There were exceptionally many events in June, making it a busy month. Church-wise, there were a leaders’ retreat, a young adult BBQ, and Arise. From the Association of Korean Churches in the UK, there were a pastors’ couples retreat, a preaching seminar by Professor Sung Wook Shin, and a joint revival meeting with Pastor Kisung Yoo. Additionally, there were events organized by pastors I know personally, so I had to participate in those as well. I think I can finally catch my breath once I get through the two events scheduled for this week.
Since our church has two campuses and new people continuously visit and register, we need to implement appropriate changes, which requires a lot of thought. Moreover, having a large family means there are many things to take care of. At my age, I should be securing personal time to focus on my ministry, but that’s not easy either. That’s why, at the beginning of the year, when asked to take on the role of president of the Association of Korean Curches in the UK, I strongly declined, saying I couldn’t do it at the time, but I was practically pushed into the position. I am grateful that they entrusted it to me, but I felt overwhelmed.
Initially, forming the executive team was not easy, but pastors who regularly help each other out volunteered to take on one task each, like participating in pumasi, a form of traditional Korean collective labour. Rather than having many events throughout the year, I wanted to have one that would genuinely benefit our pastors. So, I asked the pastors invited to our church’s biannual Bible conference to come a bit earlier and lead a seminar and joint revival meeting. I asked them to share on fundamental questions like “What is a pastor?” and “What is preaching?” I believed that would be the greatest comfort and challenge.
There are instances where we end up doing events that weren’t originally planned. This is because some pastors request the association to host certain events. The pastors’ couples retreat and Pastor Kisung Yoo’s revival meeting this month were such cases. The retreat was held for three days and two nights at a hotel in Oxford, with meals alternating between three quite good restaurants near the hotel, and the gatherings were held in a church hall within the university. With 64 pastors and their spouses participating, the expenses were considerable, but Shingil Church sponsored the event.
While annual pilgrimages or day trips are good, I had hoped to have a retreat where we could receive grace and share our difficulties while eating and fellowshipping together for a few days. God knew this desire and allowed us to have this time without much effort.
The revival meeting with Pastor Kisung Yoo was also something that we had contacted him about last year, but it was cancelled because he said it would be difficult. After many twists and turns, it finally happened, and it became an indescribable time of grace with an unprecedented number of believers participating. Both were not events I had planned, but God allowed them, and they became necessary times for pastors and believers.
At some point, I developed a peculiar(?) faith in God. A belief that whatever I do, He will make it go well. Just as it is said that David was victorious wherever he went, I wondered if God was granting me such grace. I say this not out of arrogance, but out of gratitude. Like David, I want to be a person after God’s own heart, fulfilling His will as His servant (Acts 13:22).
