지난 주일에는 경산 진량 버티미길에 위치한 ‘사랑이 꽃피는 교회’를 다녀왔습니다. 전혀 시골틱하지 않는 교회이름이었지만 반신반의했습니다. 들판에 자리한 교회에 청년들이 많이 모인다는 소문은 익히 들었습니다. 그러나 주일오후임직/퇴임감사예배에 참석하니 소문보다 더한 감동이 있었습니다. 두 분의 장로를 세우고, 한 분의 장로와 세 분의 권사가 퇴임하는 자리이니 특별한 감동이 있을 법한 자리는 아니었습니다. 그러나 축하의 찬양을 하는 순간에 청년들이 강대상 앞에 다 나가지 못하고, 나머지는 청중석에 일어서서 찬양할 수 밖에 없는 젊음이 가득한 교회였습니다.
월요일 아침, 가까이 있는 조산천을 걸으며 들은 구빈건 목사님의 이야기는 더욱 감동이었습니다. 처음 시골농촌 마을에 부임했을 때는 55년 역사를 가진 대조교회란 이름의 교회였고, 55세 이상 교인이 80%이상되고, 주일 출석 100여명되는 여느 시골교회와 크게 다름이 없었습니다. 지금은 교적부 상으로 0-30대까지 420명, 40세 이상 490명 정도 됩니다. 청년들을 통해 교회를 세우겠다는 꿈을 안고 2002년도에 담임목사로 오면서 5-6명 모이는 청년부를 맡아서 청년들을 제자화 하고, 학교로 찾아가 전도하며 지금까지 청년부 담임으로 있습니다. 그러다보니 교회 전체가 사랑이 꽃피는 젊은 교회로 자리잡게 되었습니다.
사실 어려서부터 비슷한 환경에서 자라며 학교를 가고 취직을 하고 살아가는 과정은 교인들이라고 해서 별반 다르지 않습니다. 다만 다른 것이 있다면 주일학교를 다니고 청소년부, 청년부를 일요일에 간다는 것 말고는 같은 세상, 같은 사회를 살아갑니다. 어릴 때는 부모의 권위에 의해서, 학업에 시달리는 청소년이 되면서는 다른 친구들처럼 주말에도 쉬지 못하고 교회로 끌려(?)간다면 피곤할 수 밖에 없을 것입니다. 그래서 부모의 권위가 통하지 않는 나이가 되면서는, 어쩌다 남은 5-6명 모이는 청년부가 되고 맙니다. 구 목사님은 그 사실을 직시하고, 지금 세상의 이기적이고, 세속적이고, 방탕한 젊은이들과는 달리, 다른 사람을 배려하고, 돈보다는 가난을 선택하더라도, 거룩하게 살기로 결단하는 새로운 문화를 창출하는 사랑이 꽃피는 교회로 가꾸어갔습니다.
데이트는 대학 4학년 때, 결혼을 목표로 하고, 그런 만남을 시작하면 6개월 이내에 결혼하도록, 그리고 결혼하면 많은 아이를 낳는 새로운 문화를 권장한 결과 교회에서 결혼한 50쌍의 청년들 가운데 1쌍도 이혼한 부부가 없다는 믿기 어려운 기록을 세웠습니다. 결혼하면 셋은 기본으로 자녀를 낳고, 어떤 이는 다섯을 낳고 둘을 입양하겠다는 목표를 세우고 선한 영향을 끼치고 있다고 합니다. 청년들이 중고등부와 유년주일학교를 섬기고, 아이들이 교회에 오면 언니. 형들이 챙겨주니 매우 기뻐합니다. 운동을 함께 하고 영화를 같이 보고 레크레이션도 함께 즐기니 교회는 따분한 곳이 아니라 가고 싶은 곳으로 변한 것입니다. 심지어 언어발달이 늦은 지진아조차도 교회에 오고나서 아이가 바뀌는 것을 보고 이웃들이 교회를 스스로 찾아온다니 그런 교회는 어디에 위치해도 꽃을 피울 것입니다.
꽃을 피우고 풍성한 열매를 맺으려면 거름을 주어야 하듯이, 성숙한 어른들의 섬김이 있습니다. 예배 자리조차도 젊은 이에게 앞자리를 내어주고, 점심 식사도 젊은이의 식성에 맞는 음식을 준비하고, 사랑의 눈빛으로 바라보는 어른들의 섬김이 오늘 <사랑이 꽃피는 교회>의 밑거름이 되고 있음을 부인할 수 없습니다. 게다가 청년들의 학사를 대학 주변에 스무개나 세워서 제공하고 있습니다. 그 결과 지방에서는 부교역자를 구할 수 없는 상황에서, 매년 신학교에 가는 청년들이 줄을 잇고, 부교역자들은 함께 사역을 하다가 담임으로 청빙을 받을 때까지 교회 안에 머물도록 여러 사역들을 개발하고 있습니다. 이런 풍토는 동역자들을 주안에서 형제로 대우하며, 버럭 화내지 않는 담임 목사의 고뇌가 만들어 낸 결과입니다. 예배시간에 천사와 같은 표정으로 설교하고 나서, 바로 돌아서서 부교역자들에게는 역정을 내는 담임 목사나, 장로인 자기에게 청년들이 인사도 안한다고 그 따위 청년부 폐지하라고 호통치는 동네와는 얼마나 대조가 되는지요? <사랑이 꽃피는 교회>에서 보낸, 만 하루는 참으로 감동이었고, 그 여운이 아직도 남아있습니다. 그러한 사랑이 꽃피는 교회들이, 비온 뒤에 죽순 돋아나듯이, 온누리에 가득하기를 바랍니다.
Last Sunday, I visited 'Love Blossoms Church' located on Beotimi-gil in Jinryang, Gyeongsan. It was a church name that did not sound rustic in the least, yet I was initially half in doubt. I had long heard rumors that a great multitude of young people gathered at this church nestled in the open fields. However, attending the Sunday afternoon ordination and retirement thanksgiving service brought a moving experience far greater than any rumor. It was an occasion where two elders were being ordained, while one elder and three deaconesses were retiring, so one might not have expected anything out of the ordinary. Yet, when the moment came to sing celebratory praises, so many young people came forward that they could not all fit before the pulpit, and the rest had to stand up from their seats in the congregation to praise—it was a church brimming with youthful life.
On Monday morning, as I walked along the nearby Josancheon Stream listening to the story of Pastor Binkeon Koo, I was moved even more deeply. When he was first appointed to this rural farming village, the church was named Daejo Church, bearing a 55-year history. With over 80% of the congregation aged 55 or older and a Sunday attendance of about 100, it was not much different from any other rural church. Today, however, the church registry counts about 420 people from infants to those in their thirties, and around 490 people aged 40 and above. Holding onto the dream of building the church through young people, he arrived as senior pastor in 2002, took charge of the youth group of merely five or six members, discipled them, visited local campuses to evangelize, and continues to serve as the youth pastor to this day. Through this dedicated journey, the entire church has firmly blossomed into a vibrant, youthful community.
In truth, growing up in similar environments, attending school, finding a job, and navigating life is hardly different for churchgoers than for anyone else. The only difference is that they attend Sunday school and go to the youth or young adult ministries on Sundays; otherwise, they live in the very same world and society. When they are young, they go by their parents' authority; when they become teenagers burdened by heavy studies, being 'dragged' to church without being able to rest on weekends like other peers inevitably leaves them exhausted. Consequently, once they reach an age where parental authority no longer holds sway, the youth group often dwindles to a meager remnant of five or six. Pastor Koo faced this reality squarely. Rather than conforming to the selfish, worldly, and indulgent ways of modern youth, he cultivated Love Blossoms Church into a community that fosters a new culture—one where young people care for others and resolve to live holy lives, even if it means choosing simplicity and modest means over worldly wealth.
By encouraging a new culture where dating begins in their fourth year of university with marriage as the clear goal, where couples marry within six months once such a relationship starts, and where they welcome many children after marriage, the church has achieved an astonishing record: not a single couple among the fifty pairs who married in the church has divorced. Having three children is considered the baseline, and some have set goals to bear five and adopt two more, exerting a profoundly good influence. These young adults faithfully serve in the middle and high school ministries as well as the children's Sunday school, and the children are overjoyed when their older brothers and sisters warmly care for them at church. Exercising together, watching movies, and enjoying recreation side by side, the church has transformed from a tedious place into a sanctuary where everyone truly longs to be. When neighbors see even children with delayed language development noticeably transform after coming to church, they begin seeking out the church on their own. Surely, a church like this will blossom anywhere it is planted.
Just as fertile soil and manure are needed for flowers to bloom and yield rich fruit, behind this growth lies the devoted service of mature elders. It is undeniable that the selfless devotion of older members—giving up front-row seats in worship to the youth, preparing lunch menus suited to young tastes, and gazing upon them with eyes full of love—serves as the rich nourishment for today's Love Blossoms Church. Moreover, the church has established and provided twenty student houses around nearby universities. As a result, while rural areas often struggle desperately to recruit associate pastors, a steady stream of young people enters seminary year after year, and various ministries are developed so that associate pastors can serve together until they are called to pastor their own churches. Such a healthy climate is the fruit of the senior pastor's agonizing commitment to treat his co-workers as true brothers in the Lord without giving way to anger. How starkly does this contrast with places where a pastor preaches with an angelic countenance during the service only to turn around and vent his wrath on associate ministers, or where an elder threatens to shut down the youth group simply because the youth did not greet him! The full day I spent at Love Blossoms Church was truly moving, and its warmth still lingers in my heart. May such churches where love blossoms spring up like bamboo shoots after the rain, filling every corner of the earth.
Verlede Sondag het ek besoek afgelê by 'Liefde Blom Gemeente' geleë in Beotimi-weg, Jinryang, Gyeongsan. Dit was ’n gemeentenaam wat glad nie landelik geklink het nie, en ek was aanvanklik half twyfelagtig. Ek het al dikwels gerugte gehoor dat baie jongmense by hierdie gemeente tussen die velde bymekaarkom. Toe ek egter die Sondagmiddag se bevestigings- en emeritaatsdankdiens bywoon, was die ervaring nog baie dieper as die gerugte. Twee ouderlinge is bevestig, terwyl een ouderling en drie diakonesse geëmeriteer het—’n geleentheid wat mens nie noodwendig as buitengewoon emosioneel sou verwag nie. Maar toe die oomblik van feesprysing aanbreek, was daar soveel jongmense dat hulle nie almal voor die kansel kon inpas nie, en die res moes eenvoudig tussen die banke opstaan om saam te lofprys; dit was ’n gemeente oorlopend van jeugdige lewenskrag.
Maandagoggend, terwyl ek langs die nabygeleë Josancheon-stroom gestap het en na ds. Binkeon Koo se verhaal geluister het, was ek nog dieper geraak. Toe hy destyds na hierdie landelike boeredorpie beroep is, was dit ’n gemeente met ’n 55-jarige geskiedenis genaamd Daejo Gemeente. Meer as 80% van die lidmate was bo 55 jaar oud, en met ’n Sondagbywoning van sowat 100 mense het dit min verskil van enige ander plattelandse kerkie. Vandag toon die lidmaatregister egter ongeveer 420 siele van 0 tot 30 jaar, en sowat 490 bo 40 jaar. Met die droom om die gemeente deur jongmense op te bou, het hy in 2002 as leraar daar aangekom, ’n jeuggroep van slegs 5 tot 6 lede onder sy vlerk geneem, hulle gedissipel, skole en kampusse besoek om te evangeliseer, en dien hy tot vandag toe as jeugleraar. Gevolglik het die hele gemeente stewig gevestig geraak as ’n lewenskragtige, jeugdige tuiste waar die liefde voluit blom.
Om die waarheid te sê, verskil die lewenspad van gelowiges—om in soortgelyke omstandighede groot te word, skool te gaan, werk te kry en te leef—maar min van dié van ander mense. Die enigste verskil is dat hulle Sondagskool toe gaan en op Sondae die jeug- of jongvolwassebediening bywoon; origens leef hulle in presies dieselfde wêreld en samelewing. As kinders gaan hulle vanweë hul ouers se gesag, en as tieners wat onder studiedruk gebuk gaan, kan dit uitputtend wees om—anders as hul maats—nie oor naweke te kan rus nie en kerk toe 'gesleep' te word. Wanneer hulle dus ’n ouderdom bereik waar ouerlike gesag nie meer geld nie, kwyn die jeugbediening dikwels weg tot daardie oorblywende 5 of 6 jongmense. Ds. Koo het hierdie werklikheid vierkantig in die oë gekyk. In plaas daarvan om die selfsugtige, wêreldse en losbandige kultuur van vandag se jeug na te volg, het hy ’n nuwe kultuur gekweek—waar jongmense mekaar dien en besluit om heilig te leef, selfs al kies hulle eenvoud bo aardse rykdom.
Deur ’n nuwe lewenswyse aan te moedig waarin afsprake eers in die vierde universiteitsjaar met die oog op die huwelik begin word, paartjies binne ses maande trou sodra so ’n verhouding begin, en hulle daarna aangemoedig word om baie kinders te hê, het die gemeente ’n ongelooflike mylpaal bereik: onder die 50 paartjies wat in die kerk getrou het, is daar nie ’n enkele egskeiding nie. Drie kinders word as die norm beskou, en sommige stel selfs die doel om vyf kinders te hê en nog twee aan te neem—’n voorbeeld wat ’n wonderlike invloed uitoefen. Die jongmense bedien die hoërskool-, laerskool- en kindersondagskoolbedieninge, en die kinders straal van vreugde wanneer hul ouer 'boeties' en 'sussies' hulle by die kerk vertroetel. Hulle oefen saam, kyk saam flieks en geniet ontspanning, sodat die kerk nie meer ’n vervelige plek is nie, maar ’n toevlug waarheen almal graag wil gaan. Selfs wanneer bure sien hoe kinders met ernstige spraakagterstande merkwaardig verander nadat hulle die kerk begin bywoon het, begin gemeenskapslede vanself na die kerk stroom. Waar so ’n gemeente ook al geplant word, sal dit sekerlik blom.
Net soos ’n mens bemesting moet gee om bloeisels te laat ooptrek en ryk vrugte te pluk, lê daar agter hierdie groei die opofferende diens van volwasse lidmate. Dit is onmiskenbaar dat die diensbaarheid van die oueres—wat selfs hul voorste sitplekke in die erediens aan die jeug afstaan, middagetes voorberei wat by die smaak van jongmense pas, en hulle met oë vol liefde dophou—die vrugbare teelaarde vir vandag se 'Liefde Blom Gemeente' vorm. Boonop het die gemeente sowat twintig koshuise naby universiteite opgerig en beskikbaar gestel. Gevolglik, terwyl die platteland dikwels sukkel om hulpleraars te vind, stroom jongmense jaar na jaar na die kweekskool, en word talle bedieninge ontwikkel sodat mede-leraars saam kan arbei totdat hulle as leraars na ander gemeentes beroep word. Hierdie gesonde gees is die vrug van die hoofleraar se diepe stryd om sy medewerkers as broers in die Here te hanteer sonder om in woede uit te bars. Hoe skerp staan dit nie in teenstelling met plekke waar ’n leraar met die gesig van ’n engel preek, net om dadelik om te draai en sy woede op sy medeleraars te koel nie, of waar ’n ouderling bulder dat die jeugbediening gesluit moet word bloot omdat die jongmense hom nie gegroet het nie! Die volle dag wat ek by 'Liefde Blom Gemeente' deurgebring het, was waarlik ’n roerende ervaring, en die nawerking daarvan bly my steeds by. Mag sulke gemeentes waar die liefde blom, soos bamboeslote ná die lentereën, oor die hele aarde heen verrys.