올 한 해 동안 우리 울산교회는 해외의 거점도시에 고신교회를 개척하는 일을 새롭게 시작했습니다. 중국 북경과 일본 동경에는 SFC 간사출신 선교사님들이 하고 있는 학사 중심의 교회를 두 곳 후원하고 다른 두 곳은 캐나다 토론토의 아름다운 장로교회(이정복 목사)와 호주의 애들 레이드 교회(안창주 목사)입니다. 어제 성탄주보에 실린 캐나다 소식에 이어서 호주에서 보내온 메일을 소개하려고 합니다.
<정 목사님… 항상 하나님 주시는 능력으로 강건하시길 기도합니다. 한국은 겨울이 다가오겠지만 여기는 여름이 가까워졌습니다. 먼저 축하를 드립니다. 힘든 직분이지만 목사님을 교단을 위해 귀하게 세워주신 하나님의 인도하심에 감사를 드립니다. 더욱 바쁜 시간을 보내실 목사님께 하나님의 선하심이 함께 하시기를 소망합니다. 목사님.. 정말 감사합니다. 교회를 개척하며 가장 인간적으로 외롭고 힘든 시기에 부족한 저를 찾아주시고 사랑으로 후원해 주심을 고개숙여 감사를 드립니다. 서울영동교회에서 유학을 겸해 보내주셨는데 교회를 먼저 아름답게 세우는 것이 마음에 부담으로 다가왔고 아무 것도 없이, 준비도 없이 시작한 교회 개척에 하나님께서 불쌍히 여기시고 큰 은혜를 주셨습니다.
교회개척이라는 것이 재정적인 부담을 안게 되는 현실적 어려움을 만날 때마다 때로는 후회하고 좌절하는 시간도 있었지만 목사님과 울산교회의 사랑으로 귀한 시간을 보내었습니다. 부족하지만 저 나름대로 최선을 다해 달려왔고 하나님께서 열매도 풍성하게 주셨습니다. 그리고 최근 새로운 교회의 사역과 비전을 주셔서 성도님들과 함께 설레는 마음으로 교회와 성도님들을 섬기고 있습니다. 한 해 동안 저희 교회를 응원해 주심에 감사를 드리며 저희 교회의 상황과 기도제목을 보내드립니다.
지금까지 주신 사랑만으로도 저에겐 풍성한 기쁨이 되었습니다. 새로운 하나님의 인도하심을 기대하면서 2011년을 기도하며 기다리고 있습니다. 별 내용은 아니지만 2010년 한해를 지나온 저희 교회의 형편과 꿈을 목사님과 나누고 싶습니다. 여전히 못나고 부족한 저와 저희 애들레이 드선교교회를 위해 기도를 부탁드립니다. 12월을 맞이하며 더욱 건강 유의하시고 하나님의 교회와 나라를 위해, 그리고 교단을 위해 더욱 열정적으로 수고하시기를 기도합니다. 더욱 강건하시고 크고 놀라운 하나님의 역사를 이루시기를 소망합니다. 목사님 다시 한 번 감사를 드립니다.
11월 30일 호주 애들레이드에서 안창주 올림>
Throughout this past year, our Ulsan Church embarked on a new endeavor to plant Kosin churches in key international cities. In Beijing, China, and Tokyo, Japan, we are supporting two student-centered campus ministry churches led by former SFC staff workers. The other two are Beautiful Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Canada (Pastor Jung-Bok Lee), and Adelaide Church in Australia (Pastor Chang-Joo Ahn). Following the news from Canada shared in yesterday's Christmas bulletin, I would like to introduce an email sent from Australia.
<Pastor Jung... I pray that you may always remain strong through the power that God provides. While winter is approaching in Korea, summer is drawing near here. First, let me extend my congratulations. Though it is an arduous calling, I give thanks for God's guidance in graciously appointing you to serve our denomination. As you face an even busier schedule ahead, my hope is that God's goodness will continually accompany you. Pastor... I am truly grateful. During the loneliest and most difficult season of church planting from a purely human standpoint, you reached out to someone as inadequate as me and supported us with deep love; for this, I bow my head in heartfelt gratitude. Seoul Youngdong Church sent me here along with the opportunity to pursue further studies, yet building up a beautiful church first weighed heavily on my heart. God looked with compassion upon this church plant that began with virtually nothing and no prior preparation, granting us immense grace.
Whenever confronted with the stark reality of financial strain inherent in church planting, there were moments of regret and discouragement. Yet, through the love shown by you, Pastor, and Ulsan Church, we have walked through a truly precious season. Though lacking, I have run this race doing my utmost, and God has blessed us with abundant fruit. Furthermore, He has recently granted us a fresh ministry focus and vision for the church, so with joyful anticipation alongside our congregation, I am serving both the church and our members. Thanking you sincerely for cheering our church on throughout the year, I share with you our current situation and prayer requests.
The love you have shown us so far has already been a source of abundant joy for me. Anticipating God's new guidance, I am praying and waiting for 2011. Though simple, I wanted to share with you, Pastor, the circumstances and dreams of our church over this past year of 2010. Please continue to pray for me, who remains so inadequate and flawed, and for our Adelaide Mission Church. As we enter December, please take good care of your health, and I pray that you will labor with even greater zeal for God's church, His kingdom, and our denomination. May you remain ever strong and witness God's great and wondrous works unfold. Pastor, thank you once again.
November 30, from Adelaide, Australia, Chang-Joo Ahn>
Gedurende die afgelope jaar het ons Ulsan Gemeente 'n nuwe inisiatief begin om Kosin-gemeentes in strategiese stede oorsee te plant. In Beijing, China, en Tokio, Japan, ondersteun ons twee studente-gesentreerde bedienings wat gelei word deur oud-SFC-personeellede. Die ander twee is Beautiful Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Kanada (leraar Jung-Bok Lee), en die gemeente in Adelaide, Australië (leraar Chang-Joo Ahn). Ná die berig uit Kanada wat in gister se Kersbulletin verskyn het, deel ek graag 'n e-pos wat uit Australië ontvang is.
<Ds. Jung... Ek bid dat u altyd kragtig sal bly deur die sterkte wat God skenk. Terwyl die winter in Korea nader kom, breek die somer hier by ons aan. Eerstens wil ek my gelukwensing uitspreek. Al is dit 'n veeleisende amp, dank ek God vir Sy leiding wat u so kosbaar tot diens van ons kerkverband gestel het. Terwyl u 'n selfs besiger tyd tegemoetgaan, hoop ek dat God se goedheid u ryklik sal vergesel. Dominee... baie dankie. In 'n tyd toe die gemeentestigting op 'n menslike vlak op sy eensaamste en moeilikste was, het u na iemand so ontoereikend soos ek uitgereik en ons met groot liefde ondersteun; hiervoor buig ek my hoof in innige dankbaarheid. Seoul Youngdong-gemeente het my hierheen gestuur om ook verdere studies te onderneem, maar die opbou van 'n pragtige gemeente het aanvanklik swaar op my gemoed gedruk. God het Hom egter ontferm oor hierdie gemeentestigting wat sonder enigiets en sonder voorbereiding begin het, en Hy het ons oorvloedige genade geskenk.
Elke keer wanneer die tasbare finansiële laste van gemeentestigting ons getref het, was daar tye van spyt en moedeloosheid, maar deur u en Ulsan Gemeente se liefde kon ons 'n baie kosbare tyd beleef. Hoewel gebrekkig, het ek na my beste vermoë gehardloop, en God het ons ryke vrugte geskenk. Daarby het Hy ons onlangs 'n vars bediening en visie gegee, sodat ek die gemeente en gelowiges met 'n opgewonde hart saam met die lidmate kan bedien. Ek sê baie dankie dat u ons gemeente deur die jaar heen bemoedig het, en ek stuur hiermee ons gemeente se omstandighede en gebedsversoeke.
Die liefde wat u tot dusver bewys het, was reeds vir my 'n bron van oorvloedige vreugde. Terwyl ons uitsien na God se nuwe leiding, wag en bid ons vir 2011. Dit is maar 'n beskeie oorsig, maar ek wou graag ons gemeente se wel en weë en drome van die afgelope jaar, 2010, met u deel. Dra asseblief vir my, wat steeds so ontoereikend en swak is, asook ons Adelaide Sendinggemeente, in gebed op. Noudat Desember aanbreek, pas asseblief u gesondheid mooi op, en ek bid dat u met nog groter ywer sal arbei vir God se kerk, Sy koninkryk en die kerkverband. Mag u steeds versterk word en God se groot en wonderbaarlike dade sien gebeur. Dominee, nogmaals baie dankie.
30 November, uit Adelaide, Australië, Chang-Joo Ahn>