이번 1월은 신기하리만큼 많은 말씀 사역의 기회를 가졌습니다. 특히 작년 1월과 비교하면 두드러집니다. 작년 1월에는 꼭 한 주일 사역을 했는데 비해서 이번 1월에는 한 번도 그냥 넘어간 주일이 없었습니다. 주일은 말할 것도 없이 1월 1일 울산서원교회(이남영 목사 담임)의 신정감사예배부터 시작했습니다. 전계층이 모인 예배의 자리였는데 초등학생도 소외되지 않도록 말씀을 허락하셨습니다. 1월 7일 첫 주일에는 시티센터교회(신치헌 목사 담임) 설립5주년 감사예배 설교를 했습니다. 다국적성도들이 모이는 교회답게, 온라인 축하메시지가 먼나라에서부터 있었지만 특히 임대한 건물을 관리하는 분께서 교회의 모습을 가까이서 지켜보다가 신앙생활을 시작해서 그날도 참석했다는 사실입니다.
12일 금요일부터 14일 주일까지 울산동성교회(배창호 목사 담임)에서 신정말씀잔치를 인도했습니다. 금 토는 저녁에, 주일은 오전 오후에 말씀을 전했고, 담임 목사님의 표현을 빌리면 “가나의 혼인잔치”처럼 갈수록 더 풍성한 말씀잔치였습니다. 그리고 20일 토요일은 아산까지 올라가서 유대희 목사 위임예배에 말씀을 전하기도 했습니다. 쉴만한 교회는 상가예배당이었지만 참 따뜻한 잔치 분위기였습니다. 뒷날 21일 주일은 남울산장로교회에서 말씀을 전했습니다. 본래 교회를 개척해서 담임을 하고 있는 이경현 목사는 신학교 동기이자 ‘형님’인 임모세 목사와 동역을 제안해서 두 분이 함께 사역하는 시편 133편 말씀이 어울리는 교회였습니다.
또 이번 마지막 주일은 멀리 경북 칠곡 포남교회까지 올라가서 주일낮과 오후에 말씀을 전하게 되어 있습니다. 작년 12월 29일에 느닷없는 카톡을 받았습니다. “목사님! 평안하신지요? 저는 칼넷 경북 총무를 맡고 있는 포남교회 배철욱목사입니다. 지난 싱가포르 포럼 때 같은 조에 소속되어 있었던 목사입니다. 다름 아니라 2024년 1월 28일 주일에 저희 교회 제직헌신예배 겸 세미나를 할려고 하는데 목사님 시간이 괜찮으신지 여쭤보고 모실려고 합니다.“ 네 목사님~ 반갑습니다^^ 28일 시간 됩니다^^” “네 목사님! 감사합니다. 오전 11시 예배와 오신김에 오후에 짧게 세미나도 부탁드리겠습니다.^^” 그리하여 1월 말씀 사역이 모두 완성된 셈입니다.
감사한 것은 1월 한 달 말씀으로 섬길 기회를 풍성하게 주셨다는 사실입니다. 그리고 이 모든 말씀 사역은, 언제나 그랬듯이, 저는 모두 수동적으로 하게 되었다는 것입니다. 말씀의 주인께서 보내실 곳을 정하시고 저를 불러주셨다는 사실이 무엇보다 기뻤습니다. 옛날 유학시절이 기억납니다. 남아공화국으로 유학을 가서 공부한다고 5년동안 말씀 전할 기회를 갖지 못했는데 한 번 물꼬가 터지자, 마지막 3년간 계속 한 달에 한 번 정도 아프리칸스로 설교를 했습니다. 그 기간 동안 50여 교회를 다니면서 외국어로 설교를 하면서 설교학을 전공하는 사람으로 충분한 임상훈련을 한 셈입니다. 하나님은 항상 주도적입니다. 하늘과 땅을 창조하셨고 지금도 운영하십니다. 『이는 만물이 주에게서 나오고 주로 말미암고 주에게로 돌아감이라 그에게 영광이 세세에 있을지어다 아멘』
This January brought a remarkably abundant number of opportunities for the ministry of the Word. It stands out in sharp contrast, especially when compared to January of last year. While I ministered on only one Sunday last January, not a single Sunday was bypassed this month. Not to mention the Sundays, it all began on January 1st with the New Year's Day Thanksgiving Service at Ulsan Seowon Church (led by Rev. Nam-Young Lee). It was a gathering of all generations, and the Lord graciously granted a message where even elementary school children would not feel left out. On January 7th, the first Sunday of the month, I preached at the 5th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of City Center Church (led by Rev. Chi-Heon Shin). True to a multicultural congregation gathered from diverse nations, online congratulatory messages arrived from faraway countries; notably, the building manager who had observed the church's life up close had come to faith and was present in worship that very day.
From Friday the 12th through Sunday the 14th, I led a New Year's Spiritual Feast of the Word at Ulsan Dongseong Church (led by Rev. Chang-Ho Bae). I preached on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Sunday morning and afternoon. To borrow the senior pastor's phrase, it was a feast of the Word that grew ever richer, much like the wedding at Cana. Then on Saturday the 20th, I traveled up to Asan to deliver the sermon at the installation service of Rev. Dae-Hee Yoo. Although 'Resting Church' (Swilmanhan Church) met in a modest commercial building, the atmosphere was truly warm and celebratory. The following day, Sunday the 21st, I shared the Word at Namulsan Presbyterian Church. Rev. Kyoung-Hyun Lee, who originally planted and now leads the church, had invited his seminary classmate and elder brother in the faith, Rev. Moses Lim, into co-ministry—truly a church that embodies the beauty of Psalm 133, where brethren dwell together in unity.
And for the final Sunday of this month, I am scheduled to travel far north to Ponam Church in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, to preach both in the morning and afternoon services. On December 29th of last year, I received an unexpected KakaoTalk message: "Pastor! Grace and peace to you. I am Pastor Chul-Wook Bae of Ponam Church, serving as the general secretary of CAL-Net Gyeongbuk. We were in the same small group during the Singapore Forum. I am reaching out to ask if your schedule would allow you to visit our church on Sunday, January 28, 2024, to lead an officer dedication service and a seminar." "Yes, Pastor! Wonderful to hear from you. The 28th works for me." "Yes, Pastor! Thank you so much. We would love to have you preach at the 11:00 AM service and, since you are coming all this way, lead a brief seminar in the afternoon as well." And so, the full schedule of January's ministry of the Word was completed.
What fills my heart with thanksgiving is how abundantly God provided opportunities to serve through His Word throughout this January. Moreover, in all these preaching ministries—as has always been the case—my role was entirely passive and responsive. Above all else, I rejoiced in the reality that the Master of the Word chose where to send me and called me thither. It reminds me of my years studying abroad. When I went to South Africa for postgraduate studies, I had no opportunities to preach for the first five years; but once the door opened, I preached about once a month in Afrikaans during the final three years. Traveling to some fifty churches and preaching in a foreign language served as rich, hands-on clinical training for someone majoring in homiletics. God always takes the initiative. He created heaven and earth, and He sovereignly governs them even now. "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
Hierdie Januarie het wonderbaarlik baie geleenthede vir die bediening van die Woord gebied. Dit staan veral duidelik uit wanneer dit vergelyk word met verlede jaar se Januarie. Waar ek verlede Januarie op presies een Sondag bedien het, was daar hierdie Januarie nie 'n enkele Sondag wat sommer verbygegaan het nie. Om van die Sondae nie eens te praat nie, het dit op 1 Januarie begin met die Nuwejaarsdankdiens by Ulsan Seowon Gemeente (onder leiding van ds. Nam-Young Lee). Dit was 'n byeenkoms van alle geslagte, en die Here het 'n woord geskenk waarin selfs laerskoolkinders nie uitgesluit gevoel het nie. Op 7 Januarie, die eerste Sondag, het ek gepreek tydens die 5de Herdenkingsdankdiens van City Center Gemeente (onder leiding van ds. Chi-Heon Shin). Soos dit 'n veelvolkige gemeente met lidmate uit verskillende lande betaam, was daar gelukwensingsboodskappe van ver oor die see; maar die mees roerende was dat die bestuurder van die gehuurde gebou, wat die gemeente se lewe van naby dopgehou het, tot geloof gekom het en daardie dag ook die erediens bygewoon het.
Van Vrydag die 12de tot Sondag die 14de het ek 'n Nuwejaars-Woordfees by Ulsan Dongseong Gemeente (onder leiding van ds. Chang-Ho Bae) gelei. Vrydagaand en Saterdagaand, sowel as Sondagoggend en -middag, het ek die Woord bedien. Om die leraar se eie woorde te gebruik, was dit soos die “bruilof te Kana”—'n fees van die Woord wat gaandeweg al hoe ryker geword het. En op Saterdag die 20ste het ek tot in Asan gereis om die Woord te bedien tydens die bevestigingsdiens van ds. Dae-Hee Yoo. Al was die 'Rusplek Gemeente' (Swilmanhan Gemeente) in 'n gewone sakegebou gehuisves, het daar 'n hartlike en feestelike atmosfeer geheers. Die volgende dag, Sondag die 21ste, het ek in die Namulsan Presbiteriaanse Gemeente gepreek. Ds. Kyoung-Hyun Lee, wat die gemeente oorspronklik geplant het en daar as leraar dien, het sy teologiese klasmaat en 'ouer broer' in die bediening, ds. Moses Lim, genooi om saam te arbei—waarlik 'n gemeente wat die woorde van Psalm 133 weerspieël, waar broers in eenheid saamwoon.
En hierdie laaste Sondag van die maand reis ek ver op na Ponam Gemeente in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, om tydens die oggend- en middagdiens die Woord te bedien. Op 29 Desember verlede jaar het ek 'n onverwagte KakaoTalk-boodskap ontvang: “Dominee! Gaan dit goed met u? Ek is ds. Chul-Wook Bae van Ponam Gemeente, wat dien as sekretaris van CAL-Net Gyeongbuk. Ons was in dieselfde kleingroep tydens die Singapoer-forum. Ons beplan 'n toewydingsdiens vir ampsdraers en 'n seminaar op Sondag 28 Januarie 2024, en ek wou verneem of u beskikbaar sou wees sodat ons u kan nooi.” “Goeiedag, dominee! Wat 'n vreugde. Ek is beskikbaar op die 28ste.” “Baie dankie, dominee! Ons sien uit na die diens om 11:00 die oggend, en aangesien u so ver reis, wil ons u ook vra om die middag 'n kort seminaar aan te bied.” En so is die hele Woordbedieningsprogram vir Januarie voltooi.
Wat my met diepe dankbaarheid vul, is dat die Here my 'n oorvloedige geleentheid geskenk het om gedurende Januarie met die Woord te dien. En in al hierdie Woordbedieninge was my rol—soos nog altyd—heeltemal ontvanklik en afhanklik. Bo alles het dit my hart verbly dat die Here van die Woord self besluit het waarheen Hy my stuur en my geroep het. Dit laat my terugdink aan my jare as student oorsee. Toe ek na Suid-Afrika vertrek het om te studeer, het ek vir vyf jaar lank geen geleentheid gehad om die Woord te verkondig nie. Maar toe die sluisdeure eers oopgaan, het ek die laaste drie jaar gereeld omtrent een keer per maand in Afrikaans gepreek. Deur in daardie tydperk by nagenoeg vyftig gemeentes in 'n vreemde taal te preek, het ek as student in die homiletiek deeglike praktiese opleiding ontvang. God neem altyd die inisiatief. Hy het hemel en aarde geskep en regeer dit vandag nog. 『Want uit Hom en deur Hom en tot Hom is alle dinge. Aan Hom behoort die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid! Amen.』