Korean culture has gained immense popularity, making waves amongst many people worldwide, and they are, by their own will, knocking the doors of Korean-speaking churches. When God sends such lost souls to our church, we should be ready to lead them into salvation. With this new wave, Korean churches, in these days, have become hotspots for missionary work, and are given new opportunities. Our church has been preparing for this new mission for a long time and God has been leading us step by step.
This Fall, we have combined the Youth Group and the College Group and founded the “English Speaking Congregation”. Like the word “Congregation” implies, the English Speaking Congregation has started a new journey as an independent Church separated from the Korean Speaking Congregation. They are still weak and have a long way to go, but I pray that this seed of life we are planting today will grow into a tree of life.
The ESC has chosen a name to represent its identity. From now one, please call the ESC the “Tree of Life” and have faith that it will become like the meaning of its name. We are planting a seed of life in this new congregation with faith that it will grow into a “Tree of Life”. When you call its name, please have a dream that this faith will come true.
Every living and breathing church is rooted in someone’s sacrifice of love. When that love and sacrifice is combined with the love and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, a living church is born. The glorious church of Jesus Christ can only be built upon the Word, prayer, tears, labor and love. For the ESC to grow into a truly independent church of its own, it will require someone’s love and sacrifice.
There is no doubt that the Korean Speaking Congregation will support the ESC with love and sacrifice. However, the ESC should be the protagonist in all this. Unless the ESC is clear on its identity, and has a sense of ownership, the name “Tree of Life” and its dream will become indistinct. The ESC should pray by themselves and should have a dream of its own. New spirits with the heart of Jesus should rise among them.
A church is a body of Christ. A church is a congregation of believers who are interconnected within the blood and the spirit of Jesus Christ. A church is a congregation of followers who are used as hands and feet of God and accomplish the living life in this earth. Just like everyone has a name, now the English Speaking Congregation has a name of its own. I pray that it will grow to become a glorious church of God.
From pastor, JiWon Choi
정태현 파송 선교사님 편지