year “Three Million Believers Movement” as the PCK’s strategy to restore the church’s passion for evangelism and bring spiritual renewal in a time when an anti-Christian mood and the economic crisis threaten the vitality and growth of the church. National and regional rallies have had good-sized attendance while posters and purple buttons with the slogan “Come to Christ with the Neighbor” are visible signs of this movement to more than triple the recent growth rate of the denomination of 2,700,000 members.
We American Presbyterians may wonder about methods of giving and sharing the good news, but we need to ask ourselves then what are we doing in these areas?
Sue returned from her trip of February 9 to 21 with the news that the Lighthouse can again support the Meerim Orphanage, with its 700 children aged 8 to 17. The Lighthouse also asks for prayer that the groundbreaking for the large rehabilitation center for the disabled in Pyongyang can be held as scheduled this May. If construction doesn’t begin on time, the site for this project may be reassigned.
It happened again to another of our missionary friends: a fake message sent out to all the email addresses on his computer saying that he had had trouble when visiting another country and needed money sent there. Please note that the Kinslers would never send such an email message.
Serving Christ for you in Korea (message written while Sue is in North Korea again),
Arthur W. Kinsler
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 120
