4월 말에 시작한 에스라 교직원 단톡방에, 겨울을 맞이하면서, 팝콘 튀듯이 여기 저기서 기도의 제목들이 올라옵니다. “박요셉 목사님께서 올 해 7월에 18명 정도로 개척을 시작했는데, 하나님의 은혜로 현재 50여명 정도 된다고 합니다. 남부터미널 근처에 있는 상가에서 교회를 시작했고, 무엇보다도 오직 예배와 말씀을 중심으로 교회를 세워나가는 목회 철학으로 교회를 섬기려고 했다고 합니다. 그리고 에스라에서 그것을 많이 배워서 너무 좋았고, 신학대학원에서 배울 수 없었던 말씀의 깊이와 교수님들과의 인격적 관계를 가질 수 있어서 감사했다고 했습니다. 너무 귀한 모습은 비록 개척교회이지만 노회를 통해 특별히 어려운 개척교회 세 곳을 알아서 그곳에 재정적인 지원을 했다고 합니다. 목포에 있는 교회까지 찾아갔다고 합니다. 더 놀라운 것은 도와주었던 개척 교회가 재정의 여유가 생겨 다른 개척 교회를 도와주었다고 합니다. 저는 이런 경우를 처음 들었습니다. “개척 교회가 개척 교회를 돕다.” 돈이 있다고 도울 수 있는 것이 아니라 도우려는 마음이 있으면 돈이 생기는 것 같습니다. 헌금의 원리가 이것이 아닌가 싶습니다. 하나님의 역사하심이 정말 놀랍고 이것이 진정한 교회의 성장과 하나님 나라의 확장이 아닌가 하는 깊은 감동을 받게 됩니다. 감사합니다.”
그래서 박 목사님과 교신해서 새로운 몇 가지 정보를 얻게 되었습니다. 이 ‘푸른 서현교회’는 ‘서현교회’에서 개척한 교회입니다. 서현교회라고만 들었을 때는 감이 잡히질 않았지만 원로 김경원 목사님과 담임 이상화 목사님의 이름을 접하니 건강한 개척교회는 건강한 모 교회에서 나온다는 확신이 듭니다. 교회는 주님의 것이라는 엄숙하고도 평범한 진리를 따라 목회하며 개척을 내보낸 분들이라는 생각 때문입니다. 서현교회는 훈련된 교역자와 성도들을 분리시켜 한 지역에 교회를 세움과 동시에 2-3년 정도를 물심양면으로 지원한다는 목표를 가지고 ‘푸른서현교회’를 시작으로 점차 분립 개척을 늘려 나간다는 비전을 가지고 있다고 하니 듣기만 해도 감사합니다. ‘푸른서현교회’ 담임인 박요셉 목사님은 지난 7-8년간 청년부를 비롯하여 오랫동안 서현교회를 섬김으로서 좋은 목회의 DNA를 전수했을 것으로 보입니다. “원로목사님과 이상화 담임목사님께서 분립개척을 위해 기도해 주시고 물심양면으로 지원해 주셔서 푸른서현교회가 가능했기에 늘 감사하고 있습니다.” 박요셉 목사님이 보내주신 메시지입니다.
<성경만을 가르치고 말하고 싶다는 분명한 철학이 자리잡은 배경과, 실제로 새벽예배와 주일예배의 모든 설교를 강해 중심의 설교로 진행하는데 혹시 에스라의 역할이 어떠했는지 궁금합니다.>라고 물었습니다. 그랬더니 <일반대학을 졸업하고 27살까지는 성도로 지내오면서 말씀 자체를 배우고 살아내고 싶다는 생각들을 많이 했습니다. 10년 정도 사역하면서 현장에서 느낀 성도님들의 외침 역시 말씀임을 절감했습니다. 그래서 에스라에 진학을 했고, 에스라에서 1년 수업을 들으며 “교회는 주인 되신 하나님의 말씀을, 하나님의 백성들에게 가르치고 전달하는 곳이어야 한다”고 확신하게 되었습니다>라는 대답이 돌아왔습니다. 성도들이 젊은 층으로 구성되어 있어서 이른 아침부터 출근해야 하는 연령대가 다수이기 때문에 매일 아침에 모이기 어려운 상황에 유연하게 대처하는 방식도 눈에 들어왔습니다. 매일 성경 한 절씩을 강해설교로 준비 및 촬영, 편집하여 약 5분 정도의 설교 영상을 단톡방에 올려 국내든 해외든 공유하고 있습니다. 코로나 시대를 역이용한 셈입니다.
교회에 대한 평판이 땅에 떨어진 시대에 푸른서현교회가 잘 자라는데는 나름의 특징을 살펴볼 수 있습니다. 기존교회를 다니면서 수많은 행사와 프로그램에 지친 교인들이 넘쳐나는 시대에 사역을 최소화하고, 교회의 생명인 성도간의 교제가 활성화되고, 목회자와의 인격적인 교제가 가능한 교회이면서 무엇보다 말씀을 중요시하는 박 목사님의 방향은 말씀을 갈구하는 교인들의 욕구가 잘 어울린 것 같습니다. 게다가 세대를 아우르는 운영위원회의 역할을 통해서 모든 구성원들이 함께 의견을 모으고 결정하기 때문에 주인의식이 생겨나는 구조가 되었고 이는 곧 자연스럽게 교회 성장의 한 요인이 된 것 같습니다. 푸른서현교회 거의 모든 사역들이 그 중심을 ‘만남’과 ‘대화’에 두고 있습니다. 자신의 말을 들어주고 자신과 함께 공유하는 건강한 공동체가 주는 소속감은 성도들로 하여금 이 교회를 정말 좋은 교회로 여기게 하여, 자연스러운 교회 홍보와 전도가 가능하게 되어서 빠른 성장이 이루어진 것으로 보입니다. “약 90%의 성도들이 교회 선택의 기준을 설교로 결정한다”고 하지만 동시에 그 교회에 남아있기로 결정하는 주요 이유는 거기에 친구가 있어서, 달리 말해서 친밀한 교제 때문이라는 것도 우린 잊지 말아야 합니다.
In the Ezra Bible Graduate University faculty and staff group chat, which began at the end of April, prayer topics have been popping up like popcorn from here and there as winter approaches.
"Pastor Joseph Park planted a church this past July with about 18 people, and by the grace of God, it has now grown to around 50. He started the church in a commercial building near Nambu Terminal, guided above all by a pastoral philosophy dedicated to building up the church centered solely on worship and the Word. He shared how immensely grateful he was for everything he learned at Ezra—especially the depth of the Word that had not been accessible in his regular divinity school studies, as well as the genuine personal relationships he was able to cultivate with the professors. What is truly precious is that, even though it is a fledgling church plant, they sought out three particularly struggling church plants through their presbytery and provided them with financial support. They even traveled as far as Mokpo to visit one of the churches. What is even more astonishing is that one of the assisted church plants eventually experienced financial relief and turned around to support yet another church plant. I have never heard of such a thing before: 'A church plant supporting another church plant.' It seems that helping others does not come simply from having money; rather, when one has the heart to help, the means are provided. Isn't this the very principle of Christian giving? God’s working is truly marvelous, and I am deeply moved, wondering if this is not what true church growth and the expansion of the Kingdom of God look like. Thank you."
Following this, I was able to get in touch with Pastor Park and learn a few more details. This church, named 'Pureun Seohyun Church,' was planted by 'Seohyun Church.' When I first heard the name Seohyun Church, I was not immediately familiar with it, but hearing the names of Senior Pastor Emeritus Kyung-won Kim and Senior Pastor Sang-hwa Lee reaffirmed my conviction that a healthy church plant is born out of a healthy mother church. It is because both are leaders who minister with the solemn yet simple truth that the church belongs entirely to the Lord, and who generously send forth church plants. Seohyun Church holds a vision to foster independent church plants beginning with 'Pureun Seohyun Church,' purposefully commissioning trained pastoral staff and congregants to establish a church in a local community while providing both material and spiritual support for about two to three years. Just hearing of such a vision fills my heart with gratitude. Pastor Joseph Park of Pureun Seohyun Church served Seohyun Church for many years, including seven to eight years with the young adults' ministry, where he evidently inherited a wonderful pastoral DNA. "I am always deeply grateful, for Pureun Seohyun Church was made possible because Pastor Emeritus and Senior Pastor Sang-hwa Lee prayed for this church plant and supported us wholeheartedly in every way," Pastor Park shared in his message.
I asked him: "What was the background that shaped your clear conviction to preach and teach only the Scriptures, and what role did Ezra play in leading you to conduct all your sermons—both at early morning prayer and Sunday worship—through verse-by-verse expository preaching?"
He replied: "After graduating from university, I lived as an ordinary church member until the age of 27, constantly thinking about how much I wanted to truly learn and live out the Word itself. In the ten years of pastoral ministry that followed, I came to realize that the deepest longing of the congregants on the ground was also the Word of God. That is why I entered Ezra, and during my year of studies there, I became fully convinced: 'The church must be a place where the Word of God, our Master, is taught and imparted faithfully to God’s people.'" Furthermore, because the congregation consists largely of young adults who have to commute early in the morning, their flexible approach to meeting this challenge was remarkable. Each day, Pastor Park prepares, records, and edits a verse-by-verse expository sermon into a concise five-minute video, sharing it in the church's group chat so that members, whether at home or abroad, can engage with it. They have turned the challenges of the pandemic era into an unexpected blessing.
In an age when the public reputation of the church has fallen so low, we can identify several distinct qualities behind the healthy growth of Pureun Seohyun Church. In a time when many Christians are exhausted by countless events and programs in traditional churches, Pastor Park's direction—minimizing programs, cultivating vibrant fellowship among believers (which is the very life of the church), enabling warm personal relationships with the pastor, and, above all, prioritizing the Word—resonates profoundly with believers who hunger for Scripture. In addition, through an intergenerational steering committee where all members deliberate and make decisions together, a profound sense of ownership has taken root, naturally serving as a key catalyst for healthy church growth. Nearly every ministry at Pureun Seohyun Church centers upon authentic 'encounter' and 'dialogue.' The deep sense of belonging found in a healthy community where one is truly heard and cherished leads members to regard this church as a genuine spiritual home. This organic joy has naturally led to word-of-mouth witness and evangelism, fostering rapid growth. While it is often said that "about 90% of believers choose a church based on the preaching," we must never forget that the primary reason they choose to stay is that they find true friends there—in other words, the warmth of genuine, intimate fellowship.
In die personeelgroepklets van Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit, wat aan die einde van April begin het, het gebedsversoeke met die koms van die winter soos springmielies van oral begin opspring.
"Ds. Joseph Park het vanjaar in Julie 'n nuwe gemeente met sowat 18 lidmate geplant, en deur God se genade tel hulle tans ongeveer 50. Hy het die gemeente in 'n sakegebou naby die Nambu-busterminaal begin, gedryf deur 'n pastorale filosofie wat bowenal daarop gerig is om die gemeente suiwer rondom aanbidding en die Woord op te bou. Hy het gedeel hoe dankbaar hy is vir alles wat hy by Ezra geleer het—veral die diepte van die Woord wat hy nie op kweekskool kon leer nie, sowat as die kosbare persoonlike verhoudings wat hy met die professore kon bou. Wat besonder kosbaar is: hoewel dit self 'n pasgestigte plantgemeente is, het hulle deur die ring drie sukkelende plantgemeentes opgespoor en finansiële steun aan hulle gebied. Hulle het selfs tot in Mokpo gereis om een van die gemeentes te besoek. Wat nog wonderliker is, is dat een van die gemeentes wat gehelp is, later self finansieel verligting beleef het en toe op hul beurt 'n ander plantgemeente begin help het. Ek het nog nooit van so iets gehoor nie: ''n Plantgemeente wat 'n ander plantgemeente help.' Dit lyk asof hulpvaardigheid nie afhang van hoeveel geld 'n mens het nie; wanneer die gewillige hart daar is, voorsien die middele. Is dit nie die ware beginsel van offergawes nie? God se werking is werklik wonderbaarlik, en 'n mens word diep geraak deur die vraag of dit nie presies is hoe ware gemeentegroei en die uitbreiding van die Koninkryk van God lyk nie. Baie dankie."
Ek het toe met ds. Park in verbinding getree en 'n paar nuwe besonderhede te wete gekom. Hierdie gemeente, genaamd 'Pureun Seohyun Gemeente', is 'n dogtergemeente wat deur 'Seohyun Gemeente' geplant is. Toe ek aanvanklik net die naam Seohyun Gemeente hoor, was dit vir my minder bekend, maar toe ek die name van emeritus-leraar ds. Kyung-won Kim en die huidige leraar ds. Sang-hwa Lee hoor, het die oortuiging by my posgevat dat 'n gesonde plantgemeente uit 'n gesonde moedergemeente voortspruit. Dit is omdat albei ampsdraers bedien vanuit die plegtige dog eenvoudige waarheid dat die kerk aan die Here behoort, en met vrygewigheid nuwe gemeentes uitstuur. Seohyun Gemeente koester die visie om opgeleide leraars en lidmate uit te stuur om selfstandige gemeentes in plaaslike buurte te vestig, terwyl hulle vir sowat twee tot drie jaar sowel geestelike as materiële bystand verleen—met 'Pureun Seohyun Gemeente' as die eerste tree. Dit is waarlik 'n voorreg om daarvan te hoor. Ds. Joseph Park, leraar van Pureun Seohyun Gemeente, het Seohyun Gemeente vir baie jare getrou gedien, onder meer sewe tot agt jaar in die jeugbediening, en het sodoende duidelik 'n voortreflike pastorale DNS geërf. "Ek is altyd intens dankbaar, want Pureun Seohyun Gemeente was moontlik danksy ons emeritus-leraar en ds. Sang-hwa Lee wat vir hierdie gemeentestigting gebid en ons met hart en siel op elke vlak ondersteun het," het ds. Park in sy boodskap geskryf.
Ek het hom gevra: "Wat was die agtergrond van u duidelike filosofie om uitsluitlik die Skrif te verkondig en te onderrig, en watter rol het Ezra gespeel in u besluit om alle prediking—in sowel die vroeë oggendgebed as die Sondag-eredienste—deur deurlopende Skrifverklaring te doen?"
Hy het geantwoord: "Nadat ek aan 'n gewone universiteit gegradueer het, het ek tot op die ouderdom van 27 as gewone gemeentelid geleef, terwyl die verlange altyd in my gebrand het om die Woord self dieper te leer ken en uit te leef. Tydens my tien jaar in die bediening het ek besef dat die diepste hartsroep van lidmate op grondvlak ook die Woord van God is. Daarom het ek by Ezra gaan studeer, en tydens my eerste studiejaar daar het ek tot die vaste oortuiging gekom: 'Die kerk moet 'n plek wees waar die Woord van God, ons Eienaar, getrou aan God se volk geleer en oorgedra word.'" Aangesien die gemeente hoofsaaklik uit jongmense bestaan wat vroegoggend moet werk toe pendel en moeilik daagliks vroeg bymekaar kan kom, het hulle buigsame benadering my ook opgeval. Ds. Park berei elke dag 'n vers-vir-vers eksposisionele boodskap voor, neem dit op en redigeer dit tot 'n video van ongeveer vyf minute, wat dan op die groepklets gedeel word sodat lidmate plaaslik sowel as oorsee dit kan meemaak. Hulle het die uitdagings van die pandemie-era tot 'n geleentheid omgeskep.
In 'n tyd waarin die openbare beeld van die kerk so laag gedaal het, kan 'n mens duidelike kenmerke sien agter die gesonde groei van Pureun Seohyun Gemeente. In 'n tydvak waarin talle gelowiges uitgeput raak deur eindelose programme en bedrywighede in gevestigde kerke, blyk ds. Park se benadering 'n volkome antwoord te wees op die honger na die Skrif: hy verminder oorbodige programme, kweek die lewensbelangrike gemeenskap van die heiliges, bou egte persoonlike verhoudings tussen leraar en lidmaat, en stel bowenal die Woord sentraal. Daarbenewens bring 'n bestuurskomitee wat oor geslagte heen strek mee dat alle lede saam dink en besluite neem, wat 'n diep gevoel van eienaarskap skep en natuurlik bydra tot gemeentegroei. Byna al die bedieninge by Pureun Seohyun Gemeente sentreer rondom 'ontmoeting' en 'dialoog'. Die geborgenheid van 'n gesonde gemeenskap wat werklik na 'n mens luister en die lewe met jou deel, laat lidmate hierdie gemeente as 'n egte geestelike tuiste ervaar. Dit lei vanself tot spontane getuienis en evangelisasie, wat die vinnige groei verklaar. Al sê 'n mens dat "sowat 90% van lidmate 'n gemeente kies op grond van die prediking", moet ons nooit vergeet nie dat die vernaamste rede waarom hulle kies om te bly, is omdat hulle vriende daar vind—met ander woorde, danksy die warmte van opregte, intieme gemeenskap.