에스라성경대학원대학교는 다른 학교와는 달리 월요일부터 금요일까지 기숙사 생활을 합니다. 월요일 하루만 가도 석사학위를 받을 수 있는 학교들이 대부분이지만, 에스라만의 특성은 <공동체생활>에 있습니다. 한 주간 공동체생활이 끝나면 금요일 오후에는 집이나 사역지로 돌아갑니다. 하지만 돌아갈 집이나 사역지가 없는 분들은 주말에도 계속 기숙사에서 지냅니다. 그런 학우들을 우린 “붙박이”라고 부릅니다. 곧 방학을 앞두고, 어제 오늘은 붙박이들과 함께 하는 시간을 가졌습니다. 어제 토요일은 학교에서 출발해서 함께 대자산을 넘어 최영장군 묘소를 지나 마을에 내려가서 점심을 먹고 커피를 마시는 특별한 시간을 가졌습니다. 오늘 점심 때도 예배 후에 점심을 함께 했습니다. 식사 후에 커피를 마시고 한 학기를 돌아보면서 특별한 감사의 보따리를 풀어보기로 했습니다.
맨 먼저 시작한 분은 코로나 시기인데도 대면수업을 마치게 되어서 감사했습니다. 특히 그 기간동안에 코로나에 걸려서 1인용 기숙사에 감금(?)당하듯이 지내면서, 지금껏 교사로서, 선교사로서 살아온 섬기는 일이 아니라 섬김 받는 기간이 되어서 기쁘고 감사했다는 고백을 했습니다. 그리고 모친의 천국환송자리를 통해서도 성도의 사랑을 받는 기회를 재확인했다고 합니다. 이제 학교는 이번 주간 금요일이면 1학기 종강예배를 드리고 여름방학에 들어갑니다. 돌아보면 코로나가 기승을 부리는 기간이라 때론 아슬아슬했지만 온라인 수업으로 전환하지 않고, 끝까지 대면수업으로 한 학기 15주간을 보낸 것은 정말 감사한 일입니다.
또 한 분은 에스라를 통해서, 학교를 마친 어린 아이가 아빠를 부르며 달려가는 것 같이, 하나님의 존전에 달려가 안기는 것 같은 기도생활을, 소원하던대로, 회복하게 되었다고 고백했습니다. 또 다른 선교사님 부부는 좋은 사람들을 만나고 말씀을 깊이 보게 되어서 감사하다고 하면서 맛있는 것을 아끼며 먹는 것처럼 꿈같은 시간을 보내게 되어서 감사하며 아쉽다고 하자, 남편은 “제 아내가 …” 다 말했다는 분위기를 잡더니, 자신도 좋은 사람들을 만난 일을 감사한 일의 첫자리에 꼽았습니다. 특히 사진 취미가 같은 분들과 교제뿐 아니라 산책, 탁구, 자전거 등 운동을 함께 한 일도 감사한 일들에 추가했습니다. 물론 말씀을 공부할 수 있었던 일이 최고의 감사였습니다.
그리고 제 아내는 무엇보다 <신관개발부담금>에 대한 부담이 사라져서 감사하다고 말했습니다. <신관개발부담금>이란 수년 전에 교직원숙소를 지으면서 법이나 행정절차에 대한 미숙 때문에 떠안게 된 비용인데, 지난 2월 초, 3억 모금을 하기로 결정하고 기도를 시작하자마자, 하나님이 기다리고 계셨다는듯이 여러 가지 방법과 여러 사람들을 통해서 2만원에서 1억까지 다양한 액수의 후원금이 들어와서 모금목표액을 상회했기 때문입니다. 게다가 5월부터는 모금액수 때문이 아니라 계획에 따라서 에스라 사랑 Reunion 걷기축제도 빼어 놓을 수 없는 감사의 주제입니다. 걷기를 통해 몸이 건강해지고 마음이 하나되고 랭킹을 확인하는 재미까지 더해져서 마침내 이번 토요일 11시에는 감사예배의 자리까지 준비되고 있습니다. 감사의 바구니를 풀어놓고 보니 우리는 역시 놀라우신 하나님의 은혜로 살아가는 사람임을 확인합니다.
Unlike other schools, Ezra Bible Graduate University fosters a Monday-to-Friday residential dormitory life. While many institutions grant master's degrees with attendance just one day a week on Mondays, Ezra's distinctive identity lies in "community life." When the communal week concludes on Friday afternoon, students return to their homes or ministry fields. However, those who have neither a home nor an immediate ministry field to return to remain in the dormitory throughout the weekend. We affectionately call these students "the fixtures." With summer vacation fast approaching, I spent yesterday and today with our "fixtures."
Yesterday, on Saturday, we set out together from campus, crossed Daejasan Mountain, passed by the tomb of General Choe Yeong, and descended into the village to enjoy a special time of lunch and coffee. Today, after worship, we shared lunch together once more. Over coffee after the meal, we reflected on the semester and decided to unpack a special bundle of thanksgiving.
The first person to share expressed deep gratitude for having completed the semester in-person despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, this student contracted the virus during the semester and had to stay quarantined—almost feeling "confined"—in a single-occupancy dormitory room. Having lived a life serving others as a teacher and missionary, they confessed how joyful and thankful they were for this season of receiving care and hospitality instead of providing it. They also shared how the farewell service sending their mother home to heaven reaffirmed the loving care of fellow believers. This coming Friday, our university will hold the commencement chapel service for the first semester before heading into summer break. Looking back, though there were precarious moments as COVID-19 surged, completing all fifteen weeks of the semester face-to-face without switching online was truly something to be profoundly grateful for.
Another student testified that through Ezra, their prayer life was restored just as they had longed for—running toward God’s presence and being embraced by Him, much like a young child rushing into their father’s open arms after school. Another missionary couple shared their heartfelt thanks for meeting such wonderful people and diving deeply into the Word. Comparing their precious semester to cherishing and savoring every bite of a delicious meal, they said the time felt like a dream, leaving them both thankful and sad to see it end. The husband playfully hinted, "My wife has already said it all...," but went on to name meeting great people as his foremost blessing as well. He added his gratitude not only for fellowship with those who shared a passion for photography, but also for exercising together—walking, playing table tennis, and cycling. Above all, the greatest thanksgiving remained the privilege of studying the Word.
And my wife shared that, above all else, she was profoundly thankful that the burden of the "New Building Development Levy" had been completely lifted. This levy was an expense incurred several years ago during the construction of faculty and staff housing due to inexperience with legal and administrative procedures. At the beginning of February, after deciding to launch a fundraising goal of 300 million KRW and committing it to prayer, gifts began pouring in as if God had simply been waiting—ranging from 20,000 KRW to 100 million KRW through diverse avenues and supporters—ultimately surpassing our target.
Moreover, the "Ezra Love Reunion Walking Festival," held since May, has become another unforgettable reason for gratitude, not merely because of the funds raised, but because of how it united our hearts according to the vision. Walking brought health to our bodies, unity to our spirits, and added joy as we checked the leaderboard rankings together. Finally, this coming Saturday at 11:00 AM, a special thanksgiving service is prepared. As we unpack this basket of gratitude, we are reminded once again that we are indeed people sustained day by day by God's wonderful grace.
Anders as ander skole, leef die studente by Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit van Maandag tot Vrydag saam in die koshuis. Terwyl baie instellings 'n meestersgraad toeken met slegs een klasdag op 'n Maandag, lê Ezra se eiesoortige karakter in die "gemeenskapslewe." Wanneer die gemeenskapsweek Vrydagmiddag ten einde loop, keer die meeste studente terug na hul huise of bedieningsvelde. Diegene wat egter geen tuiste of bediening het om na terug te keer nie, bly die hele naweek in die koshuis agter. Ons noem sulke medestudente liefdevol ons "vaste meubels." Met die vakansie voor die deur, het ek gister en vandag kosbare tyd saam met hierdie agterblywers deurgebring.
Gister, op Saterdag, het ons saam vanaf die kampus vertrek, die Daejasan-berg oorgesteek, verby generaal Choe Yeong se graf gestap en na die dorpie afgesak vir 'n besondere middagete en koffie. Vandag ná die erediens het ons weer saam middagete geniet. Tydens die koffie ná die maaltyd het ons teruggekyk op die afgelope semester en besluit om 'n besondere bondel dankbaarheid oop te maak.
Die heel eerste persoon het innige dank uitgespreek dat ons, ten spyte van die COVID-19-pandemie, die semester van aangesig tot aangesig kon voltooi. Hierdie student het gedurende die semester self die virus opgedoen en moes in afsondering—byna soos 'n "gevangene"—in 'n enkelkoshuiskamer deurbring. Nadat die student jare lank as onderwyser en sendeling geleef het om ander te dien, was die getuienis dat dit 'n vreugdevolle en geseënde seisoen was om vir 'n slag bedien en versorg te word. Daarby het die afskeidsdiens waarin haar moeder hemel toe begelei is, opnuut die liefde en omgee van medegelowiges bevestig. Aanstaande Vrydag hou die universiteit die laaste kapeldiens van die eerste semester voor die somervakansie aanbreek. As ons terugkyk, was daar werklik houterige en senutergende oomblikke met die opvlam van die virus, maar om die volle vyftien weke van die semester aangesig tot aangesig te kon voltooi sonder om na aanlynklasse oor te skakel, is voorwaar 'n groot genadegawe.
Nog 'n student het bely dat sy gebedslewe deur Ezra herstel is presies soos hy gehoop het—om na God se aangesig te hardloop en in Sy arms omhels te word, net soos 'n kind wat ná skool na sy pa toe hardloop. 'n Ander sendeling-egpaar het hul dankbaarheid uitgespreek vir die wonderlike mense wat hulle ontmoet het en vir die geleentheid om die Woord diepgaande te oordink. Hulle het gesê dit voel soos om 'n heerlike feesmaal stadig en spaarsamig te geniet; die tyd was soos 'n droom, wat hulle tegelyk dankbaar én hartseer gemaak het dat dit verbygaan. Die man het skertsend laat blyk dat sy vrou reeds alles gesê het, maar het self ook die ontmoeting met goeie mense as sy grootste seën uitgelig. Hy het sy dankbaarheid bygevoeg vir die gemeenskap met vriende wat dieselfde fotohutsdeel, sowel as om saam te stap, tafeltennis te speel en fiets te ry. Maar die heel grootste dankbaarheid was natuurlik die voorreg om God se Woord te kon bestudeer.
En my vrou het gesê dat sy bowenal dankbaar is dat die las van die "Ontwikkelingsheffing vir die Nuwe Gebou" van ons skouers afgeneem is. Hierdie ontwikkelingsheffing was 'n onkoste wat jare gelede ontstaan het met die bou van personeelverblyf weens 'n gebrek aan ervaring met regsprosedures en munisipale administrasie. Toe ons vroeg in Februarie besluit het om 'n fondsinsameling van 300 miljoen KRW te begin en ernstig daaroor begin bid het, was dit asof die Here reeds gewag het: skenkings van so min as 20 000 KRW tot soveel as 100 miljoen KRW het deur verskillende weë en harte ingestroom, sodat die teikensom selfs oortref is.
Daarbenewens was die "Ezra Liefde Reünie-stapfees," wat sedert Mei volgens plan plaasgevind het, nog 'n onvergeetlike rede tot lof—nie net oor die fondsinsameling nie, maar oor hoe dit ons harte saamgebind het. Deur saam te stap het ons liggame gesond geword, ons harte een geword, en die pret om die ranglys dop te hou het vreugde gebring. Aanstaande Saterdag om 11:00 word daar selfs 'n dankseggingsdiens hiervoor voorberei. Wanneer ons die mandjie van dankbaarheid so uitpak, besef ons opnuut: ons is mense wat geheel en al gedra word deur die wonderlike genade van God.