5박 6일, 12명이 출발한 몽골단기선교는 참여한 모든 분들에게 의미와 감동이 있는 시간이었습니다. 도착한 다음날 토요일은 주일에 예배하기로 된 생명의 새샘교회(하샤 목사 시무)와 멀리 떨어져 있는 언더레쉬르 트 말고는, 울란바타르 시내의 다섯 교회 모두를 둘러보았습니다. 저희 부부와 대장 문성룡 집사님은 각 교회의 담당 교역자를 만나는 동안, 나머지 분들은 가까운 마을로 가서 복음을 전했습니다. 최복만 장로님의 열심이 그 교회들을 시작하게 했지만, 아직도 장로님의 열심에 따라 우리 모두는 움직이고 있다는 느낌입니다.
주일 이른 새벽에 최 장로님과 이창대 형제(김해 모든민족교회, 대학1 년), 그리고 통역 덜겅 자매는 고비 알타이로 떠났고, 나머지 대원은 생명의새샘교회에서 오전예배를 드리고, 오후 4시에 어떤 예배당을 빌려서, 올 수 있는 여덟 교회가 연합으로 약 120여명이 함께 예배를 드렸습니다. 토요일에 각 교회를 둘러보긴 해도 교역자와 예배당 말고는 성도들을 만날 수 없었는데 한 자리에 많은 성도들을 만나보는 감동이 있었습니다. 오전에는 주기도문을, 오후에는 사도신경 강해를 듣는, 기독교 교리의 기본을 확인하는 기회가 되었습니다.
월요일에는 1박 2일로 국립공원 테를찌로 가서, 8개 교회 약 40명 가까운 현지 교회 지도자들을 모아서 격려하고 말씀으로 훈련하는 시간을 가졌습니다. “목회자, 누구인가?”라는 주제로 여섯 차례의 90분 강의를 했습니다. 그 가운데 네 번은 제가 강의를 했고, 두 번은 아내가 맡아주어서 숨을 돌릴 여유가 있었습니다. 1)목회자의 자기 관리(눅 1:80), 2) 목회자의 자기 이해(눅 3:21-22) 3) 목회자와 기도사역(엡 6:18-20) 4) 목회자와 말씀사역(사 40:6-8)을 제가 강의하고, 1) 신앙인과 경건훈련(요 8:1-11) 2) 신앙인과 영적 싸움(엡 6:10-17)을 아내가 강의했습니다. 모두들 1박 2일은 너무 짧았다고 말했으며, “한 시간 한 시간이 지나가는 것이 아까웠다”고 통역으로 수고한 하샤 목사의 말이 마음에 남습니다.
마지막 밤에 단기선교를 돌아보았습니다. 무엇보다 식사를 맡아 수고한 이진녀, 임성희, 노숙연 집사님께 감사하며, 아침마다 큐티와 저녁기도회를 인도한 김희웅 목사님과 김광연, 김동균, 박지원 집사님의 수고도 잊을 수가 없습니다. 2박 3일 동안 고비 알타이의 먼 길을 다녀온 세 분께도 감사하며, 특히 통역으로 수고한 하샤 목사님과 타미르 사모님과 소욜마 자매님, 그리고 온갖 일을 다 주선한 SFC 박현석 간사님의 수고가 없었으면 단기선교가 불가능했을 것입니다. 현지 교회 대표자들의 마지막 부탁, 일 년에 한 차례가 아니라, 가능하다면 서너 차례의 집중세미나를 해 달라는 요청에 대한 부담이 있습니다. 강사 두 사람만 보내주면, 나머지 경비는 자신들이 감당하겠다며 강청하고 있습니다.
Our short-term mission trip to Mongolia—six days and five nights with twelve team members—was a deeply meaningful and moving experience for all who took part. On Saturday, the day after our arrival, we visited all five churches within the city of Ulaanbaatar, with the exception of New Spring of Life Church (pastored by Pastor Khashaa), where we were scheduled to worship on Sunday, and Öndörshirēt, which is located quite far away. While my wife, myself, and our team leader, Deacon Seong-ryong Moon, met with the ministers in charge of each church, the rest of the team went out into nearby villages to share the Gospel. It was Elder Bok-man Choi's passionate dedication that initially gave birth to these churches, yet even now, one can feel that we are all still moving forward carried by his fervent devotion.
Early on Sunday morning, Elder Choi, Brother Chang-dae Lee (a first-year university student from Gimhae All Nations Church), and our interpreter, Sister Dölgoon, departed for Govi-Altai. The remaining team members attended the morning worship service at New Spring of Life Church. Then at 4:00 PM, renting another chapel, approximately 120 believers from eight churches that were able to make the journey gathered for a united worship service. Although we had visited the various churches on Saturday, we had only been able to meet the pastors and see the buildings, not the congregants; thus, seeing so many believers gathered together in one place was deeply moving. It was a precious opportunity to reaffirm the foundational truths of Christian doctrine, as we listened to an exposition on the Lord's Prayer in the morning and on the Apostles' Creed in the afternoon.
On Monday, we traveled to Terelj National Park for a two-day, one-night retreat, gathering nearly 40 local church leaders from eight congregations to encourage them and train them through God's Word. Under the overarching theme "The Pastor: Who Are We?", we held six 90-minute lectures. I delivered four of them, and my wife graciously took charge of two, which gave me a much-needed breathing space. I lectured on: 1) The Pastor's Self-Care (Luke 1:80), 2) The Pastor's Self-Understanding (Luke 3:21–22), 3) The Pastor and the Ministry of Prayer (Eph. 6:18–20), and 4) The Pastor and the Ministry of the Word (Isa. 40:6–8). My wife lectured on: 1) The Believer and Spiritual Discipline (John 8:1–11), and 2) The Believer and Spiritual Warfare (Eph. 6:10–17). Everyone expressed that two days and one night felt far too short. The words of Pastor Khashaa, who served tirelessly as our interpreter, still resonate deeply in my heart: "Every single passing hour felt too precious to lose."
On our final evening, we took time to reflect upon the entire mission trip. Above all, I am deeply grateful to Deaconesses Jin-nyeo Lee, Seong-hee Lim, and Sook-yeon Noh, who worked so hard preparing our meals. Nor can I forget the dedicated labors of Pastor Hee-woong Kim, along with Deacons Gwang-yeon Kim, Dong-gyun Kim, and Ji-won Park, who led the morning QT and the evening prayer gatherings each day. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the three members who undertook the arduous journey to Govi-Altai for three days and two nights. In particular, this short-term mission trip would have been impossible without the dedicated translation work of Pastor Khashaa, his wife Tamir, and Sister Soyolmaa, as well as SFC staff worker Hyun-seok Park, who handled all logistical arrangements. Finally, there remains a deep burden on our hearts regarding the parting appeal made by the local church leaders: they earnestly pleaded not merely for an annual visit, but for intensive seminars three or four times a year if possible. They passionately implored us, promising that if we would only send two lecturers, they would gladly cover all remaining expenses themselves.
Ons korttermynuitreik na Mongolië—ses dae en vyf nagte met twaalf spanlede—was 'n besonder betekenisvolle en roerende ervaring vir elkeen wat deelgeneem het. Op Saterdag, die dag ná ons aankoms, het ons al vyf gemeentes binne die stad Ulaanbaatar besoek, met uitsondering van die Nuwe Lewensbron-gemeente (bedien deur leraar Khashaa) waar ons beplan het om Sondag te aanbid, en Öndörshirēt wat taamlik ver geleë is. Terwyl my vrou, ekself en ons spanleier, diaken Seong-ryong Moon, die verantwoordelike leraars van elke gemeente ontmoet het, het die res van die span na nabygeleë dorpies gegaan om die Evangelie te verkondig. Dit was ouderling Bok-man Choi se vurige toewyding wat hierdie gemeentes destyds laat ontstaan het, en 'n mens voel steeds dat ons almal voortgedryf word deur sy onvermoeide ywer.
Vroeg Sondagoggend het ouderling Choi, broer Chang-dae Lee ('n eerstejaarstudent aan Gimhae All Nations Church) en ons tolk, suster Dölgoon, na Gobi-Altai vertrek. Die oorblywende spanlede het die oggenddiens by die Nuwe Lewensbron-gemeente bygewoon. Om 16:00 die middag het ongeveer 120 gelowiges uit agt gemeentes wat kon reis, in 'n gehuurde kerkgebou saamgekom vir 'n gesamentlike erediens. Hoewel ons Saterdag reeds by die verskillende kerkplekke aangedoen het, kon ons destyds slegs die leraars en geboue sien, nie die lidmate nie; dit was dus 'n diep ontroerende ervaring om soveel gelowiges op een plek byeen te sien. Dit was 'n kosbare geleentheid om die basiese waarhede van die Christelike leer opnuut te bevestig, met 'n oordenking oor die Onse Vader in die oggend en 'n verklaring van die Apostoliese Geloofsbelydenis in die middag.
Maandag het ons vir twee dae en een nag na die Terelj Nasionale Park vertrek, waar ons byna 40 plaaslike kerkleiers uit agt gemeentes byeengebring het om hulle te bemoedig en deur die Woord toe te rus. Onder die oorkoepelende tema "Die Leraar: Wie is Ons?" het ons ses lesings van 90 minute elk aangebied. Vier daarvan het ek waargeneem, terwyl my vrou twee behartig het, wat my die nodige blaaskans gegee het. Ek het gedoseer oor: 1) Die leraar se selfsorg (Luk. 1:80), 2) Die leraar se selfbegrip (Luk. 3:21–22), 3) Die leraar en gebedsbediening (Ef. 6:18–20), en 4) Die leraar en die bediening van die Woord (Jes. 40:6–8). My vrou het lesings aangebied oor: 1) Die gelowige en geestelike dissipline (Joh. 8:1–11), en 2) Die gelowige en die geestelike stryd (Ef. 6:10–17). Almal het gesê dat twee dae en een nag veel te kort was. Die woorde van leraar Khashaa, wat getrou as tolk gedien het, het my lank bygebly: "Elke enkele uur wat verbygegaan het, het te kosbaar gevoel om te verloor."
Op ons laaste aand het ons teruggekyk op die hele uitreik. Bowenal is ek innig dankbaar teenoor diakonesse Jin-nyeo Lee, Seong-hee Lim en Sook-yeon Noh, wat die voorbereiding van die etes op hulle geneem het. Ek kan ook nie die toewyding vergeet van leraar Hee-woong Kim en diakens Gwang-yeon Kim, Dong-gyun Kim en Ji-won Park nie, wat elke oggend die stiltetyd en saans die bidure gelei het. My hartlike dank gaan eweneens aan die drie lede wat die lang, veeleisende reis van drie dae en twee nagte na Gobi-Altai onderneem het. Veral sonder die getroue vertaalwerk van leraar Khashaa, sy eggenote Tamir en suster Soyolmaa, asook die reëlingswerk van SFC-werker Hyun-seok Park wat alle praktiese sake behartig het, sou hierdie korttermynuitreik eenvoudig onmoontlik gewees het. Ten slotte rus daar 'n diepe las op ons harte oor die plaaslike kerkleiers se dringende versoek: hulle het gepleit dat ons nie net een keer per jaar nie, maar indien enigsins moontlik drie tot vier keer per jaar intensiewe seminare sal aanbied. Hulle het ons dringend gesoebat en belowe dat as ons slegs twee dosente stuur, hulle self vir alle ander onkoste sal instaan.