A Letter from Art and Sue Kinsler in Korea
December 2009
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2a)
Dear Friends everywhere,
The great light of the gospel shines on the Korean peninsula. Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is active among God’s people whose spiritual eyes have been opened and who now want to share God’s truth, love and peace. And in Christ’s name physical eyes are also being made to see.
Siloam Eye Center Dedication
The new Siloam Eye Center.
On November 26 Art participated in the worship celebrating the opening of the Siloam Eye Center, a hospital building which replaces Siloam Hospital with a brand new facility constructed with eight floors above ground and four below. Art was invited by his long-term friend, the Rev. Sun-Tae Kim, D.Min. Dr. Kim is an amazing blind pastor who was awarded the Magsaysay Prize in 2008 for his lifelong ministry to the visually impaired. Christians in Korea and the United States have sent offerings so that at the hospital in Seoul, and by means of a mobile eye clinic/operating room, Siloam’s medical team has given tens of thousands of underprivileged Koreans free exams and treatment, and eye operations for thousands more.
Teaching at the Presbyterian Seminary
This semester Art taught a Missionary English Course at the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary (PCTS) in Seoul where another friend of long standing, Dr. Young-Ihl Chang, was voted as the new president by the board with confirmation by the Assembly of the PCK. President Chang, seeing a rapidly changing Korea taking a new role in world affairs, wants to shine the Biblical light to spiritually energize PCTS and the Korean Church for mission with a plan that faces the various challenges of our inter-related Global World.
Lighthouse and Pyongyang Presbytery sign agreement
The Lighthouse Foundation, founded in 2004 by Sue when her work of helping orphans and other young children in North Korea with food, medicine and clothes expanded to need an organizational structure, now has a signed partnership agreement with Pyongyang Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (in the South). Lighthouse presently delivers the light and love of Christ by sending food for children and disabled persons in the North and sends needed humanitarian supplies and equipment in shipments authorized by South Korea’s government to support the Potonggang Sheltered Workshops in Pyongyang and three schools for the vision impaired as well as eight schools for the hearing impaired spread around the North’s provincial areas.
Signing the agreement between Pyongyang Presbytery and the Lighthouse foundation.
The agreement states that Pyongyang Presbytery will help with funds for establishing the Pyongyang General Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled and was signed by Presbytery Moderator the Rev. Yoon-Soo Lee and Art as Lighthouse Chair at the October 20 presbytery meeting. The presbytery has nominated the Rev. Dal-Ig Son, South North Mission Committee chair, and the Rev. Chang-Man Jang, chair of their International Cooperative Committee, to be trustees of the Lighthouse Board. Pyongyang Presbytery has a partnership relation with Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery of the PC(USA).
Giving enables increased food shipments
By the end of 2009, monetary gifts and the gift of 150 million won of daily necessities including toothpaste and skin lotion allowed the Lighthouse work to make use of the entire 630 million won (more than $500,000 U.S.) matching fund offered by South Korea’s Unification Department. The daily necessities (as material gifts accounted at 30 percent of value) were given early in the year by a singer well-known in Korea, Ms. Na-Ra Chang. Cooking supplies for the three supported bakery/milk plants, schools, orphanages and one center for the disabled have been shipped to reach the North before the coldest part of the winter.
Twelve 20-foot containers of food such as wheat flour, soybeans, ramyeon noodles, sugar, cooking oil and medical supplies were shipped from South Korea to Nanpo Port in the North in November and twenty containers of similar humanitarian aid in December. Sue Kinsler has been very busy monitoring the delivery of aid in three locations in the North and on her five trips since September she escorted a number of Lighthouse sponsors including groups from Pyongyang Presbytery on two trips. A lot of effort went into planning and making contacts for the 2010 Lighthouse program when it is expected that the ground breaking will be held for the new Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled.
Serving the Christ in Korea for you,
Art and Sue Kinsler
This Christmas please know that your concern, prayers, and giving have enabled bringing thousands back from the brink of starvation. Jesus, the Light of the World, shines through you. All of us at Lighthouse and staff helping the children and disabled send you our sincere thanks and wishes for a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.138
