A letter from Simon and Haejung Park in Korea
May 1, 2010
Presbyterian mission is alive and growing daily. This is not a line we hear often these days. After we shared the news about the Young Adult Volunteers, Simon traveled again to participate in the lives of our partners in Korea and Japan. The seeds planted by God many years ago through the Presbyterian Church continue to grow and bear fruit.
Japan is not known as a Christian nation, in fact Christians number less than 1 percent of the population. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stopped sending new missionaries to Japan many years ago, and the numbers are down so much that we have a difficult time filling committee seats traditionally filled by mission personnel. We have made a decision to invite Japanese partners into our governing structure as true colleagues in mission. During the short period Simon has been involved in the change process, he has seen a remarkable transformation. Our Japanese partners were able to tap into many talents the missionaries community did not have such as the administrative skills to navigate through the legal and bureaucratic rules of the land. In addition our Japanese partners brought a great love for God’s children and a new energy and enthusiasm, which is often associated with the young.
At the dedication service for the Japan Mission Osaka office (April 2010)
The most important change we noticed is that of the mission perspective. Often the North American perspective has been “mission to” Japan and the boundary of that work was Japan. When we joined forces with Japanese Christians, the focus became both mission in Japan and also “mission from” Japan. We became more aware of the priorities of mission from Japanese perspectives, the desire to share what they received with the others, especially in developing countries in Asia. The partnership developed further to plan activities together and even to pool resources together.
On April 10, Simon joined in the dedication service of the new mission office and to represent PC(USA) at the dinner to thank Dr. Ishida at his retirement from the Yodogawa Christian Hospital (YCH) and to welcome Mr. Mukubo in as the new Superintendent. YCH is an important part of Japan Mission and their leadership is also in the leadership of Japan Mission, working together for the Whole Person Healing mission of tomorrow.
Dr. Kim sharing the story of mission work at the Presbyterian Medical Mission Museum on the grounds of Jesus Hospital, Jeonju, Korea. (April 2010)
During the latter part of April, we visited the fruits of mission work in Korea. We went to Jeonju, about 60 miles south of Daejeon, to see and learn about the medical mission work at the Jesus Hospital (Presbyterian Medical Center). Dr. Min-Chul Kim, the hospital director, showed us the newly opened Mission Museum displaying the selfless services of the missionaries who shared God’s love in the hospital. Of course the hospital itself is the living museum of the continuing ministry. As an aside, we were told that the name for the hospital came from the local folks who neither understood the official name of Presbyterian Medical Center nor could they pronounce it, thus the simple name Jesus Hospital.
Missionary cemetery on the Honam Theological University and Seminary campus, part of the city cultural heritage. (April 2010)
Simon also visited the Honam Theological University and Seminary (HTUS) in the southern city of Kwangju. It is a school for over a thousand students, all preparing to serve God in one capacity or another including contemporary Christian music. The president of the university, the Rev. Dr. Chong-Soon Cha, shared the history, work and vision of the University and the special project with the city government to present the history of Presbyterian mission as a cultural heritage site for educational and cultural tours. Many of the significant programs for the ordinary people of the last century originated from the residences of the missionaries, and HTUS is helping to share the story as an important sign of God’s ministry.
Presbyterian mission is alive and growing. Not necessarily in the traditional way of God’s servants fanning out into the far corners of the world to share his love, but by the fruits of earlier efforts replanting seeds from the same root. As we hear and experience challenges in the world of great needs and the limited resources of the Church, we remember God’s assurance and find new energy in every turn.
Praise God for his works are forever.
Simon and Haejung
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 138
