6월 마지막 주간을 제주에서 보내게 된 것은 에스라성경대학원대학교 직원들의 엠티 때문입니다. 작년에는 제가 사는 울산에서 직원들과 시간을 가졌는데 올해는 바다 건너 제주도에 왔으니 아마 내년에는 현해탄이라도 건너갈 추세입니다. 아홉 명이 한 팀이 되어서 1년 전부터 매월 3만원씩 원천징수를 하여 여행경비를 모아서, 대한민국에서 가장 아름다운 곳, 제주를 2박 3일 여행했습니다. 월요일 새벽부터 고양을 출발해서 제주에 도착해서 아침을 먹고 다랑쉬 오름을 향했습니다. 오름을 향한 갈급함 때문인지 그 많은 계단을 단숨에 올랐습니다. 화요일은 차귀도 석양앞에 우린 숨을 죽였습니다. 수요일은 거문오름을 함께 올랐고 이른 저녁을 먹고 본진은 김포를 향했습니다.
제주도에 온 김에 친구들을 만날 임 선생님, 동생을 방문할 계획을 가진 홍 선생님은 금요일에 돌아가기로 했고, 우리 부부는 좋은 숙소를 제공받아서, 아무런 계획은 없었지만, 월요일까지 아름다운 제주에 머물기로 했습니다. 하지만 목요일 점심 때에는 제주서광교회 김 장로님과 오랜만에 만났습니다. 같이 음식을 먹다보면 마음에 있던 관심사를 나누게 됩니다. 무엇보다 기뻤던 것은 제주대학교 교수로 있는 동안 아시아의 작은 불교 나라인 B국 선교에 관한 이야기를 듣게 되어서 참 기뻤습니다. 그나라 젊은 이들을 선발해서 한국에서 직업교육을 시키면서 복음을 전했던 일들 뿐 아니라 지금도 학문이라는 방편을 통해서 다음 세대를 복음으로 무장시키는 일에 관심이 지대했습니다. 비는 계속 내렸지만 <작은언덕의선물>이란 곳에서 대접받은 화덕피자는 기억에 오래 남을 것입니다.
비가 잠깐 멎은 금요일 오전에는 내가 좋아하는 삼다수 숲길 8.3킬로를 걷고, 금요일 저녁에는 우리 학교 3기 동문인 제주 등대교회 박경식 목사님 부부를 만났습니다. 목사님은 본래 제주 출신이기도 했지만 신흥리에서 복음으로 접근한 방식은 농어촌 선교의 모델이 될만 했습니다. 건물을 세우기 전에 2년간 여름봉사를 온 타 교회 대학생들에게 “예수 천당 불신 지옥”식 접근이 아니라, 친조부모를 대하듯이 마음으로부터 존경하는 마음으로 어른들의 이야기를 들어주고, 무슨 일이든지 마음을 다해 섬기도록 부탁한 것이 주효한 것 같습니다. 한 걸음 한 걸음 동네 어른들께 예의와 존경으로 접근했을 뿐 아니라 지원을 하면서도 교회를 내세우지 않고 동네 어르신들이 앞장 서서 하도록 뒤에서 목사님이 도왔기에 제주등대교회는 신흥리의 동네 교회로 자리매김한 사연을 들으면서 감동했습니다. 교회를 세우는 일에는 복음을 향한 열정뿐 아니라 지혜도 꼭 필요하다는 것을 깨닫는 시간이었습니다.
토요일은 다시 비가 내리는 날이었습니다. 주일날 제주등대교회에서 전할 말씀을 살펴보고 오후에는 에스라 24기 동문 박종혁 목사의 <선한 종이>교회를 방문했습니다. 사진을 전공하고 장로회 신학대학원을 졸업한 후, 에스라에서 성경을 집중적으로 연구한 목사님과 잡지사와 출판사에서 편집자로 섬긴 김진경 사모님, 두 분의 은사와 경험을 살려서 평일에는 책방으로, 같은 공간을 새벽과 주일에는 예배당으로 사용하는 교회입니다. <선한 종이>는 선한 메시지를 종이에 담아 전하는 선한 종이 되겠다는 이중적 의미를 담고 있었습니다. 책방은 기독교 서적뿐 아니라 일반서적도 준비되어서 성도들뿐만 아니라 누구든지 언제나 편안하게 왔으면 하는 소원을 품고 있었습니다. 교회를 소개한 자료에서 특별한 부분은 헌금을 어떻게 사용하는지를 공개하는 부분이었습니다. 맞은편 사진관은 주로 가족사진을 찍을 수 있는 곳인데 카페를 겸하여 운영하는 곳입니다. 제주 돌담과 몇 채의 흰색 건물이 팽나무와 귤나무와 함께 참 예뻤습니다. 게다가 독립된 건물의 팬션도 운영하고 있었기에 제주를 여행하는 분들을 위해서 소개하고 싶습니다. 장마가 계속되는 날씨였지만 좋은 분을 만나고, 각기 주어진 자리에서 지혜롭게 교회를 세워가는 에스라의 자랑스런 동문들을 만날 수 있어서 감사했습니다.
Spending the final week of June in Jeju was all because of the staff retreat of Ezra Bible Graduate University. Last year, I spent time with the staff in Ulsan where I live, but this year we crossed the sea to Jeju Island; at this rate, next year we might well cross the Korea Strait. A team of nine people set aside thirty thousand won each month for a year to save for travel expenses, and thus we took a three-day, two-night trip to Jeju, the most beautiful place in South Korea. Departing from Goyang at dawn on Monday, we arrived in Jeju, ate breakfast, and headed toward Darangshi Oreum. Perhaps driven by our yearning for the volcanic cone, we scaled all those stairs in one breath. On Tuesday, we caught our breath in awe before the sunset of Chaguido. On Wednesday, we climbed Geomun Oreum together, enjoyed an early dinner, and the main group headed back toward Gimpo.
Taking advantage of being in Jeju, Teacher Lim planned to stay and meet friends, while Teacher Hong planned to visit a sibling, both deciding to return on Friday. My wife and I were provided with wonderful accommodations, so even without any concrete plans, we decided to remain on beautiful Jeju until Monday. On Thursday afternoon, however, I had a long-overdue reunion over lunch with Elder Kim of Jeju Seogwang Church. When sharing a meal together, people naturally share what is on their hearts. Above all, I was deeply delighted to hear about mission work in Country B, a small Buddhist nation in Asia, which had begun during his years as a professor at Jeju National University. He shared about selecting young people from that country, bringing them to Korea for vocational training while sharing the gospel with them, and how he still remains passionately committed to equipping the next generation with the gospel through the avenue of academia. Though the rain poured continually, the wood-fired pizza we were treated to at a place called "Gift of a Small Hill" will linger long in my memory.
On Friday morning, during a brief pause in the rain, I walked 8.3 kilometers along my beloved Samdasoo Forest Trail. On Friday evening, we met Pastor Kyung-sik Park and his wife from Jeju Lighthouse Church, an alumnus from our university's third graduating class. The pastor was originally a Jeju native, yet his approach to sharing the gospel in Sinheung-ri could truly serve as a model for rural and fishing village ministry. Instead of the conventional "Believe in Jesus for heaven, or go to hell" approach, he asked the university students from other churches—who came for summer service over the two years before any building was erected—to listen attentively to the elders' stories with genuine, heartfelt respect as if they were their own grandparents, and to serve whole-heartedly in every task. This approach proved remarkably effective. Approaching the village elders step-by-step with courtesy and respect, he supported them from behind without parading the church forward, letting the village elders lead the way. Hearing how Jeju Lighthouse Church became truly woven into the fabric of Sinheung-ri moved me deeply. It was a time of realizing that planting and building up a church requires not only a fiery passion for the gospel, but also wisdom.
Saturday was another rainy day. I spent time preparing the message to be delivered at Jeju Lighthouse Church on the Lord's Day, and in the afternoon, I visited "Good Servant" Church (Good Paper Church) pastored by Jong-hyeok Park, an Ezra alumnus from the 24th graduating class. Having majored in photography, graduated from Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and subsequently studied Scripture in depth at Ezra, Pastor Park serves alongside his wife, Jin-kyung Kim, who previously served as an editor for magazines and publishing houses. Combining their spiritual gifts and rich experiences, the space operates as a bookstore on weekdays and transforms into a sanctuary at dawn and on Sundays. The name Good Jong-i carried a clever dual meaning: becoming a "good servant" (jong) who delivers a good message on "good paper" (jong-i). The bookstore is stocked not only with Christian titles but also with general literature, born of a heartfelt desire that anyone, believers and seekers alike, might always feel comfortable stepping in. A particularly touching detail in their introductory material was their open disclosure of how church offerings are used. Across the way stands a photography studio, primarily for family portraits, which also functions as a café. The traditional Jeju stone walls and several white buildings nestled among hackberry and tangerine trees were exceptionally beautiful. Furthermore, they run a pension in a detached building, which I would gladly recommend to travelers visiting Jeju. Though the monsoon rain lingered continuously throughout the week, I was profoundly grateful to meet such wonderful people and to witness proud Ezra alumni wisely building up the church in their respective callings.
Dat ons die laaste week van Junie in Jeju deurgebring het, was te danke aan die personeel-wegbreek van Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit. Verlede jaar het ek tyd saam met die personeel in my tuisstad Ulsan deurgebring, maar vanjaar het ons die see oorgesteek na Jeju-eiland; teen hierdie pas sal ons dalk aanstaande jaar selfs die Korea-straat oorsteek. 'n Span van nege kollegas het 'n volle jaar lank maandeliks dertigduisend won gespaar om reiskoste te dek, en só het ons vir drie dae en twee nagte na die mooiste plek in Suid-Korea, Jeju, gereis. Ons het Maandag voor dagbreek uit Goyang vertrek, in Jeju aangekom, ontbyt geniet en dadelik koers gekies na Darangshi Oreum. Moontlik gedryf deur 'n hunkering na die vulkaniese heuwel, het ons al daardie trappe in een asem uitgeklim. Dinsdag het ons asem weggeslaan voor die sonsondergang by Chaguido. Woensdag het ons saam Geomun Oreum bestyg, vroeg aandete geniet, waarna die hoofgroep weer koers gekies het na Gimpo.
Aangesien ons reeds in Jeju was, het Meester Lim beplan om vriende te ontmoet en Meester Hong wou familie besoek; hulle het besluit om eers Vrydag terug te keer. My vrou en ek het 'n wonderlike heenkome aangebied gekry, en al het ons geen vaste planne gehad nie, het ons besluit om tot Maandag op die pragtige Jeju te vertoef. Donderdagmiddag het ek egter ná 'n lang tyd weer vir Ouderling Kim van Jeju Seogwang Gemeente oor middagete ontmoet. Wanneer 'n mens saam eet, deel 'n mens natuurlik wat op die hart lê. Wat my bo alles verbly het, was om te hoor van sendingwerk in Land B, 'n klein Boeddhistiese landjie in Asië, wat 'n aanvang geneem het tydens sy jare as professor aan die Nasionale Universiteit van Jeju. Hy het vertel hoe hy jongmense uit daardie land uitgesoek het om in Korea beroepsopleiding te ontvang terwyl die evangelie aan hulle bedien is, en hoe hy vandag nog 'n diepe passie koester om die volgende geslag deur die weg van die akademie met die evangelie toe te rus. Al het die reën onophoudelik neergesak, sal die vuurherd-pizza waarmee ons by 'n plek genaamd "Geskenk van 'n Klein Heuwel" bederf is, my lank bybly.
Vrydagoggend, toe die reën vir 'n wyle bedaar het, het ek die 8,3 kilometer lange Samdasoo-bospad gaan stap waarvan ek so baie hou. Vrydagaand het ons Ds. Kyung-sik Park en sy eggenote van Jeju Vuurtoring Gemeente ontmoet, 'n alumnus uit ons universiteit se derde diplomaklas. Die leraar is self 'n boorling van Jeju, maar sy benadering tot die evangelie in Sinheung-ri kan waarlik as 'n model dien vir sending in plattelandse en vissersdorpies. Pleks van die gsipelde "Glo in Jesus vir die hemel, anders hel toe"-slagspreuke, het hy die universiteitstudente van ander gemeentes—wat twee jaar lank voor enige gebou opgerig is vir somerdienswerk gekom het—gevra om met opregte eerbied soos teenoor hul eie grootouers na die dorpsouers se lewensverhale te luister, en om met hart en siel in elke opsig diensbaar te wees. Hierdie benadering het vrugte afgewerp. Deur die dorpsoueres tree vir tree met hoflikheid en respek te nader, en deur die gemeente nie op die voorgrond te stoot nie maar die leierskap aan die dorpsouderlinge oor te laat terwyl hy self agter die skerms gehelp het, het Jeju Vuurtoring Gemeente 'n hegte tuiste in Sinheung-ri geword—'n getuienis wat my diep geraak het. Dit was 'n oomblik van besef dat gemeentebou nie net 'n vurige ywer vir die evangelie verg nie, maar ook wysheid.
Saterdag het die reën weer uitgesak. Ek het die woord voorberei wat ek Sondag by Jeju Vuurtoring Gemeente sou bedien, en die middag het ons Ds. Jong-hyeok Park, 'n Ezra-alumnus uit die 24ste klas, se "Goeie Dienskneg" Gemeente (Goeie Papier Gemeente) besoek. Nadat hy in fotografie gegradueer het, aan die Presbiteriaanse Teologiese Kweekskool afgestudeer het en daarna die Skrif intensief by Ezra bestudeer het, bedien hy die Here saam met sy eggenote, Mev. Jin-kyung Kim, wat jare lank as redakteur by tydskrifte en uitgewerye werksaam was. Deur hul gawes en lewenservaring saam te snoer, dien die lokaal weeksdae as 'n boekwinkel, terwyl dieselfde ruimte soggens vroeg en op Sondae as 'n aanbiddingsplek gebruik word. Die naam Goeie Papier (Seonhan Jong-i) dra 'n spitsvondige tweeledige betekenis: om 'n "goeie dienskneg" (jong) te wees wat 'n goeie boodskap op "goeie papier" (jong-i) oordra. Die boekwinkel bied nie net Christelike lektuur aan nie, maar ook algemene boeke, met die opregte begeerte dat enigiemand—gelowiges sowel as soekers—te eniger tyd gemaklik daar kan instap. 'n Besonderse trekpleister in hul gemeentebrosjure was die volkome deursigtigheid oor hoe offergawes aangewend word. Oorkant die straat is 'n fotokamer gerig op gesinsportrette, wat ook as 'n koffiewinkel bedryf word. Die tradisionele Jeju-klipmure en wit geboutjies tussen die netel- en mandarynboompies was beeldskoon. Boonop bestuur hulle 'n gastehuis in 'n afsonderlike gebou, wat ek van harte kan aanbeveel vir besoekers aan Jeju. Al het die reënseisoen onverpoos voortgeduur, was ek innig dankbaar om goeie mense te ontmoet en te sien hoe trotse Ezra-alumni met wysheid die gemeente van Christus opbou waar God hulle geplaas het.