잘 아는 속담을 꺼낸 것은 5월 들어 <에스라사랑 Reunion 걷기 축제> 관해서 나누기 위해서입니다. 그동안 관심을 갖고 저의 글을 읽은 분들은 에스라성경대학원대학교 신관개발부담금 모금 프로젝트에 관해서 알고 계시고, 정기적으로 칼럼이 올라오지 않으면 어떻게 된 일이냐고 묻는 분도 있습니다. 특히 마지막으로 올렸던 칼럼 때문에 급기야 멀리 광주에서 전화까지 주셨습니다. 감사합니다. 여러분의 관심과 후원 덕분에 이미 모금 목표액은 달성했지만, 본래 이 프로젝트의 슬로건이 <REUNION 축제>입니다. 단순한 모금을 넘어, 에스라를 졸업한 동문, 지금 다니고 있는 재학생들과 교수, 직원, 후원자가 성령으로 하나되는 축제로 모금프로젝트 이사회 TF가 기획하면서, 이 잔치를 통해서 감사가 회복되고 감사로 하나되는 일을 목표로 세웠습니다. 6월 30일까지 3억을 모금하는 일은 4월말이 되기 전에 달성되었지만 감사로 회복되고 하나되는 잔치를 향한 걸음은 지금도 계속되고 있습니다.
이번 기획은 “우리가 도우리니, 힘써 행하소서!”(에 10:4)라는 표제로 세 가지 모금 원칙을 세웠습니다. 1. 진실하고 자원하는 마음으로 기쁘게 2. 모두 함께 참여하고 연합함으로 3. 드러내지 않고 적절한 방식으로 실행하는 것입니다. 하나님께서 주도적으로 관여하셨기에 이 원칙이 잘 지켜질 수 있었습니다. 구체적인 로드맵을 다시 살펴보니 2월에는 모금을 하기로 이사회 결의, 모금 TF구성, 중보기도, 모금기획, 취지와 경과 작성을 하고, 3월에는 이사들 교직원들 동문들, 후원자들에게 모금 프로젝트의 취지를 알리고 모금을 시작하기로 되어 있고, 4월에는 잠재후원자/후원기업 발굴과 더 좋은 후원방법 개발을 하고 , 5월에는 걷기 기부행사를 하는 달이고 남은 6월에는 On/Off모금행사, 그 가운데 NFT발행과 감사예배가 남아있습니다.<https://news.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0924245079&code=23111111&cp=nv에 링크하시면 NFT발행에 관한 국민일보기사를 접할 수 있습니다>
5월은 걷기기부행사의 달입니다. 목표금액은 3천만원이고, 누구든 에스라 가족으로서 참여해서 걸으면 걸음수만큼 기부하는 후원기업까지 준비되었는데 드뎌 5월 12일 팀장으로부터 SOS가 왔습니다. “총장님, 너무 걷기를 사람들이 안해요 ㅜㅜ 헌금은 미리 많이 받아 두었는데, 안 걸으면 그냥 헌금하기도(후원받기도?) 정직한 것이 아니고 여간 곤란한 것이 아닙니다. 학교 학생들과 교직원들, 그리고 가족들이라도 부디 많이 걷기에 참여해 달라고 꼭 꼭 이야기 좀 해주세요!!” 즉각 도움을 청했습니다. “모두 도와주십시오^^ 각자가 식구들이라도 함께 참여토록 부탁합니다” “처장님, …쉽게 알려서 함께 할 수 있도록 설명해 주실래요? 그리고 울산교회 출신 담임 목사님들에게도 요청할 생각입니다. 학교에서 동문들에게 요청하는 방법은 없을까요? 사실은 저도 가입을 시도했는데 어려워 중간에 포기했습니다. 매일 8천보 이상 걷는데도 ㅠㅠ”
사무처에서 다시 친절한 안내서를 준비해서 사흘전에 마침내 매일 걷는 걸음을 <에스라사랑 Reunion 걷기 축제>에 저도 보태기를 시작했습니다. 첫날 참여하니 3, 40위에 해당했는데, 이틀동안 열심히 걸어서 합계 28,000보를 넘겼습니다. 그랬더니 주일 밤 지금 랭킹 16위에 도달했습니다. 이번 주간 안에 10위 권 안으로 진입하려고 목표를 세웠습니다. 후원도 하고 랭킹을 확인하는 재미도 맛보니 ‘3천만원도 한 걸음씩’ 가까워집니다. 다섯 걸음을 걸으면 1원이 기부되니 한 사람이 하루에 5천보를 걸으면 1천원이 기부됩니다. 오늘 만5천 보를 넘겼으니 3천원 후원한 셈입니다. 그리하여 6월 18일에는 모금달성 및 에스라학원 이사장 이취임 감사예배를 가짐으로 이번 <신관개발부담금 모금행사>를 모두 기쁨으로, 감사로 완료하게 됩니다. 아직 5월은 남아 있습니다. 그리고 걷기에 동참할 분들을 애타게 찾고 있습니다. 남은 날들에 걷기기부행사에 참여하길 원하는 분은 카톡 주시면 사무처에서 준비한 안내서를 보내드리겠습니다. 감사합니다. 여러분의 한 걸음은 천리길을 앞당깁니다.
I bring up this familiar proverb to share about the as May begins. Those who have taken an interest and read my articles are well aware of the fundraising project for the new building development levy at Ezra Bible Graduate University. Some even ask what happened whenever a regular column is not posted on time. In fact, following my last column, someone even called me from far away in Gwangju with concern. Thank you so much. Thanks to your warm interest and support, our financial goal has already been reached, yet the true slogan of this project has always been the . Going beyond simple fundraising, the Board Task Force envisioned this as a festive gathering where alumni, current students, faculty, staff, and donors are united as one in the Holy Spirit, aiming to restore gratitude and unite our hearts through this celebration. Although our initial goal of raising 300 million won by June 30 was achieved before the end of April, our journey toward this celebratory festival of restored thanksgiving and unity continues even now.
Under the motto, “We will support you; take courage and do it!” (Ezra 10:4), this initiative established three foundational fundraising principles: 1. Give joyfully with a sincere and willing heart. 2. Participate and unite together as one community. 3. Carry it out quietly and appropriately without ostentation. Because God was sovereignly leading every step, these principles could be faithfully kept. Reviewing our detailed roadmap: In February, the board resolved to launch the campaign, formed the fundraising task force, held intercessory prayer meetings, planned the campaign, and articulated its purpose and progress. In March, we shared the vision with board members, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors to kick off the drive. In April, we identified potential donors and corporate sponsors while developing more effective giving avenues. May is dedicated to the walking donation campaign, and in the remaining month of June, we have on-and-offline fundraising events, including an NFT release and a thanksgiving service. <You can read the Kookmin Ilbo article regarding the NFT launch by following this link: https://news.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0924245079&code=23111111&cp=nv>
May is the month of our walking donation campaign. The target amount is 30 million won, and we even secured corporate sponsors willing to donate according to the steps walked by anyone participating as part of the Ezra family. However, on May 12, an SOS message came from our team leader: “Mr. President, people simply aren't walking enough! ㅠㅠ We have already received many pledges and offerings in advance, but if people don't walk, it won't feel honest to claim the corporate matching donations, putting us in quite a difficult spot. Please, please urge our students, faculty, staff, and their families to actively join in and walk!” I immediately sent out a call for help: “Please lend a hand, everyone! ^^ Let us encourage our family members to participate together.” I added, “Dean, could you provide simple, clear instructions so that people can easily join? I also plan to reach out to senior pastors who came from Ulsan Church. Is there a way the school can appeal to our alumni as well? To be honest, I tried to sign up myself, but I found it confusing and gave up halfway—even though I walk over 8,000 steps every day! ㅠㅠ”
Three days ago, after the administrative office prepared a more user-friendly guide, I finally began adding my daily steps to the . On my first day, I ranked around 30th or 40th, but after walking diligently for two days, I accumulated over 28,000 steps. As a result, by Sunday night, I reached 16th place. My goal is to break into the top 10 this coming week. Experiencing both the joy of supporting a noble cause and the thrill of checking my ranking, reaching that ’30 million won feels a step closer every day.’ Five steps contribute 1 won, which means walking 5,000 steps a day donates 1,000 won. Having logged over 15,000 steps today, I have contributed 3,000 won. Then, on June 18, we will celebrate the successful completion of the fundraiser alongside the thanksgiving service for the installation and retirement of the Board Chair of the Ezra Foundation, bringing this to a close with deep joy and thanksgiving. May is not yet over, and we are still eagerly looking for more people to walk with us. If you would like to participate in the walking donation campaign during these remaining days, please send me a message on KakaoTalk, and I will gladly share the guide prepared by our office. Thank you so much. Every single step you take brings a journey of a thousand miles closer to its destination.
Ek bring hierdie bekende spreekwoord na vore om, noudat Mei aangebreek het, iets te deel oor die . Diegene wat my skrywes met belangstelling gevolg het, is bewus van die fondsinsamelingsprojek vir die ontwikkelingsheffing van die nuwe gebou by Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit. Sommige vra selfs wat fout is wanneer ’n rubriek nie gereeld verskyn nie. Na my vorige rubriek het iemand my selfs uit die verre Gwangju besorg gebel. Baie dankie daarvoor. Danksy u omgee en ondersteuning is die finansiële teiken reeds bereik, maar die eintlike leuse van hierdie projek was immers . Die Taakspan van die Raad het dit beplan as veel meer as bloot ’n fondsinsameling—’n fees waarin alumni van Ezra, huidige studente, dosente, personeel en ondersteuners deur die Heilige Gees tot eenheid verenig word. Die mikpunt was om deur hierdie fees dankbaarheid te herstel en in danksegging saam te bind. Alhoewel die insameling van 300 miljoen won teen 30 Junie reeds voor die einde van April behaal is, gaan ons treë na ’n fees van herstelde dankbaarheid en eenheid vandag nog voort.
Hierdie inisiatief is van stapel gestuur onder die leuse: “Ons sal u ondersteun; skep moed en handel!” (Esra 10:4), met drie grondbeginsels vir fondsinsameling: 1. Met ’n opregte, gewillige en vreugdevolle hart; 2. Deurdat almal saam deelneem en verenig word; 3. Deur dit op ’n beskeie, gepaste wyse sonder vertoon uit te voer. Omdat God die leiding geneem het, kon hierdie beginsels getrou bewaar word. As ons weer na die konkrete padkaart kyk: In Februarie het die direksie besluit om fondse in te samel, die Taakspan saamgestel, voorbidding gedoen, die beplanning behartig en die doel en verloop uiteengesit. In Maart het ons die visie aan raadslede, personeel, alumni en borge bekendgestel en die insameling begin. In April het ons potensiële borge en vennootondernemings geïdentifiseer en doeltreffender skenkingsmetodes ontwikkel. Mei is die maand van die stapskenking-inisiatief, en in die oorblywende maand van Junie wag daar nog aanlyn- en vanlyn-aksies, insluitend die uitreiking van ’n NFT en ’n dankseggingsdiens. <U kan die artikel in Kookmin Ilbo oor die NFT-uitreiking lees deur op hierdie skakel te klik: https://news.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0924245079&code=23111111&cp=nv>
Mei is die maand van die stapskenkingsfees. Die teikenbedrag is 30 miljoen won, en ons het selfs borgmaatskappye gereed wat sal skenk volgens die aantal treë wat deur enigiemand van die Ezra-familie gestap word. Maar op 12 Mei het daar uiteindelik ’n noodkreet van die spanleier gekom: “Rektor, mense stap eenvoudig glad nie genoeg nie! ㅠㅠ Ons het vooraf reeds baie bydraes ontvang, maar as mense nie stap nie, voel dit nie eerlik om die borgskenkings op te eis nie, en dit plaas ons in ’n baie moeilike posisie. Praat asseblief tog met ons studente, dosente, personeel en selfs hul gesinne sodat baie meer mense sal deelneem!!” Ek het dadelik om hulp gevra: “Help asseblief almal saam! ^^ Moedig selfs u eie gesinslede aan om aan te sluit.” Ek het bygevoeg: “Dekaan, kan u dit eenvoudig verduidelik sodat almal maklik kan deelneem? Ek beplan ook om die predikante wat uit Ulsan Gemeente gekom het, te nader. Is daar nie ’n manier waarop die universiteit ’n beroep op ons alumni kan doen nie? Om die waarheid te sê, het ek self probeer registreer, maar ek het dit ingewikkeld gevind en halfpad tou opgooi—alhoewel ek elke dag meer as 8 000 treë stap! ㅠㅠ”
Nadat die administratiewe kantoor drie dae gelede ’n vriendelike handleiding voorberei het, het ek uiteindelik self begin om my daaglikse treë by die te voeg. Op my eerste dag was ek tussen die 30ste en 40ste plek, maar nadat ek twee dae lank ywerig gestap het, het ek meer as 28 000 treë aangeteken. Teen Sondagaand het ek die 16de plek bereik. My doelwit is om binne hierdie week onder die top 10 in te beweeg. Terwyl ek die doel ondersteun en die pret geniet om my ranglys te dophou, voel daardie ‘30 miljoen won ook tree vir tree al nader.’ Vir elke vyf treë word 1 won geskenk; dus skenk iemand wat 5 000 treë per dag stap, 1 000 won. Aangesien ek vandag meer as 15 000 treë afgelê het, het ek 3 000 won bygedra. Op 18 Junie sal ons met ’n dankseggingsdiens vir die bereiking van die mikpunt sowel as die ampsaanvaarding en -neerlegging van die Voorsitter van die Ezra-stigting hierdie met groot vreugde en dankbaarheid afsluit. Mei is nog nie verby nie, en ons soek steeds naarstiglik na meer stappers. As u in die oorblywende dae aan hierdie stapskenking wil deelneem, stuur gerus vir my ’n KakaoTalk-boodskap, dan stuur ek die kantoor se handleiding vir u aan. Baie dankie. Elkeen van u treë bring ’n reis van duisend myl soveel nader aan sy bestemming.