몇 달 전 어느 날 밤에 잠을 자다 말고 깨어서 갑작스런 사고(?)를 쳤습니다. 아내가 깊이 잠들어 있는 시간에 추석을 기해서 태국 치앙마이와 필리핀 마닐라를 방문하려고 일정을 잡고 티켓팅까지 부탁을 끝냈습니다. 물론 잠이 깬 후에 사후보고를 했습니다. 그 무렵에 있는 아내의 생일로 포장을 했는지, 아니면 다가오는 결혼 50주년 예비 행사로 둘러대었는지 기억은 잘 나지 않습니다.
하지만 아내는 본래 어디로 튈지 모르는 남편과 50년쯤 살았고 그런 일이 처음은 아닐 터이니, 수용해 준 덕분에 이번 한가위를 앞두고 치앙마이를 방문하게 되었습니다. 치앙마이의 인상은 녹색자연의 보고처럼 보였고, 코끼리 조각이 곳곳에 자리하고 있는 곳입니다. 살아있는 식물이든 목재든 쇠나 세라믹이든 다양한 소재로 만든 코끼리의 고장 같습니다
치앙마이를 방문하기로 한 것은 현역으로 있는 동안에 선교에 관련한 모임이 치앙마이에서 있었지만, 목회에 바빠서 방문할 틈이 없었기 때문입니다.
특히 치앙마이 선교교회를 담임한 양정금 선교사님은 울산교회에서 소년부를 담당하며 ‘울산광역새생명훈련원’을 섬겼을 뿐만 아니라 이웃 울산동부교회(당시 담임 이광수 목사)에서 열심히 사역하다가 지금 치앙마이에 와서 11년을 넘어서서 사역을 하고 있기 때문입니다. 지금 하고 계신 사역은 교회 이름이 암시하듯이 선교, 특히 선교사 자녀들을 위한 사역입니다. 그때는 MK(Missionary kid)라는 단어를 아는 사람이 많지 않았으니, 젊은 사람이 무슨 꿍꿍이 속이 있어서, ‘일도 안 되고 돈도 안 되는’ 청소년 사역을 하고 있냐는 시선으로 바라보던 때였습니다.
그러나 짧은 기간에 선교사님의 사역을 하나님께서 복되게 하셨습니다. 지금 선교교회가 자리한 부지를 울산교회와 울산 매곡교회에 속한 성도님들의 헌신으로 준비하게 하셨습니다.
이곳을 다녀가신 성도님들 가운데 교회건축의 필요성을 알고 부지 마련을 위해 헌금을 드리겠다고 제안했지만, 아직 부지가 확정되지 않은 상황이라며 선교사님이 그 헌금을 선뜻 받아들이지 않고 기도하며 기다렸습니다.
성도님들로서는 이런 과정을 통해 더욱 선교사님을 신뢰하고 기다리며 선교사님의 결정을 따르게 되었던 것 같습니다. 결국 1천 평의 부지를 마련하고 나서 건축비를 위해 기도하던 중 울산동부교회가 설립 50주년을 앞두고 치앙마이 선교교회 건축을 위해 전교인이 헌금하여 오늘의 치앙마이 선교교회를 건축할 수 있게 되었습니다.
지금 선교교회는 치앙마이에 와있는 선교사 자녀들을 위한 교회로 주일 예배와 성경공부를 하며 사역하고 있습니다. 물론 미국 선교사님들이 운영하는 선교사 자녀 학교가 필리핀이나 인도를 비롯해서 몇 군데 있고 기숙사도 있으며, 좋은 교육을 받을 수 있지만 교육비도 비싸고 한국인 신앙공동체가 아니라 한국문화와 언어를 접하기가 힘든 부분도 있습니다.
그러다 보니 이곳 치앙마이에는 태국뿐만 아니라 세계 여러 곳에서 사역하는 한국 선교사님들의 자녀들이 선교사 자녀학교에 꽤 많이 와 있습니다. 기숙사는 없지만 학생들을 위해 홈스테이를 사역으로 받아들이는 선교사님들이 계시고, 한국인 선교사 자녀들을 위한 선교교회가 있다 보니 영적으로 돌봄을 받을 뿐만 아니라 한국문화와 언어를 경험하고 정체성을 확립하는 유익이 있습니다.
뿐만 아니라 고등학교 과정을 끝내면, 전에는 주로 미국에 있는 대학교에 진학을 많이 했었는데 최근에는 미국 학교들도 형편이 어려워지고, 장학금을 전처럼 받을 수 없는 상황이라 오히려 한국의 대학교에 진학하기를 원하는 학생들에게 도움이 됩니다.
‘MK’로 불리는 선교사 자녀는 자신의 결단이 아니라 선교에 헌신한 부모님을 따라 선교지로 왔고, 여러 가지로 힘든 상황에 있어서 정말로 도움이 필요한 청소년들이기도 합니다. 그렇기에 참으로 필요한 사역을 잘 감당하고 계시는 양 선교사님이 자랑스럽고 그 모든 일을 미리 예비하시고 이루어가시는 놀라우신 우리 하나님을 찬양하며 이런 일에 기꺼이 헌신하는 성도들이 있어서 옆에서 지켜보는 우리들도 감사에 동참하는 기회를 갖습니다.
One night a few months ago, I woke up in the middle of sleep and caused a bit of unexpected 'trouble.' While my wife was sound asleep, I impulsively arranged an itinerary to visit Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Manila, the Philippines, over the Chuseok holiday, even asking someone to book the flight tickets right away. Naturally, I made a post-facto report after she woke up. I don't quite recall whether I framed it as an early celebration for her upcoming birthday, or made an excuse that it was a preliminary trip for our approaching 50th wedding anniversary.
Yet, my wife has lived with an unpredictable husband for about fifty years now, and since this certainly was not the first time such a thing had happened, she graciously accommodated my spontaneous plan. Thanks to her, we visited Chiang Mai just before this year's Chuseok festival. My first impression of Chiang Mai was that it felt like a treasure trove of lush green nature, a place where elephant sculptures grace almost every corner. Whether sculpted from living plants, wood, iron, or ceramics, it truly seemed to be the home of elephants crafted from every imaginable material.
The reason I resolved to visit Chiang Mai was that, during my active pastoral ministry, mission-related gatherings had often been held there, yet I had never found the time to visit amid the busyness of ministry.
In particular, Missionary Jung-Geum Yang, who currently pastors Chiang Mai Mission Church, had formerly led the junior department at Ulsan Church and served the 'Ulsan Metropolitan New Life Training Center.' After ministering faithfully at the neighboring Ulsan Dongbu Church (pastored at the time by Rev. Kwang-Soo Lee), he moved to Chiang Mai, where he has now been serving for more than eleven years. As the church's name implies, his current ministry is dedicated to missions, and specifically to missionary children (MKs). Back when he began, few people were familiar with the term 'MK.' In those days, people looked at him with skepticism, wondering what hidden agenda a young minister might have in pursuing youth ministry—something perceived as neither prestigious nor financially rewarding.
Yet God blessed the missionary's work in a remarkably short time. Through the devotion and sacrificial giving of the congregation members of Ulsan Church and Ulsan Maegok Church, God provided the land where the Mission Church stands today.
Among the church members who visited this place, some recognized the pressing need for a church building and offered donations toward purchasing land. However, because a specific plot had not yet been confirmed, Missionary Yang declined to accept the funds impulsively, choosing instead to wait in prayer.
Through this process, the congregation came to trust him all the more, waiting alongside him and respecting his spiritual discernment. Eventually, after acquiring a 3,300-square-meter (1,000-pyeong) plot, they continued to pray for the construction funds. Around that time, as Ulsan Dongbu Church approached its 50th anniversary, the entire congregation united to offer a special dedication for the building of Chiang Mai Mission Church, making the present sanctuary a reality.
Today, the Mission Church serves missionary children living in Chiang Mai through Sunday worship services and Bible studies. To be sure, there are Christian international schools for missionary kids founded by American missionaries in several places such as the Philippines and India, complete with boarding facilities and quality education. However, tuition at these schools can be quite high, and because they do not function as Korean faith communities, students often struggle to remain connected to their Korean heritage, culture, and language.
As a result, a considerable number of children whose Korean missionary parents serve not only in Thailand but all across the globe have gathered here in Chiang Mai to attend MK schools. Although the church does not operate a dormitory, some missionaries have embraced homestays as their personal calling to care for these students. With a mission church dedicated specifically to Korean missionary children, they receive spiritual nurturing while experiencing Korean culture, practicing their mother tongue, and firmly establishing their identity.
Furthermore, upon completing high school, students who previously would have mostly gone on to universities in the United States now find valuable guidance here. With recent economic challenges facing American colleges and scholarships becoming increasingly scarce, the church is a tremendous help to students who wish to pursue higher education in Korea instead.
Missionary children, known as MKs, did not move to the mission field by their own choice, but simply followed their parents who dedicated their lives to the gospel. Because of this, they are adolescents facing numerous unique challenges and truly need our support. That is why I feel so proud of Missionary Yang, who faithfully carries out this vital and indispensable calling. I praise our wonderful God, who prepares and orchestrates all things ahead of time. Seeing the believers who gladly dedicate themselves to such noble kingdom work gives those of us watching from the side a precious opportunity to join our hearts in deep thanksgiving.
Een nag 'n paar maande gelede het ek midde-in my slaap wakker geword en onverwags 'n bietjie 'moeilikheid' veroorsaak. Terwyl my vrou vas aan die slaap was, het ek 'n reisplan gereël om Chiang Mai in Thailand en Manila in die Filippyne rondom die Chuseok-fees te besoek, en selfs dadelik gevra dat vliegkaartjies bespreek word. Vroeg die oggend nadat sy wakker geword het, het ek natuurlik eers verslag gedoen. Ek kan nie mooi onthou of ek dit voorgehou het as 'n vroeë geskenk vir haar verjaarsdag wat voorlê, en of ek dit afgemaak het as 'n voorlopige viering van ons naderende 50ste huweliksherdenking nie.
Maar my vrou leef nou al sowat vyftig jaar saam met 'n onvoorspelbare man, en aangesien dit beslis nie die eerste keer was dat so iets gebeur nie, het sy my spontane plan genadiglik aanvaar. Danksy haar kon ons Chiang Mai net voor vanjaar se Chuseok-fees besoek. My eerste indruk van Chiang Mai was dat dit soos 'n skatkis van welige, groen natuur lyk—'n plek waar olifantbeelde oral te vinde is. Of dit nou van lewende plante, hout, yster of keramiek gemaak is, dit het waarlik gevoel soos die tuiste van olifante uit elke denkbare materiaal gevorm.
Die rede waarom ek besluit het om Chiang Mai te besoek, was dat sendingverwante byeenkomste dikwels daar gehou is gedurende my jare van aktiewe gemeentebediening, maar ek het destyds weens die besige herderlike werk nooit die geleentheid gehad om daarheen te reis nie.
In die besonder het sendeling Jung-Geum Yang, wat tans die leiding neem by Chiang Mai Sendinggemeente, voorheen die kinderafdeling by Ulsan Gemeente gelei en die 'Ulsan Metropolitaanse Nuwe Lewe-opleidingsentrum' gedien. Nadat hy ook getrou in die naburige Ulsan Dongbu Gemeente (destyds onder leiding van ds. Kwang-Soo Lee) gearbei het, het hy na Chiang Mai verhuis waar hy nou al meer as elf jaar lank diens doen. Soos die kerk se naam aandui, is sy huidige bediening gewy aan sending, en spesifiek aan sendingkinders (MK's). Destyds was daar min mense wat die term 'MK' geken het, en baie het met agterdog na hom gekyk en gewonder watter bybedoelings 'n jong leraar kon hê om jeugbediening te doen—iets wat beskou is as 'n werk wat nie aansien of geld oplewer nie.
Die Here het egter binne 'n kort tydjie die sendeling se arbeid geseën. Deur die toewyding en opofferende bydraes van lidmate van Ulsan Gemeente en Ulsan Maegok Gemeente, het God die perseel voorsien waarop die Sendinggemeente vandag staan.
Van die gelowiges wat die plek besoek het, het die dringende behoefte aan 'n kerkgebou ingesien en aangebied om 'n bydrae te gee om grond te koop. Omdat 'n spesifieke stuk grond egter nog nie vasgestel was nie, het sendeling Yang nie sommer die geld aanvaar nie, maar biddend gewag.
Deur hierdie proses het die lidmate die sendeling net nog meer vertrou, geduldig gewag en sy besluite eerbiedig. Nadat 'n perseel van sowat 3 300 vierkante meter (1 000 pyeong) uiteindelik bekom is, het hulle voortgegaan om vir die boukoste te bid. Met die nadering van Ulsan Dongbu Gemeente se 50ste bestaansjaar, het die hele gemeente saamgestaan en 'n spesiale offergawe gebring vir die bou van Chiang Mai Sendinggemeente, waardeur die huidige kerkgebou opgerig kon word.
Vandag dien die Sendinggemeente as 'n geestelike tuiste vir sendingkinders in Chiang Mai deur middel van Sondagaanbidding en Bybelstudie. Daar is natuurlik internasionale skole vir sendingkinders wat deur Amerikaanse sendelinge in lande soos die Filippyne en Indië bestuur word, toegerus met koshuise en gehalte-onderwys. Die onderrigkoste is egter dikwels baie hoog, en aangesien dit nie Koreaanse geloofsgemeenskappe is nie, sukkel die kinders soms om hul Koreaanse kultuur en moedertaal te behou.
Daarom het 'n aansienlike getal kinders van Koreaanse sendelinge—wat nie net in Thailand nie, maar oor die hele wêreld arbei—hier in Chiang Mai bymekaargekom om sendingkinderskole by te woon. Alhoewel die gemeente nie 'n koshuis het nie, is daar sendelinge wat tuisverblyf (homestay) vir studente as hul eie bediening aanvaar. Met 'n sendinggemeente wat spesifiek vir Koreaanse sendingkinders daargestel is, ontvang hulle nie net geestelike versorging nie, maar kry hulle ook die geleentheid om hul Koreaanse kultuur te beleef, hul taal te versterk en hul identiteit stewig te vestig.
Daarbenewens bied dit groot uitkoms wanneer die studente hul hoërskoolloopbaan voltooi. Voorheen het die meerderheid na universiteite in die Verenigde State gegaan, maar weens die moeiliker finansiële omstandighede en skaarser beurse aan Amerikaanse instellings, help die bediening nou baie studente wat eerder aan Koreaanse universiteite wil gaan studeer.
Sendingkinders, bekend as 'MK's', het nie uit eie keuse na die sendingveld verhuis nie, maar bloot hul ouers gevolg wat hul lewens aan die evangelie gewy het. Gevolglik gaan hulle deur baie beproewings en is hulle jongmense wat waarlik ons bystand en liefde benodig. Daarom voel ek so trots op sendeling Yang, wat hierdie uiters noodsaaklike roeping getrou vervul. Ek loof ons wonderlike God wat alles vooraf voorberei en voleindig. Dat daar gelowiges is wat hulle gewillig aan so 'n edele saak wy, gee ook vir ons wat van die kantlyn af toekyk, die kosbare voorreg om in dankbaarheid te deel.