By: gfesadmin on September 10, 2012
In my 10-day immersion into South Korean culture, I learned that not only are the flavors of Kimchie varied, but, on a heavier note, I was exposed to the deep pain the country has experienced. Similar to the suffering of the children of Israel as Egyptian slaves, the South Koreans endured brutal treatment from the…
By: gfesadmin on September 7, 2012
My friend Krish Kandia has started a great blog series that explores the disintegration of mission by the western church. It’s based around a series of talks he gave to The Norwegian Missionary Alliance (NORMA), with slides, notes and resources.
By: Joy Mindo on September 6, 2012
I began my journey to Korea with stringent rules and expectations from the Korean Embassy in Nairobi for Kenyans traveling to Korea. As I was looking and praying for an affordable flight, the Korean airline launched a direct and affordable flight from Nairobi to Seoul. They advertised their flight to their citizen as an opportunity…
By: gfesadmin on September 6, 2012
Pastor Charles Kim when making his presentation described the characteristics of this generation in three words: Sensual, Immediacy, and Permissive. As I reflected on those three words they were more than just characteristics. To me, it implies a value – system or a worldview by which this generation organizes life and decisions. I realized that…
By: gfesadmin on September 5, 2012
“World culture, church and leadership – Our three big areas of focus” Jason Clark Someone once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” A three year journey has been initiated and, as with any journey of long distances, excitement, anxiousness, questions of stamina, questions of sanity, curiosity and the joy…
By: gfesadmin on September 5, 2012
Or so says the band The Hold Steady… (My apologies to everyone, but I am kind of a pop-culture and music freak, so I tend to think in lyrics or movies.) Arriving in Seoul, South Korea was a pilgrimage of sorts for me, and not just for the amazing food. For a long time, I…
By: gfesadmin on September 5, 2012
It has been said that first impressions linger or that you can’t change them. However, after being in Seoul Korea for the past several days, it is my belief that first impressions are just that, a first impression. As I have given much thought about what to write or how I should approach this post,…
By: gfesadmin on September 5, 2012
Entering the De-militarized Zone I felt a combination of curiosity and “fear”. As we went past the South Korean guards, a sense of excitement rose. This place could become a war zone again. The DMZ is a monument to the fact that there is a tense relationship between North and South Korea, demonstrating an uneasy…
By: gfesadmin on September 5, 2012
As I reflect about our Korean Advance, I am impressed by the impact Christian Missionary leaders had on Korea. Starting in the late 1800s, missionaries came primarily from the USA and England. They opened hospitals, schools and churches. They translated the Bible into the Korean alphabet which at the time was only used by the…
By: gfesadmin on September 5, 2012
A few years ago a trusted mentor shared with me an insight from his years traveling abroad. He said, “When you travel to a new continent or culture you learn a tremendous amount about that particular region and people group, but you will learn even more about where you are from.” My time in Korea…
By: gfesadmin on September 5, 2012
The Korean man and his wife wanted us “to feel their hearts.” And so, they took us on a tour of the Daejeon metropolis of Korea. The salt and pepper haired 40-ish man was on a mission to show us the things he loved about Korea. All five of us hopped in a church van…
By: gfesadmin on September 3, 2012
Hey Seoulmates! I am super excited. I submitted a picture I’ve taken in Seoul to one of my favorite blogs on Tumblr called “Passed out on public transport – P.O.O.P.T.” And there it is… !!! They really put it online. Isn’t that a nice souvenir?
By: gfesadmin on September 3, 2012
I’ve had a hard time deciding what to blog about for this entry. I could write on what I learned about the history of Christianity in Korea (did you know Korean Christianity is only about 120 years old?), or current issues (decline in membership) facing the Korean church. All of these topics would merit a post to themselves,…
By: gfesadmin on September 3, 2012
Korea and the rapidly growing church was on the lips of every notable Christian leader in my country during my early days of ministry. I remember often praying for the ‘spirit of revival sweeping across Korea’ to break out on our nation too. Little did I understand that the answer to that prayer could only…
By: gfesadmin on September 3, 2012
Its been said that you discover a country best and most originally, if you are brave enough to look into the pots and pans, to smell and taste the exotic lusciousness from the carts and cook shops on the streets or in the mouth-watering ethnic restaurants. On the first evening of our advance to Seoul,…
By: gfesadmin on September 3, 2012
The South Korea advance was a time of refreshment and frustration. For someone like me who has been journeying, trying new directions in faith, our time together was wonderful. I felt a true camaraderie among the students and with those that led the Advance. It was freeing to hear of the different places in which…
By: gfesadmin on August 31, 2012
My time in Seoul has been a rich, rewarding and inspiring one. So many highlights, but one experience that seemed to bring them all together and into focus. Yesterday I stood in the Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery (양화진), and on reading one epitaph found my breath taken away, tears stinging my eyes. “If I had a…
By: gfesadmin on August 28, 2012
So I am sitting here in Seoul, as Typhoon Bolaven tears up through Seoul, with the wind and rain increasing in intensity. It reminded me of how Christians all to easily and to often lay claim to weather events as acts of God. For example Hurricane Isaac is currently interfering with and affecting the republican convention (and see here) in the…
By: gfesadmin on August 28, 2012
The extent of human hopelessness and suffering screened today on the North Korean situation is unfathomable. It broke my heart. But I know that every hopelessness can be redeemed through Christ. While social action stems from this conviction, often it seems the actual presentation of the Gospel is diluted and emphasis laid on ‘works’. Ms.…
By: gfesadmin on August 27, 2012
If you are anything like me, I struggle giving myself permission to slow. It’s often more gratifying to check off things on my “to do” list than to sit in silence with God! This morning I heard a common theme among our lecturers regarding the difficulty Korean ministers have in giving themselves inner permission to…
