2022년 한 해를 돌아보니 눈내린 벌판에 남긴 발자국에 담긴 사연들은 다 떠올릴 수는 없지만 그래도 기억에 남는 감사의 발자국들이 있습니다. 지난 2월은 에스라성경대학원대학교의 법인에 속한 이사들과 감사들이 함께 기도했던 감동적인 기억이 있습니다. ”하나님! 에스라 학원을 긍휼히 여겨주소서. 우리 에스라가 하나님의 뜻을 따라 말씀을 통해 한국교회와 선교사님들, 교인들을 섬기는 사명을 잘 감당하길 기도합니다.” “신관개발 부담금 문제를 속히 해결하길 원합니다. 하나님! 저희에게 부족한 재정을 채워 주시길 기도합니다. 자원하는 심령을 부어주셔서 기쁜 마음으로 헌금하는 많은 사람들을 일으켜주시길 소원합니다.우리 이사들도 이번 모금을 통해서 성령안에서 사랑으로 하나되는 시간이 되길 기도합니다. 예수님의 이름으로 기도합니다 아멘” 특히 기억에 남는 것은 순서에 따라 기도문이 올라오면, 팝콘 튀듯이 “아멘” “아멘”으로 동참하는 반응이었습니다.
그 결과 3월부터 시작하려고 한 모금이 2월부터 속속 도착하기 시작했습니다. 카톡에 올라온 글들입니다. “제가 아는 장로님께서 100만원, 권사님께서 50만원 각각 보내주셨습니다^^” “2월 9일 우리 이사 한 분께서 3천만원 후원하여 주셨고, 또 한 분께서는 3천만원 후원 약정했습니다.” 이 무렵에 설립자 백정란 님의 절친께서는 1억을 보내왔고 신관부담금 모금을 위한 기도가 마무리되기도 전에 우린 하나님의 개입을 느꼈습니다. 그리고 5월에는 체리앱을 통해서 에스라 걷기후원 캠페인이 오픈되었습니다. 동문 교직원, 이사감사 등 우린 열심히 걸었고 걸음수에 따른 기부는 서경산업 네오와인 이카드밴 아이뱅크 이포넷이 등이 후원해서 5월에는 목표 3억을 훌쩍 넘겼고, 7월초에 고양시에 완납해서 가압류해제 통보를 받았습니다. 그 일을 통해서 하나님께서 우리 에스라성경대학원대학교를 사랑하시며 돌보시고 계신다는 것을 확인했습니다.
그러나 12월 12일, 에스라의 정시입학 전형을 통해서 내년에 석사과정에 들어오는 학생이 11명이라는 충격적인 현실 앞에 서게 되었습니다. 감사하게도 1월에 추가모집이 남아 있고, 1월 2일부터 두 주간(1월 2일~14일) 매일 세 차례 오전 7시대, 10시대, 오후 3시대에 극동 방송에 20초 짜리(오전)와 40초 짜리(오후) 광고가 나갑니다! 다행히 기네스북에 올릴만큼 빠른 시간 내에, 규격에 맞게 잘 만들어서 한국방송공사 심의를 거쳐 극동방송과 계약을 끝냈다는 자체 평가가 있습니다^^ 40초 내용입니다. <오직 성경만을 집중해서 가르치고 있는, 에스라 성경 대학원대학교에서, 이천 이십삼년도 성경학 석박사 과정 신입생을 모집합니다. 성경 66권을 깊이 배우기 원하는 목회자나 평신도라면, 누구나 지원하실 수 있습니다. 아름답고 아늑한 숲속에 자리 잡은 교정에서, 학생들은 1년 동안, 1인 1실 기숙생활을 하면서, 휴식과 회복의 시간을 갖고, 묵상과 나눔, 섬김의 삶을 배우며 성경 공부에 전념할 수 있습니다. 보다 자세한 내용을 알기 원하시는 분은, 에스라 성경 대학원대학교 홈페이지를 방문해 주세요.>
하루 세 차례 극동방송을 통한 홍보 배후에는 에스라학원 법인 이사+감사들의 막강한 기도의 후원이 있습니다. “이사님들께 알립니다 1월 2일부터 아침 7시 대, 10시 대, 오후 5 시 대에 하루 세 차례씩 2주간 동안 극동방송을 통해서 학생추가모집 광고가 나갑니다. 두 주간 동안 다시 한번 기도에 마음 모아 주십시오~~” “샬롬! 하나님 아버지의 사랑으로 넘치도록 채워주시고 그 사랑의 증인되는 에스라로 세워주실 하나님께 찬양의 기도로 나아갑니다” “대부분의 신학대학원들이 신입생 정원을 채우지 못하고 있는데, 에스라에 하나님께서 은혜를 베풀어 주셔서 좋은 인재들이 지원하여 주기를 기도드립니다” “밤새 수고했지만 한 마리도 건지지 못한 갈릴리 바다의 기적, 153마리가 기억납니다. 지난 2월처럼 기도하면 하나님은 역사하십니다^^” “아멘! 에스라를 위한 하나님의 예비하심을 믿고 기도드립니다????” “아멘, 다시 한 번 에스라가 기도로 운영되는 학교임을 경험하는 귀한 기회임을 믿으며 함께 기도합니다” “ 네 기도로 운영되는 학교, 그 목표를 위해 매진하겠습니다^^” “아멘 ?”
“에스라를 향하신 주님의 생각-재앙이 아니라 평안이요 장래에 소망을 주시려는-에 감사드립니다”
Looking back on the year 2022, though I cannot recall every single story etched like footsteps across a snow-covered field, there are indelible footprints of heartfelt gratitude that remain clearly in my memory. Last February brought deeply touching memories of our board of trustees and auditors at Ezra Bible Graduate University uniting in fervent prayer: “Lord God! Have mercy on Ezra. We pray that Ezra may faithfully fulfill its calling according to Your will, serving the Korean church, missionaries, and believers through Your Word.” “We earnestly pray for a swift resolution to the development contribution levy for the new building. O Lord! Please supply the finances we lack. Pour out a willing spirit upon hearts, and raise up many who give with joy and gladness. We pray that this fundraising effort will be a precious time for our board members to unite as one in love through the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.” What stays in my heart especially is how, as each prayer request was posted in turn, responses burst forth like popping corn with rapid-fire choruses of “Amen!” and “Amen!”
As a result, gifts originally planned to begin in March began arriving one after another as early as February. Messages arrived on KakaoTalk: “An elder I know sent 1 million won, and a deaconess sent 500,000 won ^^” “On February 9, one of our trustees donated 30 million won, and another pledged 30 million won.” Around that time, a dear friend of our founder, Jungran Baek, sent 100 million won; even before our season of prayer for the new building's levy was completed, we keenly sensed God's direct intervention. Then in May, the Ezra Walking Donation Campaign was launched through the Cherry App. Alumni, faculty, staff, board members, and auditors walked with all our might. Corporate sponsors—such as Seokyeong Industry, Neowine, E-Cardvan, I-Bank, and E-Phornet—matched our step counts with generous donations. By May, we had easily surpassed our goal of 300 million won, and in early July, we paid the Goyang City Council in full, receiving official notice that the provisional seizure had been lifted. Through that wonderful journey, we saw clear confirmation that God deeply loves and tenderly watches over our Ezra Bible Graduate University.
Yet on December 12, we were confronted with a sobering reality: through Ezra's regular admissions process, only 11 students had enrolled in the master’s program for the coming academic year. Thankfully, additional admissions remain open in January. For two full weeks starting January 2 (January 2–14), radio spots will air three times daily on the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)—during the 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 3:00 PM hours—with a 20-second commercial in the morning and a 40-second spot in the afternoon! We humbly take heart that the advertisement was produced up to standard with record-setting speed, cleared review by the Korean Broadcasting Commission, and finalized in contract with FEBC ^^. Here is the text of the 40-second message:
<Ezra Bible Graduate University, devoted exclusively to in-depth biblical teaching, is now recruiting new students for its 2023 Master's and Doctoral programs in Biblical Studies. Any pastor or lay believer who desires to delve deeply into the 66 books of the Bible is warmly invited to apply. On a campus embraced by beautiful and tranquil woodlands, students reside in single-occupancy rooms for one year, finding rest and restoration, cultivating lives of meditation, fellowship, and service, and dedicating themselves fully to the study of God's Word. For more information, please visit the Ezra Bible Graduate University website.>
Behind these broadcasts airing three times a day over FEBC stands the formidable prayer support of Ezra’s board members and auditors: “To our esteemed trustees: Starting January 2, supplementary admissions advertisements will air three times daily for two weeks on FEBC during the 7 AM, 10 AM, and 5 PM time slots. Please join your hearts together in prayer once more during these two weeks~~” “Shalom! We come before God with prayers of praise, trusting that He will abundantly fill us with the Father’s love and establish Ezra as a faithful witness to that love.” “While most theological seminaries are unable to fill their quotas, we pray that God will grant grace to Ezra so that gifted and devoted workers will apply.” “I am reminded of the miracle on the Sea of Galilee—catching 153 fish after laboring through the night with empty nets. If we pray as we did this past February, God will surely work ^^.” “Amen! Trusting in God’s sovereign preparation for Ezra, I pray.” “Amen. Believing this is another precious opportunity to experience that Ezra is an institution truly carried by prayer, I join in prayer.” “Yes, a school carried forward by prayer—we will press on toward that goal ^^.” “Amen!”
“We give thanks for the Lord’s thoughts toward Ezra—plans not to harm us, but to give us peace and a future filled with hope.”
As ek terugkyk op die jaar 2022, kan ek nie elke verhaal onthou wat soos voetstappe op ’n sneeubedekte veld agtergebly het nie, maar daar is tog diep spore van dankbaarheid wat helder in my geheue voortleef. Verlede Februarie dra kosbare en roerende herinneringe van die kuratore en ouditeure van die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit wat eendragtig in gebed saamgestaan het: “Here God! Wees die Ezra-akademie barmhartig genadig. Ons bid dat Ezra getrou Sy roeping sal vervul om die Koreaanse kerk, ons sendelinge en gelowiges deur die Woord te dien volgens U wil.” “Ons begeer dat die kwessie rondom die ontwikkelingsheffing vir die nuwe gebou spoedig opgelos sal word. O Here! Ons bid dat U ons tekort aan finansies sal voorsien. Stort ’n gewillige gees uit en wek baie harte op wat met vreugde hul gawes bring. Ons bid dat hierdie fondsinsameling vir ons raadslede ’n tyd sal wees van hegte eenheid in liefde deur die Heilige Gees. In Jesus se Naam bid ons, Amen.” Wat my veral bybly, is hoe daar, soos elke gebedsversoek na mekaar geplaas is, ’n golf van “Amen!” en “Amen!” losgebars het soos springmielies wat skiet.
Die wonderbaarlike gevolg was dat bydraes, wat eers vanaf Maart verwag is, reeds in Februarie een na die ander begin instroom het. Boodskappe op KakaoTalk het getuig: “’n Ouderling wat ek ken het 1 miljoen won gestuur, en ’n diakones 500 000 won ^^” “Op 9 Februarie het een van ons raadslede 30 miljoen won geskenk, en ’n ander raadslid het 30 miljoen won onderneem.” Teen daardie tyd het ’n boesemvriend van ons stigter, wyle Jungran Baek, 100 miljoen won geskenk; nog voordat ons gebede vir die gebouheffing afgesluit is, het ons God se tasbare ingrype ervaar. En in Mei is die Ezra-stapveldtog via die Cherry-toepassing van stapel gestuur. Alumnilede, personeel, raadslede en ouditeure het fluks gestap, en skenkings gekoppel aan ons staptellings is geborg deur Seokyeong Nywerhede, Neowine, E-Cardvan, I-Bank, E-Phornet en ander. Teen Mei het ons die mikpunt van 300 miljoen won ver oortref, en vroeg in Julie kon die bedrag ten volle aan die Goyang-stadsraad betaal word, waarna ons die amptelike kennisgewing van die opheffing van die beslaglegging ontvang het. Deur daardie wonderlike uitkoms het ons opnuut beleef hoe innig die Here ons Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit liefhet en vertroetel.
Maar op 12 Desember is ons gekonfronteer met ’n nugter werklikheid: deur Ezra se gewone toelatingsproses was daar slegs 11 studente wat vir die meestersgraadprogram in die komende akademiese jaar ingeskryf het. Genadiglik is daar in Januarie nog ’n bykomende aansoekronde, en vanaf 2 Januarie vir twee weke lank (2–14 Januarie) sal daar daagliks drie keer per dag—omstreeks 07:00, 10:00 en 15:00—’n advertensie op die Verre Ooste Uitsaaikorporasie (FEBC) uitgesaai word: ’n 20-sekonde-flits soggens en ’n 40-sekonde-flits smiddags! Ons het selfs met dankbaarheid opgemerk dat die advertensie binne rekordtyd en volgens alle standaarde vervaardig is, die nasionale uitsaai-ondersoek geslaag het, en die kontrak met FEBC beklink is ^^. Hier volg die inhoud van die 40-sekonde-boodskap:
<Die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit, wat uitsluitlik op die diepgaande onderrig van die Bybel fokus, werf tans nuwe studente vir die 2023 Meesters- en Doktorsgraadprogramme in Bybelkunde. Enige leraar of lidmaat wat die 66 boeke van die Bybel grondig wil bestudeer, is baie welkom om aansoek te doen. Op ’n rustige kampus te midde van pragtige woude woon studente vir een jaar lank in enkelkamers, waar hulle rus en herstel kan vind, kan groei in bepeinsing, gemeenskap en diensbaarheid, en hulself heelhartig aan Bybelstudie kan toewy. Vir nadere besonderhede, besoek gerus die webwerf van die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit.>
Agter hierdie drie daaglikse uitsendings oor FEBC staan die kragtige voorbidding van die raad en ouditeure van die Ezra-akademie: “Kennisgewing aan die geagte raadslede: Vanaf 2 Januarie sal ons advertensies vir bykomende studente drie keer per dag vir twee weke lank oor FEBC uitgesaai word—omstreeks 07:00, 10:00 en 17:00. Kom ons verenig ons harte weereens in gebed gedurende hierdie twee weke~~” “Sjalom! Ons nader die aangesig van die Here met lofgebede, in die vaste vertroue dat Hy ons oorvloedig sal seën met Sy vaderlike liefde en Ezra as ’n getroue getuie van daardie liefde sal oprig.” “Terwyl die meeste teologiese kweekskole sukkel om hul getalle vol te maak, bid ons dat die Here aan Ezra guns sal bewys sodat begaafde kandidate sal aansoek doen.” “Ek dink aan die wonderwerk by die See van Galilea—153 visse nadat die dissipels die hele nag geswoeg het sonder vangs. As ons bid soos verlede Februarie, sal die Here gewis kragtig werk ^^.” “Amen! Ons vertrou op God se voorsienigheid vir Ezra en bid eensgesind.” “Amen, met die geloof dat dit weer ’n kosbare geleentheid is om te ervaar dat Ezra ’n instelling is wat deur gebed gedra word, bid ons saam.” “Ja, ’n skool wat deur gebed leef—ons sal ons met toewyding vir daardie doel beywer ^^.” “Amen!”
“Ons dank die Here vir Sy gedagtes oor Ezra—planne van vrede en nie van onheil nie, om aan ons ’n hoopvolle toekoms te gee.”