지비티가 무슨 말이냐구요? 영어로 Global Bible Translaters의 첫 글자를 따라 성경번역선교회의 공식 약자입니다. 하지만 내부에서는 이 영어 약자와 동일한 이름으로 <갈비탕>이라는 은어를 즐겨 사용합니다. 이번 네팔 방문 일정도 <갈비탕 네팔 30주년 기념 이사회 방문일정>으로 표기되어 있습니다. 지난 1월로 씨비에스 재단이사 직무를 마치고, 유일하게 남은 울산지역을 벗어난 저의 사역이 지비티 이사장 직무입니다. 지비티가 처음 시작할 때는 소위 한국교회 복음주의 4인방이 다 참여한 것으로 압니다. 지금은 사역을 모두 끝내시고 주님의 품에 안긴 하용조, 옥한흠 목사님, 은퇴하신 홍정길, 이동원 목사님 등이 이사로 힘을 합해서 출범시킨 단체입니다.
지비티와 개인적인 인연도 깊습니다. 남아공 유학을 마치고 한 걸음 앞도 내다볼 수 없던 시절, 사천학사에서 밤을 꼬박 세운 대화를 나눈 안지영 선교사도 초기 지비티 멤버였고, 그 대화의 결과로, 서울 장승빼기 두레교회를 맡아서 목회사역을 시작했을 뿐 아니라, 개척교회의 성도 가운데는 지비티 사무간사도, 훈련생들도 몇 명이 있었습니다. 그러다가 지비티 수련회 강사, 이사, 이사장을 맡게 되었고, 지금 히말라야의 나라 네팔까지 와서 이사수련회를 갖고 있습니다. 지비티는 현재 200명이 넘는 선교사를 파송하여, 넓은 의미에서, 성경번역 선교를, 한국교회의 후원으로 감당하고 있습니다.
여기 네팔에는 1988년 처음으로 이상룡, 이혜련 부부를 파송하였고 올해가 그 30주년입니다. 그들은 지비티가 네팔에 파송한 첫 사람인 동시에 네팔 첫 한인 사역자이기도 합니다. 광주리에 담아서 등에 지고 고산 지대를 다니던 아이들은 다 자라 성인이 되어 결혼도 하여 이제 부모 품을 떠났고, 쉐르파족 성경번역도 수년 전에 끝내었고, 네팔을 가는 우리 이사들의 사명 중 하나는 그 성경운반이었기에, 한 주간을 지낼 개인 짐은 모두 기내에 가지고 들어가고, 22kg짜리 성경책 박스를 부쳤습니다. 네팔이 어디에 있는지도, 어떤 나라인지도 자세히 살필 겨를도 없이 이곳에 도착해서 입에 단내가 나도록 집중과외를 받는 중입니다.
화요일은 <갈비탕 네팔 30주년, 현재 그리고 미래>, <반따와 번역사무실 방문>하는 오전, 오후 공식 일정을 끝내고 저녁시간은 이상룡, 이혜련 선교사님의 간략한 라이프스토리를 들었습니다. 뒷날 수요일은 네팔 성경번역 사역을 총괄하고 있는 S.I.L. 사무실에 가서 미국인 책임자 데 니얼를 만나서 오전 내내 그들의 사역설명을, 여섯 이사들이 직접 듣고 질문하는 시간을 가졌습니다. 책임자 데니얼은 네팔에서 태어난 제 2세대 선교사였습니다. 오후에는 현지 협력사역단체들을 만나서 성경번역을 둘러싼 부수적인 사역을 좀 더 알게 된 귀한 시간이었습니다. 저녁에 는 이혜련 선교사님과 두 분 사모님들의 수고로, “한국에서도 먹을 수 없는”, 제대로 된 한식을 먹고, 네팔과 한국의 현 상황들을 나누고 함께 기도하는 시간을 가졌습니다. 곧 시작될 오늘 목요일도, 아침 9시부터는 쉐르파를 방문하는 일정이 어김없이 시작될 것입니다. 그리하여 마지막 금요일 날 <갈비탕 네팔을 둘러보며>를 끝으로 족집게 과외는 끝나지만 향후 <지비티 사역의 방향설정>이라는 무거운 숙제가 우리를 계속 짓누를 것입니다.
Wondering what GBT stands for? Derived from the English name Global Bible Translators, it is the official acronym for our Bible translation mission agency. Internally, however, we often playfully refer to it by the affectionate slang Galbitang (beef short-rib soup), which shares the same Korean initial consonants. Even the itinerary for this trip to Nepal is titled: “Board Visit Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Galbitang in Nepal.” Having completed my term on the CBS Foundation Board in January, serving as Chairman of the Board for GBT remains my only formal ministry commitment outside the Ulsan region. When GBT first began, all four prominent figures of the Korean evangelical church—often referred to as the 'Evangelical Quartet'—participated in its launch. Pastors Yong-jo Ha and Han-hum Oak, who have now finished their earthly race and rest in the arms of the Lord, joined hands with retired pastors Jung-gil Hong and Dong-won Lee to serve as board members and establish this organization.
My personal connection with GBT also runs deep. When I returned from my studies in South Africa and could not see even a single step ahead into the future, Missionary Ji-young Ahn—with whom I stayed up all night in deep conversation at Sacheon Dormitory—was an early member of GBT. As a fruit of that conversation, I stepped into pastoral ministry by leading Dure Church in Jangseungbaegi, Seoul. Among the congregation of that church plant were several GBT staff members and trainees. Over time, I came to serve as a retreat speaker, a board member, and eventually the board chairman. And now, I find myself here in Nepal, the land of the Himalayas, holding a board retreat. Today, supported by the Korean church, GBT has sent out over two hundred missionaries dedicated to the broad and vital ministry of Bible translation.
Here in Nepal, Missionary Sang-ryong Lee and his wife, Hye-ryun Lee, were first sent in 1988, making this year their 30th anniversary. They were GBT's first missionaries sent to Nepal, as well as the very first Korean mission workers in the country. The children they once carried on their backs in woven baskets across the rugged highlands are now fully grown, married, and have left the nest. The translation of the Sherpa New Testament was also completed several years ago. One of our key missions as visiting board members was to transport these Bibles; thus, we carried our personal belongings for the week as carry-on luggage and checked in 22-kilogram boxes filled with Bibles. Without even having a moment to reflect on where Nepal is located or what kind of country it is, we arrived and have been receiving a whirlwind crash course that has left us breathless.
On Tuesday, we completed our official morning and afternoon schedules—“Galbitang Nepal at 30: Present and Future” and a visit to the Bantawa translation office—and spent the evening listening to the heartfelt life story of Missionaries Sang-ryong and Hye-ryun Lee. The following day, Wednesday, we visited the S.I.L. headquarters, which oversees Bible translation work in Nepal. There, our six board members spent the entire morning listening firsthand to an overview of their ministry and asking questions to Daniel, the American director. Daniel is a second-generation missionary born right here in Nepal. In the afternoon, we met with local partner organizations, which gave us a deeply valuable perspective on the various ancillary ministries surrounding Bible translation. In the evening, thanks to the devoted hospitality of Missionary Hye-ryun Lee and two fellow pastors' wives, we enjoyed an authentic Korean feast that “you couldn't even find in Korea,” after which we shared updates about the current situations in both Nepal and Korea and joined together in prayer. Today is Thursday, and our schedule to visit the Sherpa people will begin promptly at nine in the morning. And so, while our intensive crash course will conclude on Friday with the session “Touring Galbitang Nepal,” the heavy assignment of “Setting the Future Direction of GBT Ministries” will continue to rest weightily upon our hearts.
Wonder u wat GBT beteken? Dit is afgelei van die Engelse naam Global Bible Translators en is die amptelike akroniem vir ons Bybelvertalingsending. Binne die organisasie gebruik ons egter dikwels die liefderyke troetelnaam Galbitang (beesribbetjiesop), aangesien dit dieselfde Koreaanse beginklanke deel. Selfs die reisplan vir hierdie besoek aan Nepal is getiteld: “Galbitang Nepal 30ste Herdenking – Raadsbesoekprogram.” Nadat my termyn op die CBS-stigting se direksie in Januarie tot ’n einde gekom het, is my rol as raadsvoorsitter van GBT my enigste oorblywende bedieningsverpligting buite die Ulsan-streek. Toe GBT destyds begin het, het die sogenaamde 'Evangeliese Viertal' van die Koreaanse kerk almal saamgewerk om dit van die grond af te kry. Pastore Yong-jo Ha en Han-hum Oak, wat intussen hul aardse wedloop voltooi het en nou in die arms van die Here rus, het hande gevat met die afgetrede pastore Jung-gil Hong en Dong-won Lee om as direksielede hierdie organisasie te stig.
My persoonlike verbintenis met GBT loop ook baie diep. Toe ek destyds ná my studies in Suid-Afrika teruggekeer het en nie eers een tree vorentoe in die toekoms kon sien nie, was sendeling Ji-young Ahn—met wie ek die hele nag deur in die Sacheon-koshuis gesels het—’n vroeë lid van GBT. As vrug van daardie gesprek het ek die herderlike bediening van Dure-gemeente in Jangseungbaegi, Seoel, opgeneem. Onder die lidmate van daardie nuutgestigte gemeente was daar verskeie GBT-kantoorkoördineerders en kwekelinge. Mettertyd is ek genooi as kamp- en konferensiespreker, het ek ’n raadslid geword en uiteindelik die raadsvoorsitter. En nou bevind ek my hier in Nepal, die land van die Himalajas, vir ons raadsvergadering en herlaaityd. GBT het tans meer as tweehonderd sendelinge uitgevaardig wat, danksy die ondersteuning van die Koreaanse kerk, die veelomvattende taak van Bybelvertaling getrou voortsit.
Hier in Nepal is die egpaar Sang-ryong en Hye-ryun Lee reeds in 1988 as die heel eerste sendelinge uitgevaardig, en vanjaar vier ons hul 30ste herdenking. Hulle was nie net die eerste sendelinge wat deur GBT na Nepal gestuur is nie, maar ook die heel eerste Koreaanse bedienaars in die land. Die kinders wat hulle vroeër in geweefde mandjies op hul rûe deur die ruwe hooglande gedra het, is nou volwasse, getroud en het die ouerhuis verlaat. Die vertaling van die Sherpa-Nuwe-Testament is ook reeds ’n paar jaar gelede voltooi. Een van ons vernaamste take as besoekende raadslede was juis om hierdie Bybels te vervoer; daarom het ons al ons persoonlike bagasie vir die week as handbagasie ingeneem en bokse vol Bybels van 22 kg elk as vrag ingeboek. Sonder dat ons eers tyd gehad het om mooi te besef waar Nepal lê of watter tipe land dit is, het ons hier aangekom en word ons sedertdien onderdompel in ’n intensiewe blitskursus wat ons omtrent uitasem laat.
Dinsdag het ons die oggend- en middagprogramme afgehandel—“Galbitang Nepal op 30: Hede en Toekoms” en ’n besoek aan die Bantawa-vertaalkantoor—en die aand deurgebring terwyl ons na sendelinge Sang-ryong en Hye-ryun Lee se boeiende lewensverhaal geluister het. Die volgende dag, Woensdag, het ons die S.I.L.-hoofkantoor besoek, wat toesig hou oor Bybelvertaling in Nepal. Ons ses raadslede het die hele oggend geluister na die Amerikaanse direkteur, Daniel, wat die bediening verduidelik het, en ons het die geleentheid gehad om vrae te vra. Daniel is ’n tweedegenerasie-sendeling wat hier in Nepal gebore is. Die middag het ons plaaslike vennootorganisasies ontmoet, wat vir ons ’n kosbare blik gegee het op die vele ondersteunende bedienings rondom Bybelvertaling. Teen die aand, danksy die liefdevolle gasvryheid van sendeling Hye-ryun Lee en twee ander predikantsvroue, het ons ’n egte Koreaanse maaltyd geniet wat “’n mens selfs in Korea kwalik sou kry,” waarna ons die huidige situasies in Nepal en Korea bespreek en saam gebid het. Vandag is Donderdag, en ons reis om die Sherpa-mense te besoek begin stiptelik om nege-uur vanoggend. En hoewel ons intensiewe opleidingsprogram Vrydag met die sessie “’n Oorsig oor Galbitang Nepal” ten einde sal loop, sal die gewigtige taak van “Koersbepaling vir GBT se Toekomstige Bediening” steeds swaar op ons harte bly rus.