News

Korea UBF
July 14, 2014

The 2nd Gen Missionary education was held in Korea on July 4-7, 2014. Twelve students(9 2nd gen missionaries, 3 students studying abroad) joined this camp with 3 missionaries(Msn. Maria Yoo from Uganda, Msn. Mary Cowen from U of I, USA, Msn. Johannes Lee from Koeln, Germany). They are Insu & Eunhye Kim(Nicaragua), Vision Kim(Zambia), Maria Kim(Pennsylvania, USA), Grace Joo(Sweden), Esther Ahn(Chicago, USA), Joseph Wang(Chicago, USA), Sara Lee(Toronto, Canada), Jookyoung Yoo(Uganda), Yeonyoung Yoon(Belarus), Sarah Gulzan(Kirkhizstan), Marisol Blas(Acatlan, Mexico).

On the first day, the 2nd gens watched a video on UBF continental pioneering history. Afterwards they learned UBF ancestors’ faith & spirit, while discussing how to inherit and further develop such spirit. After having lunch together, the 2nd gens visited Yanghwajin(Missionary Cemetery). About 150 missionaries had been buried there. Among them was Dr. John Heron. He was a promising young man as a medical doctor in Tennessee, USA. But he heard God’s calling to help the poor and sick in Chosun. He took care of patients but contracted dysentry himself after working so hard for 5 years. Before called to heaven, he preached the gospel to Chosun people and asked his wife to remain in Korea to continue his work. He confessed that even though his work did not amount to much, all were done for Jesus. After his death, the Chosun government prepared a burial site for foreigners, which later became Yanghwajin. The 2nd gens were deeply impressed by the sacrifices and love of missionaries.

On the second day, after having a class on UBF history, the 2nd gens visited Kyoungbok Palace and SNU campus.

On the third day, the 2nd gens visited Kwangju center, where the UBF movement first began. During the 4 hour trip, they had a good fellowship time. On arrival, they watched a video on Mother Barry’s letters which showed vividly how UBF movement began. (At Kwangju, Daniel Choi(Moscow, Russia) and Hayoung Kim(daughter of Nehemiah Kim joined the camp.) After that, they moved to UBF history museum, where they learned how God had worked through UBF and what God’s vision and will for them is. Then they moved to a missionary cemetery for the southern part of Korea. After having dinner prepared by Kwangju shepherdesses, they shared 3 pages of life testimonies. (Several 2nd gens at Kwangju center joined this meeting.) Through life testimonies, they thanked God for their parents’ love and sacrifices. At the same time, they confessed their sin problems and renewed Jesus’ love of forgiveness. Through sharing life testimonies, they deepened their love relationship with each other and prayed for each other. After sharing life testimonies, 3 senior 2nd gens(Esther Ahn, Joseph Wang, Maria Kim) had a Bible study meeting on John chapter one with Shs. Helen Kim.

On the final day, the 2nd gens visited Martyr & Pastor Sohn Yangwon’s museum. They heard a lecture on missionaries who gave their lives for the lepers in Korea. And they also learned Pastor Sohn’s great love who forgave and adopted a communist student who had killed Pastor Sohn’s two sons. Thank God who gave this precious opportunity for the 2nd gens to learn what missionary spirit is. Pray that God may guide them to live like their parents.

Elijah Moon