2월은 학교법인에스라성경학원 이사들이 한 마음으로 기도했습니다. 먼저 이사들이 기도로 마음을 모으고 눈을 하나님께로 향하기로 했습니다. 2월 5일 아침 이사회에서 새로운 이사장을 선출하고 신관개발부담금을 위해서 모금하기로 결의했습니다. 꼭 한 주간이 지난 2월 12일에 프로젝트 TF 팀에서 보내온 자료에 의하면 7월 초에 납부할 총액 가운데 모금할 총액은 약 3억이라고 되어 있습니다. “ 안녕하세요~ 총장님, 이사장님!! 지난 토요일 신관개발부담금 모금 프로젝트를 맡으면서 한편으로는 걱정도 되기도 하였지만 하나님이 하실 일을 기대하며 조금은 들뜬 마음입니다~ 그동안 총장님과 이사장님을 통해 하나님께서 미리 행해주신 기적같은 선물을 보면서 역시 하나님께서 앞서나가고 계심을 느낍니다.”
3월은 에스라성경대학원대학교 총장인 제가 사고를 치는 바람에 (의도하지 않게 저의 카톡 연결된 모든 분들께 컬럼을 보냄으로), 수많은 사람들이 기도에 동참하고, 그 가운데 130명 가까운 지인들이 모금후원에 참여하게 되었습니다. 정식으로 알리면서 모금을 시작하기도 전 2월말까지 약 2억 가까운 금액이 모금되었습니다. 마치 하늘에서 내린 함박눈처럼 2만원의 후원부터, 많게는 1억원의 후원까지 모여서 이뤄낸 결과입니다. 3월 23일에 받은 자료를 보면 목표금액 3억 가운데서 남은 금액은 3천 3백여만 원입니다. 하나님을 사랑하고 에스라를 사랑하는 이들이 기쁜 마음으로, 자원하는 마음으로, 모두 함께 참여함으로 남은 부분도 넘치도록 채워질 것을 확신합니다. 이제 우리에겐 감사와 찬양, 화합의 축제만 남았습니다~~
4월을 앞두고 주님의 말씀을 기억납니다. “그래도 이스라엘 족속이 이같이 자기들에게 이루어 주기를 내게 구하여야 할지라” 지금껏 이사들, 교직원들과 많은 지인들이 동참했지만, 이제는 지난 25년 동안 에스라성경대학원대학교가 배출한 동문들에게 모금에 마음을 합하도록 요청할 것입니다. 그들이 에스라가 왜 있어야 하는지를 가장 잘 아는 분들이기에, 기쁜 마음으로 참여하실 분들에게 기회를 제공하려는 차원입니다. 빌립보에 보낸 바울의 편지를 본받아 적어볼까요~~ “내가 주 안에서 크게 기뻐함은 너희가 <에스라>를 생각하던 것이 이제 다시 싹이 남이니, 너희가 또한 이를 위하여 생각은 하였으나 기회가 없었느니라 <에스라>가 궁핍하므로 말하는 것이 아니니라. 어떠한 형편에든지 <에스라>는 자족하기를 배웠노니 <에스라>는 비천에 처할 줄도 알고 풍부에 처할 줄도 알아 모든 일 곧 배부름과 배고픔과 풍부와 궁핍에도 처할 줄 아는 일체의 비결을 배웠노라 … <에스라>가 선물을 구함이 아니요 오직 너희에게 유익하도록 풍성한 열매를 구함이라”
어제 밤에는 에스라 신관 아래층에 거하는 학생 선교사님 부부가 찾아와서는, 신관개발부담금 모금에 참여하고 싶다고 말을 끄집어 내었습니다. 이 분들은 얼마전 결혼 30주년을 맞이한 분들인데, 30년동안 간직한 결혼기념 반지와 지금 대학을 다니는 막내의 돌반지를 가지고 왔습니다. 에스라 학생을 위해서 관계자들이 마음을 모으는 일이지 학생들을 의도한 모금이 아니라고 설명했지만, 지금 영국에서 의사로 일하는 따님과 서울에서 직장생활을 하는 아들도 함께 하기로 했다면서 온 식구가 에스라를 위해서 마음을 합하기로 했다는 소식을 전해 주었습니다. 이제는 동문들이, 에스라의 가치를 가장 잘 아는 분들이, 에스라를 위해서 마음을 모으는 잔치가, 교정의 화려한 꽃들처럼 피어날 것입니다. 계속 기도해 주시고 이번에 후원해 주신 분들에게 감사합니다.
Throughout February, the board members of Ezra Bible Institute prayed together with one heart. First, the trustees resolved to unite their hearts in prayer and lift their eyes to God. On the morning of February 5, at our board meeting, we elected a new chairperson and resolved to raise funds for the development levy required for the new building. Exactly one week later, on February 12, according to materials sent by the project task force team, the total amount to be raised out of the sum due in early July was approximately 300 million KRW. “Hello, President and Chairperson!! When taking on the fundraising project for the new building's development levy last Saturday, I felt somewhat anxious on the one hand, but on the other hand, my heart fluttered with eager expectation for what God will do~ Seeing the miraculous gifts God has already bestowed through both of you, I truly feel that God is walking ahead of us.”
In March, because I, the President of Ezra Bible Graduate University, caused a bit of an 'accident' (by unintentionally broadcasting my column to all my KakaoTalk contacts), countless people joined in prayer, and nearly 130 acquaintances stepped forward to support the campaign. Even before we formally launched the fundraising campaign, nearly 200 million KRW was collected by the end of February. Like large, gentle snowflakes falling silently from the sky, gifts ranging from 20,000 KRW to as much as 100 million KRW came together to bring about this fruit. Looking at the report received on March 23, out of our target of 300 million KRW, the remaining balance is only about 33 million KRW. As all who love God and love Ezra join together willingly and with joyful hearts, I am confident that even the remainder will be filled to overflowing. Now, all that remains for us is a joyous celebration of gratitude, praise, and fellowship~~
As April draws near, the word of the Lord comes to mind: “Yet for this I will let the house of Israel inquire of me, to do it for them.” Until now, trustees, faculty, staff, and many acquaintances have taken part; now, we will invite our alumni, nurtured and sent forth by Ezra Bible Graduate University over the past 25 years, to unite their hearts in this fundraising effort. Because they know best why Ezra must exist, this is an opportunity offered to those who wish to participate with joyful hearts. Shall we adapt Paul's letter to the Philippians? “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for has flourished again; though you surely did care, you lacked opportunity. Not that speaks in regard to need, for has learned in whatever state it is to be content. knows how to be abased, and knows how to abound. Everywhere and in all things has learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need . . . Not that seeks the gift, but seeks the fruit that abounds to your account.”
Last night, a student missionary couple residing on the lower floor of Ezra's new building came by and gently opened their hearts, expressing their desire to contribute to the new building development levy. Having recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, they brought the wedding rings they had treasured for thirty years, as well as the first-birthday gold ring of their youngest child, who is now in college. I explained to them that this endeavor was for university stakeholders to gather support for Ezra's students, not something intended to burden the students themselves. Yet they shared that their daughter, currently working as a medical doctor in the United Kingdom, and their son, working in Seoul, also insisted on joining, so their entire household had decided to unite their hearts for Ezra. Now, a joyful gathering of alumni—those who know the true worth of Ezra best—uniting their hearts for Ezra will bloom like the vibrant flowers across our campus. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who continue to pray and to those who have contributed so generously.
Gedurende Februarie het die raadslede van die Ezra Bybelse Instituut eendragtig in gebed gestaan. Eers het die trustees besluit om hul harte in gebed te verenig en hul oë op God te rig. Op die oggend van 5 Februarie het die raad tydens 'n vergadering 'n nuwe voorsitter verkies en besluit om fondse in te samel vir die ontwikkelingsheffing van die nuwe gebou. Presies een week later, op 12 Februarie, volgens die inligting wat deur die taakspan gestuur is, was die totale bedrag wat teen vroeg in Julie ingesamel moes word, ongeveer 300 miljoen KRW. “Goeiedag, Rektor en Voorsitter!! Toe ek verlede Saterdag die fondsinsamelingsprojek vir die ontwikkelingsheffing aanvaar het, was ek aan die een kant ietwat besorg, maar aan die ander kant vol verwagting oor wat God gaan doen~ As ek die wonderbaarlike geskenke sien wat God reeds deur u albei bewerkstellig het, voel ek waarlik dat God voor ons uitgaan.”
In Maart het ek, as Rektor van Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit, 'n klein 'ongelukkie' veroorsaak (deur my rubriek per ongeluk aan al my KakaoTalk-kontakte te stuur), waardeur tallose mense in gebed aangesluit het en bykans 130 kennisse spontaan finansiële ondersteuning gebied het. Selfs voordat ons die fondsinsameling amptelik van stapel gestuur het, is daar teen die einde van Februarie reeds bykans 200 miljoen KRW ingesamel. Soos sagte, groot sneeuvlokkies wat stil uit die hemel val, het bydraes wat wissel van 20 000 KRW tot soveel as 100 miljoen KRW saamgevloei om hierdie wonderlike uitkoms te lewer. Volgens die verslag van 23 Maart is die oorblywende bedrag van die teiken van 300 miljoen KRW nou net sowat 33 miljoen KRW. Aangesien diegene wat God en Ezra liefhet met blymoedige harte en vrywillig saamwerk, het ek die volste vertroue dat selfs die oorblywende deel oorvloedig voorsien sal word. Al wat nou vir ons oorbly, is 'n fees van dankbaarheid, lofsang en eenheid~~
Met die oog op April kom die woord van die Here by my op: “Tog sal Ek toelaat dat die huis van Israel My hieroor raadpleeg om dit vir hulle te doen.” Tot dusver het trustees, dosente, personeel en baie vriende meegedoen; nou sal ons ons oudstudente, wat oor die afgelope 25 jaar deur Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit toegerus is, vra om hul harte met hierdie insameling te verenig. Omdat hulle die beste weet waarom Ezra moet bestaan, is dit 'n geleentheid vir almal wat met 'n blye hart wil deelneem. Kan ons Paulus se brief aan die Filippense só aanpas? “Ek was baie bly in die Here dat julle besorgdheid oor uiteindelik weer opgeluik het; julle was wel daaroor besorg, maar julle het nie die geleentheid gehad nie. Nie dat dit uit gebrek sê nie, want het geleer om vergenoeg te wees met die omstandighede waarin dit verkeer. weet om verneder te word, en weet om oorvloed te hê; in elke opsig en in alle dinge is dit onderrig: om versadig te wees sowel as om honger te ly, om oorvloed te hê sowel as om gebrek te ly . . . Nie dat die gawe soek nie, maar dit soek die vrug wat tot julle voordeel oorvloedig word.”
Gisteraand het 'n student-sendelingegpaar wat op die onderste verdieping van Ezra se nuwe gebou woon, by my kom aanklop en hul begeerte uitgespreek om tot die ontwikkelingsheffing by te dra. Hierdie egpaar, wat onlangs hul 30ste huweliksherdenking gevier het, het hul trouringe gebring wat hulle dertig jaar lank gekoester het, asook die goue eerste-verjaardagring van hul jongste kind wat tans op universiteit is. Ek het verduidelik dat hierdie poging bedoel is vir diegene wat met die universiteit geassosieer is om die studente te ondersteun en geensins op die studente self gerig was nie, maar hulle het vertel dat hul dogter, wat tans as dokter in die Verenigde Koninkryk werk, en hul seun, wat in Seoel werk, ook wou meedoen, sodat die hele gesin besluit het om saam te staan vir Ezra. Nou sal 'n fees waarin oudstudente—hulle wat die waarde van Ezra die heel beste verstaan—hul harte verenig vir Ezra, soos pragtige blomme op ons kampus ontwaak. Baie dankie aan almal wat aanhou bid en wat hierdie keer so mildelik bygedra het.