<미목연>이 무엇이냐고요? “미래 목회 연구원”의 약자입니다. 어떤 모임이냐고요? 이름 맨 앞에는 미래를 말하지만 출발의 시작은 과거에 있습니다. 제가 담임했던 울산교회에서, 지난 24년, 1996년~2019년까지, 함께 사역한 분들 가운데서, 현재 담임이나 선교사나 교수로 독립사역을 하고 계신 분들이 멤버입니다. 물론 은퇴하신 한 분 여전도사님도 자격을 부여하기로 의견일치를 보았으니, 다른 어떤 기준보다 울산교회에서 과거를 공유한 사람들의 모임이 틀림 없습니다. 해마다 한 차례 만나는데 올해는 한 주간 전, 7월 11~12일에 김해 일원에서 모였습니다. 이번 모임이 특별했던 것은 역대급으로 많이 모였다는 사실입니다. 부부가 20 가정+ 싱글로 오신 분도 3분이나 되었으니 40명을 훌쩍 넘긴 역대급 참여입니다. 게다가 또 다른 특징은 선교사님들이 많이 참석했다는 사실입니다. 태국의 양정금 여사라 부부, 키르기즈의 장성필 율리아 부부, 20년 중국사역을 끝내고 귀국한 고현철 김은희 부부도 함께 했습니다. 총무님의 너스레를 따르면 “진창설, 임종범, 송동하 목사님은 함께 할 수 없어서 죄송하다고 대신 축전을 보내 오셨다”고 합니다. 그외에도 사모님의 건강 때문에 오시지 못한 박광웅 목사님도 계시고, 카톡에 올린 사진을 보며 “우와, 풍성합니다. 음식보다 사랑하는 사람들이! ^^”라며 부지런히 카톡대화에 참여해 주신 임경근 목사님도 마음으로는 함께 했습니다. 그런가하면 “그리운 얼굴들 여기 다있네요. 부럽습니다.” “라고 하신 미국의 신현우 목사님도 계셨습니다. ……
그러면 모여서 무엇을 하냐고요^^ 물론 서로 얼굴도 보고, 김해에서 사역하는 동역자들의 교회(모든민족교회, 김해주안교회, 사랑나눔교회)를 탐방하기도 했습니다. “교회를 열어 섬겨주신 박원일 목사님, 박수진 목사님, 구태옥 목사님, 그리고 길고 긴 터널을 지나 지금은 ‘내 때문이 아니라 지 때문’이라는 사실을 알게 된 문성진 목사님께 감사…”하다고 언급한 신임회장 정광욱 님의 카톡을 좀 더 옮겨봅시다. “모처럼 함께 사역하던 동역자들을 만나뵙게 되어 참 반가웠습니다. 정근두 목사님 덕분에 다 알게 된 사람들이라, 목사님과 사모님께 참 감사드립니다. 늘 함께 있고 싶고, 이야기를 듣고 싶은 어른이 되어주셔서 세월이 흐를수록 하나님께 감사합니다. 미목연 모임이 놀라운 것은 비록 같은 시간대에 사역한 적이 없었을지라도 마치 오래 함께사역한 사람들인 것처럼 느껴진다는 것입니다. 오랜만에 만났지만 늘 계속 같이 있었던 사람이었던 것처럼 느끼게 해주셔서 감사합니다.“
“우리가 이 보배를 질그릇에 가졌으니 이는 심히 큰 능력은 하나님께 있고 우리에게 있지 아니함을 알게 하려 함이라”(고후 4:7) 이번에 선배 목사님들 목회하시면서 즐겁고 감사한 제목들만 아니라, 힘들고 어려운 이야기도 들으면서 많은 위로와 도전이 되었습니다. 함께 공감하고 아파하고 기도하는 모임이어서 참 감사했습니다.” “전혀 그런 일이라고는 없었을 것 같은 비주얼이었는데, 많이 힘든 시간을 보냈군요. 쉽게 할 수 없는 이야기를 전해주셔서 감사합니다. 우리 모두가 사실은 ‘질그릇’일 뿐인 것을 기억나게 해주셔서 감사합니다” “신 목사님, 많이 힘들고 어려운 시간들을 헤쳐나가고 계시군요! 몰랐습니다. 나눠주셔서 감사합니다. 기도하겠습니다.“
“어제 저녁시간부터 짧은 시간이었지만 너무 너무 오랫만에 뵐 수 있어서 행복했구요 감사했습니다 각 처에서 하나님의 나라을 일구느라 수고하고 애쓰시는 그 손길 손길 걸음 걸음마다 주께서 힘주시고 때마다 도우시길 소망합니다^^” “짧은 시간 얼굴뵈어서 아쉬웠지만 얼굴뵈어서 감사하고 행복한ㅎㅎ 끝까지 함께하지 않았지만, 멀리서 사진을 보는 것만으로 가슴뭉클한 감동을 느꼈습니다. 세월을 다들 비껴가지 못함을 느낍니다. 각자의 자리에서 열심히신 모습에 박수 보냅니다.” “멀리 있어 함께 하지 못함이 아쉬울 따름입니다. 저는 시카고로 이주한 지 한 달이 지났습니다. 새로운 교회, 새로운 성도, 새로운 환경에 적응하느라 분주하고 바쁜 날들을 보내고 있습니다. 비록 미목연 모임에는 참석하지 못하지만, member로 기억해 주시기를 바라며, 언젠가는 미국에서 함께 뵐 수 있기를 기도하며 바래봅니다. 모두들 건강하시고 승리하십시요!”
You might wonder, what is Mimokyeon? It is short for the "Institute for Future Ministry." What kind of fellowship is it? Though the very first word of its name speaks of the future, its roots lie in the past. Its members are those who served alongside me during my 24 years of pastoring Ulsan Church—from 1996 to 2019—and are now ministering independently as senior pastors, missionaries, or professors. We also unanimously agreed to grant membership to a retired female evangelist; thus, above any other qualification, it is unmistakably a gathering of those who share a common past at Ulsan Church. We gather once a year, and this year we met a week ago, on July 11–12, around the Gimhae area. What made this gathering truly special was the record-breaking attendance. With 20 married couples and three singles attending, the turnout easily exceeded 40 people—an all-time high. Another remarkable feature was the presence of many missionaries. Missionary Jung-Geum Yang and Sarah Yeo from Thailand, Sung-Pil Jang and Yulia from Kyrgyzstan, and Hyun-Chul Ko and Eun-Hee Kim, who recently returned home after completing 20 years of ministry in China, were all with us. According to our general secretary's witty remark, "Pastors Chang-Seol Jin, Jong-Beom Lim, and Dong-Ha Song sent congratulatory messages expressing their deep regrets for being unable to attend." In addition, Pastor Gwang-Woong Park was unable to come due to his wife's health, while Pastor Kyoung-Keun Lim joined us in spirit, actively taking part in our KakaoTalk chat upon seeing the uploaded pictures: "Wow, how abundant! More than the food, it's the beloved people! ^^" Meanwhile, Pastor Hyun-Woo Shin in the United States commented, "All the faces I miss so dearly are right there. I envy you all." ...
So what do we do when we get together? ^^ Of course, we see each other's faces, and we also visited the churches of our fellow workers ministering in Gimhae (All Nations Church, Gimhae Juan Church, and Love and Sharing Church). Let me share a little more from the KakaoTalk message sent by our newly appointed president, Gwang-Wook Jung: "Special thanks to Pastor Won-Il Park, Pastor Soo-Jin Park, and Pastor Tae-Ok Koo for opening their churches and serving us, and to Pastor Sung-Jin Moon, who, having passed through a long, dark tunnel, has come to realize that 'it wasn’t because of me, but because of them'... It was truly delightful to meet the co-workers with whom I once ministered after such a long time. Since these are all people we came to know through Rev. Keun-Doo Jung, I am deeply grateful to the pastor and his wife. As the years go by, I thank God even more that you have become elders in faith whom we always want to be near and whose stories we long to hear. What is so amazing about the Mimokyeon gathering is that even if we never ministered during the exact same period, we feel as though we have served together for a very long time. Thank you for making us feel as if we had always been together, even though it had been so long since our last meeting."
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Listening to our senior pastors share not only the joyful and grateful aspects of ministry, but also their painful and challenging stories, brought great comfort and challenge. I am so thankful for a gathering where we can empathize, grieve together, and pray together." "He looked as though he would never have faced such trouble, yet he went through such hard times. Thank you for sharing stories that are never easy to tell. Thank you for reminding us that we are all, in truth, merely 'jars of clay.'" "Pastor Shin, you have been navigating through such difficult and trying times! I had no idea. Thank you for opening up. We will be praying for you."
"Though it was a brief time since yesterday evening, I was so very happy and grateful to see you all after such a long time. May the Lord grant strength and timely help to every hand and every step laboring to cultivate God's kingdom in your respective places ^^" "It was bittersweet that our time together was so short, but seeing your faces brought such gratitude and joy, haha. Even though I couldn't stay until the very end, just seeing the pictures from afar moved my heart deeply. I can see that time spares none of us. I applaud each of you for pouring your heart into your respective callings." "It is truly regretful that I cannot be there with you because of the distance. It has been a month since I relocated to Chicago. My days have been hectic and busy adapting to a new church, new congregants, and a new environment. Though I cannot attend the Mimokyeon gathering, I hope you will remember me as a member, and I pray and hope that one day we might meet together here in the United States. May you all stay healthy and victorious!"
U wonder dalk wat Mimokyeon is? Dit is die afkorting vir die "Instituut vir Toekomstige Bediening." Watse soort byeenkoms is dit? Alhoewel die heel eerste woord in die naam van die toekoms praat, lê die oorsprong daarvan in die verlede. Die lede is diegene wat gedurende my 24 jaar van bediening in Ulsan Gemeente – van 1996 tot 2019 – saam met my gearbei het en tans onafhanklik dien as leraars, sendelinge of professore. Ons het ook eenparig saamgestem om lidmaatskap aan ’n afgetrede vroulike evangelis toe te ken; bo enige ander maatstaf is dit dus ongetwyfeld ’n byeenkoms van mense wat ’n gedeelde verlede in Ulsan Gemeente het. Ons kom een keer per jaar byeen, en vanjaar het ons ’n week gelede, op 11–12 Julie, in die omgewing van Gimhae vergader. Wat hierdie byeenkoms besonder spesiaal gemaak het, was die rekordgetal wat opgedaag het. Met 20 getroude egpare en drie enkellopendes het die bywoning maklik die 40 oorskry – ’n ongekende hoogtepunt. Nog ’n noemenswaardige kenmerk was die teenwoordigheid van talle sendelinge. Sendeling Jung-Geum Yang en Sarah Yeo van Thailand, Sung-Pil Jang en Yulia van Kirgisië, en Hyun-Chul Ko en Eun-Hee Kim, wat pas teruggekeer het na 20 jaar se bediening in China, was almal saam met ons. Volgens die sekretaris se geestige opmerking: "Ds. Chang-Seol Jin, ds. Jong-Beom Lim en ds. Dong-Ha Song het gelukwensinge gestuur en om verskoning gevra dat hulle nie kon aansluit nie." Buitendien kon ds. Gwang-Woong Park nie kom nie weens sy eggenote se gesondheid, terwyl ds. Kyoung-Keun Lim in die gees saam met ons was en ywerig aan die KakaoTalk-gesprek deelgeneem het toe hy die foto's sien: "Sjoe, hoe oorvloedig! Meer nog as die kos, is dit die geliefde mense! ^^" En ds. Hyun-Woo Shin in die Verenigde State het gesê: "Al die gesigte wat ek so mis, is daar bymekaar. Ek beny julle waarlik." ...
Wat doen ons dan as ons bymekaarkom? ^^ Natuurlik sien ons mekaar van aangesig tot aangesig, en ons het ook die gemeentes van ons mede-arbeiders wat in Gimhae bedien (All Nations-gemeente, Gimhae Juan-gemeente en Liefde en Deel-gemeente) besoek. Kom ons kyk na nog ’n uittreksel uit die KakaoTalk-boodskap van die nuwe voorsitter, Gwang-Wook Jung: "Baie dankie aan ds. Won-Il Park, ds. Soo-Jin Park en ds. Tae-Ok Koo wat hul gemeentes oopgestel en ons bedien het, en aan ds. Sung-Jin Moon wat na ’n lang, donker tonnel tot die besef gekom het dat 'dit nie weens my was nie, maar weens hulle'... Dit was wonderlik om ná so ’n lang tyd weer die mede-arbeiders te ontmoet saam met wie ek eens gedien het. Omdat dit almal mense is wat ons danksy ds. Keun-Doo Jung leer ken het, is ek die dominee en sy eggenote innig dankbaar. Soos die jare verbygaan, dank ek God al hoe meer dat u seniors in die geloof geword het by wie ons altyd wil wees en na wie se verhale ons graag wil luister. Die merkwaardige van die Mimokyeon-byeenkoms is dat, selfs al het ons nie in presies dieselfde tydperk saam gedien nie, dit voel asof ons al baie lank saam arbei. Dankie dat u ons laat voel het asof ons nog altyd saam was, al was dit so lank sedert ons mekaar laas gesien het."
"Ons het hierdie skat egter in kleipotte, sodat die buitengewone krag van God mag wees en nie van ons nie" (2 Korintiërs 4:7). Om te hoor hoe ons senior leraars nie net die vreugdevolle en dankbare aspekte van hul bediening deel nie, maar ook die moeilike en beproewende verhale, was ’n bron van groot troos en bemoediging. Ek is so dankbaar vir ’n byeenkoms waar ons kan saamvoel, saam kan treur en saam kan bid." "Hy het gelyk asof hy nooit sulke swaarkry sou ken nie, en tog het hy deur soveel beproewings gegaan. Baie dankie dat u verhale gedeel het wat ’n mens nie sommer maklik vertel nie. Dankie dat u ons daaraan herinner het dat ons almal eintlik maar net 'kleipotte' is." "Ds. Shin, u moes waarlik deur baie moeilike en beproewende tye worstel! Ek het dit glad nie geweet nie. Dankie dat u dit gedeel het. Ons sal vir u bid."
"Al was dit van gisteraand af net ’n kort rukkie, was ek baie bly en dankbaar om julle ná so ’n lang tyd weer te sien. Mag die Here krag en tydige bystand verleen aan elke hand en elke voetstap wat arbei om God se koninkryk op jul onderskeie plekke te bou ^^" "Dit was bittersoet dat ons mekaar net so kort kon sien, maar net om julle gesigte te sien was reeds ’n vreugde en voorreg, haha. Al kon ek nie tot die einde toe bly nie, het dit my hart diep geraak om net van ver af na die foto's te kyk. Ek besef dat die jare niemand van ons spaar nie. Ek haal my hoed af vir elkeen wat so getrou in hul eie bediening volhard." "Ek vind dit werklik jammer dat ek weens die groot afstand nie by julle kan wees nie. Dit is nou ’n maand sedert ek na Chicago verhuis het. My dae is besig en vol terwyl ek by ’n nuwe gemeente, nuwe lidmate en ’n nuwe omgewing aanpas. Al kan ek nie die Mimokyeon-byeenkoms bywoon nie, hoop ek dat julle my as lidmaat sal onthou, en ek bid en vertrou dat ons mekaar eendag hier in die VSA sal kan sien. Mag julle almal gesond en seëvierend bly!"