지난 23일 수요일 아침 7시 달동에 있는 마이코즈 빌딩 1층에 위치한 브런치 까페에서 울산사랑실천운동(울산성시화운동) 월례회가 있었습니다. 지난 한 달 동안은 많은 일들이 있었습니다. 그 가운데서도 기억에 남는 것은, 특히 고난주간 한 끼 금식운동을 통해 새터민지원사업을 공동으로 했고 목요일 밤에는 목사장로 통회기도회를 울산제일교회 예배당에서 갖기도 했던 일입니다. 부산 수영로 교회 담임목사와 부산부전교회 목사님이 오셔서 말씀과 기도회를 인도했는데 참 좋은 밤이었습니다.
오늘 아침 모임에서는 부산 대구 서울에서, 멀리는 영국, 그리고 남아공화국에서 오신 분들이 있었습니다. 부산에서 오신 부산대학교 길원평 교수님은 동성애와 차별금지법의 폐해와 문제점에 대해서 그 심각성을 알려왔습니다. 2014년 동성애로 감염된 남성 에이즈 환자는 대한민국에 약8천~1만2천명이고 이들의 일 년 의료비는 1,600억 내지 2,400억이 드는데 전액국가예산에서 지출됩니다. 동성애자는 일반인에 비해서 에이즈에 걸릴 확률이 약 183배나 높습니다. 동성애가 유행하면서 청소년 에이즈 신규감염자 급증사태를 맞이하고 있습니다. 차별금지법이 통과되면 동성애를 반대하면 처벌을 받게 되고 학교에서는 동성애, 성전환을 정상으로 가르쳐야 합니다(자세한 정보는 www.cchp.kr로 연결하면 됩니다)
선교선 (LOGOS HOPE)호의 한국, 울산방문에 대한 소식을 알려왔습니다. 5월 30일 금요일부터 6월 3일 화요일까지 짧게 머물지만 시간을 내시면 세계최대의 선상 서점과 로고스 호프체험관을 무료로 관람할 수 있습니다. 방문객들은 영어와 한국어로 된 5,000가지의 다양한 주제의 좋은 책들을 좋은 가격으로 살 수 있으며, 또한 인터넷 카페를 통해서 여러 가지 간식들과 여러 선교사님들을 만날 수 있습니다. 선상 투어는 미리 예약해야 안내를 받을 수 있으며 어른은 7,000원 아이들은 3,000원으로 예약할 수 있습니다. 10명 단위로 한 그룹을 이루어 40분간 투어를 할 수 있습니다. 그 외도 여러 가지 행사가 있는데 신청은 온라인(lo-goshope.ulsan@gbaships.org)으로 가능합니다.
그리고 우리교회 복산 예배당에서 고등부를 맡고 십대들의 둥지 사무국장을 맡은 조휘용 목사님이 섬기는 틴즈 페스티벌은 6월 14일 오후 6시부터 문수 호반광장에서 아홉 번째 열립니다. 울산청소년축제로는 만명 이상, 많은 청소년들이 참여하는 대표적인 대회이고, 이번 대회의 특징은 청소년이 자발적으로 참여하는 공간, 학교부스가 설치되고 거기서 는 美친(teen)이란 이름의 바자회가 준비되어 교과서나 청소년들이 읽을 만한 책들, 교복 등 청소년 수준에서 물품들을 준비해서 그 수익금으로 또래들을 도우려고 하고 있습니다. 대회 식전행사로 미리 예선을 끝낸 밴드페스티발 결선을 함으로 축제의 장을 시작할 것입니다.
At 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday the 23rd, the monthly gathering of the Movement to Practice Love for Ulsan (Ulsan Holy City Movement) was held at a brunch café located on the first floor of the Mycoz Building in Dal-dong. So much has happened over the past month. Among the most memorable moments was our joint initiative during Passion Week to support North Korean defectors through a 'one-meal fasting' campaign, as well as the solemn gathering of pastors and elders for a prayer of repentance on Thursday evening at Ulsan First Presbyterian Church. The senior pastor of Busan Sooyoungro Church and the pastor of Busan Bujeon Church joined us to lead the Word and prayer, making it a truly blessed evening.
At this morning's meeting, attendees gathered from Busan, Daegu, and Seoul, and even from as far as the United Kingdom and South Africa. Professor Won-Pyung Kil from Pusan National University, who came from Busan, highlighted the gravity and detrimental consequences of homosexuality and the proposed anti-discrimination legislation. In 2014, there were an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 male AIDS patients in South Korea infected through homosexual intercourse, with their annual medical costs ranging between 160 billion and 240 billion KRW, covered entirely by the national healthcare budget. Homosexual individuals are approximately 183 times more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than the general population. As homosexuality becomes culturally prevalent, our youth are facing a sharp surge in new HIV/AIDS infections. If the anti-discrimination law passes, dissenting against homosexuality will result in legal penalties, and schools will be mandated to teach homosexuality and sex changes as normal behavior (for more detailed information, please visit www.cchp.kr).
News was also shared regarding the visit of the mission ship LOGOS HOPE to Ulsan, South Korea. Although her stay is brief—from Friday, May 30, to Tuesday, June 3—those who make time will be able to tour the world's largest floating bookstore and the Logos Hope Experience for free. Visitors can purchase high-quality books covering 5,000 diverse subjects in both Korean and English at affordable prices, and meet various missionaries over snacks at the international café. Onboard guided tours require prior reservation, costing 7,000 KRW for adults and 3,000 KRW for children. Groups of 10 can take a 40-minute guided tour. Various other programs are also being arranged, and applications can be submitted online via email (logoshope.ulsan@gbaships.org).
Furthermore, the Teens Festival, served by Pastor Hwi-Yong Cho—who oversees the High School Department at our church's Boksan Chapel and serves as Secretary-General of Teens' Nest—will be held for the ninth time on June 14, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Munsu Lakeside Plaza. As Ulsan's representative youth festival attracting more than 10,000 young people, this year's festival features school booths created for spontaneous youth engagement. A bazaar titled 'Me-chin' (Beautiful Teen) will offer textbooks, recommended books, uniforms, and other youth-oriented items, with all proceeds dedicated to helping peers in need. The festival will kick off with the final round of the youth band competition, whose preliminaries have already concluded, setting a joyful stage for the entire event.
Op Woensdagoggend die 23ste om 07:00 is die maandelikse byeenkoms van die Beweging om Liefde vir Ulsan te Beoefen (Ulsan Heilige Stad-beweging) by 'n brunch-kafee op die grondvloer van die Mycoz-gebou in Dal-dong gehou. Daar het die afgelope maand baie dinge gebeur. Onder die mees onvergeetlike oomblikke was ons gesamentlike inisiatief tydens die Lydensweek om Noord-Koreaanse vlugtelinge te ondersteun deur 'n veldtog van vas vir een maaltyd, asook die boetestond vir predikante en ouderlinge wat op Donderdagaand in die kerkgebou van Ulsan Eerste Gemeente gehou is. Die leraar van Busan Sooyoungro Gemeente en die leraar van Busan Bujeon Gemeente het gekom om die Woord en die gebedsbyeenkoms te lei, en dit was waarlik 'n geseënde aand.
By vanoggend se byeenkoms was daar gaste uit Busan, Daegu en Seoel, en selfs van so ver as die Verenigde Koninkryk en Suid-Afrika. Professor Won-Pyung Kil van die Pusan Nasionale Universiteit, wat uit Busan gekom het, het die erns en die nadelige gevolge van homoseksualiteit en die voorgestelde anti-diskriminasiewetgewing onder die aandag gebring. In 2014 was daar ongeveer 8 000 tot 12 000 manlike Vigs-pasiënte in Suid-Korea wat deur homoseksuele dade besmet is, en hul jaarlikse mediese koste beloop tussen 160 miljard en 240 miljard KRW, wat ten volle uit die nasionale begroting gedek word. Homoseksuele individue het 'n ongeveer 183 keer hoër risiko om Vigs op te doen as die algemene bevolking. Namate homoseksualiteit meer algemeen raak, staar ons jeug 'n skerp toename in nuwe MIV/Vigs-infeksies in die gesig. Indien die anti-diskriminasiewet aanvaar word, sal teenkanting teen homoseksualiteit tot strafregtelike vervolging lei, en skole sal verplig word om homoseksualiteit en geslagsveranderings as normaal te onderrig (vir meer inligting, besoek gerus www.cchp.kr).
Daar is ook nuus gedeel oor die besoek van die sendingboot LOGOS HOPE aan Ulsan, Suid-Korea. Alhoewel haar besoek kort is—van Vrydag 30 Mei tot Dinsdag 3 Junie—kan diegene wat tyd inruim die wêreld se grootste drywende boekwinkel en die Logos Hope-ervaringsentrum gratis besoek. Besoekers kan 5 000 goeie boeke oor uiteenlopende onderwerpe in sowel Koreaans as Engels teen billike pryse aankoop, en verskeie sendelinge ontmoet terwyl hulle verversings in die internetkafee geniet. Toere aan boord moet vooraf bespreek word, teen 7 000 KRW vir volwassenes en 3 000 KRW vir kinders. 'n Begeleide toer van 40 minute word in groepe van tien aangebied. Verskeie ander geleenthede word ook beplan, en aansoeke kan aanlyn per e-pos gedoen word (logoshope.ulsan@gbaships.org).
Verder word die Tienerfees, gelei deur pastoor Hwi-Yong Cho—wat verantwoordelik is vir die Hoërskoolbediening by ons gemeente se Boksan-kapel en dien as sekretaris-generaal van Teens' Nest—vir die negende keer op 14 Junie vanaf 18:00 by die Munsu-meeroewerplein gehou. As Ulsan se toonaangewende jeugfees wat meer as 10 000 jongmense lok, lê vanjaar se klem op ruimtes vir vrywillige deelname van die jeug. Skoolstalletjies sal opgerig word met 'n basaar genaamd 'Me-chin' (Pragtige Tiener), waar handboeke, aanbevole leesstof, skooldrag en ander tienerartikels verkoop sal word om met die opbrengs behoeftige maats te help. Die fees sal amptelik ingelui word met die finale ronde van die tiener-orkesfees, waarvan die uitdunne reeds afgehandel is.