울산은 복음화를 위해서 함께 일하기에 이상적인 도시입니다. 백만 인구의 도시이고 30분 이내에 함께 모일 수 있는 도시가 갖는 유리한 점이 있습니다. 1995년 말에서 2019년 말까지 지난 24년 동안 울산에서 울산복음화를 위해 함께 사역했던 시절을 떠올리면 마음속에 감사가 밀려옵니다.
특히 극동방송, CTS(씨티에스), CBS(씨비에스) 같은 기독방송들과 울산의 빛 등 기독언론들을 하나님께서 세워주셔서, 오랫동안 정체된 7% 기독교 인구의 벽을 넘기 위해서 함께 일했던, 소중한 감사로 채워진 시간입니다. 그리고 청소년들을 위한 ‘틴즈페스티벌’을 떠올리게 됩니다. 특히 해마다 대회를 앞두고 40일씩 기도했던 청소년들이 이제는 모두 믿음의 청년이 되어 있기를 바랍니다.
맨 먼저 울산극동방송을 설립했던 때를 떠올려 보고 싶습니다. 참으로 많은 분들이 오래 기도했던 사안이었습니다. 마침내 정찬덕 장로님이 초대지사장으로 와서 설립하는 그 격무를 맡으셨습니다. 그동안 기도해 온 울산극동방송 설립을 위해서 당시 13억이 모금 목표였습니다. 함께 모여 앉아서, 모두들 울산교회가 어떻게 하나 지켜보고 있었습니다. 우리가 1억을 작정하면 나머지 교회는 모두 몇 천만 원으로 정할 것이고 결코 13억 목표달성이 어렵다는 것은 명백했습니다. 그래서 울산교회가 2억을 작정할 수밖에 없었습니다. 그러자 1억 작정하는 교회들이 뒤따라 나오고 그래서 목표 13억을 달성한 것은 참으로 감사한 기억입니다.
다만 그 일을 앞장서 수고하셨던 정찬덕 장로님은 7년 간 루게릭으로 고생하시다가 얼마 전에 주님의 품에 편안히 안겼습니다. ‘수고를 그치고 쉬리니 이는… 행한 일이 따름이라’ 는 말씀을 떠오릅니다.
그리고 울산에 뿌리를 내리기 위해서 정말 수고한 것은 CBS입니다. 시기적으로 극동보다 늦게 후발주자로 왔다는 것이 본부장들의 어려움이었던 같습니다. 또 그 열심 때문에 우리가 기억할만한 사람이 있습니다. 당시 계급장 없는 ‘방송위원’으로 울산 CBS에 부임한 정재원 님은 아마 1주일 내에 사표를 낼 거라고 본사에서 생각했다지만, 하나님께서 일이 있어 보내신다는 감동을 기도 중에 받았기에, 절망하지 않고 열심히 달린 분입니다. 특히 울산과 일본의 선교의 가교를 놓기 시작했고 퇴사 후 아직도 그 비전을 향해 달리고 있습니다. 그러던 중에 세월이 흘러 당시 태화교회 양성태 목사님이 CBS울산 이사장으로 취임하고 챙기기 시작하면서 자리를 잡아가게 되었다고 저는 기억합니다.
2004년 12월 6일에 울산지역 기독방송으로서는 막내로 CTS울산방송이 개국했습니다. CTS도 설립 당시의 특별한 기억이 있습니다. 개국을 위해 서울 본사에서 오신 김순애 전무의 활동은 대단했습니다. 제 기억에는 한 주간도 울산에 머무르지 않았는데, 저를 본부장(후에 이사장)으로 세우고 20여 명의 CTS울산방송의 운영이사회를 꾸리는 것을 보면서, 그것도 평소에 제가 함께 일하고 싶은 목회자들로 엮어내는 추진력을 보면서 감탄했습니다.
며칠 계속해서 나를 붙들고 다니는데, 내가 누구와 함께 사는지 모를 만큼 놓아주지를 않았습니다. 알고 보니 이 분은 ‘천사도 흠모하겠네’의 저자로 서울 광림교회 출석하며 북에서 내려온 김만철 씨 가족을 전도하신 분이셨습니다.
그때의 CTS의 사람들이 지금도 울산의 복음화를 위해서 활동하고 있습니다. 현재 교회신문 발행인 이철민 대표님입니다. 이 대표님은 CTS기독교TV PD로 입사해 서울본사 근무중 고향 울산으로 발령받아 2004년 개국을 위한 준비요원으로 활동하며, 2011년 CTS울산방송 초대지사장, 2019년 영남본부 본부장으로 봉사했습니다.
그리하여 울산기독방송 3사들이 이제는 든든하게 자리를 잡게 되었습니다. 게다가 그 후에는 기독신문 ‘울산의 빛’에다가 최근에는 21만 구독(이용)하는 ‘교회신문(구 교회네트워크신문)‘까지 등장하여 울산 복음화를 위한 울산기독언론이 이제는 잘 포진하게 되었습니다. 이 모든 언론기관들이 한 마음으로 복음의 꽃을 활짝 피우는 일을 앞당기는 선한 도구들이 되길 바랍니다.
Ulsan is an ideal city for laboring together toward evangelization. With a population of one million, it has the distinct advantage of being a city where people can gather together within thirty minutes. Whenever I look back on the twenty-four years between late 1995 and late 2019, when we ministered side by side for the evangelization of Ulsan, waves of heartfelt gratitude fill my heart.
In particular, God established Christian broadcasting stations such as FEBC (Far East Broadcasting Company), CTS, and CBS, as well as print media like The Light of Ulsan. Working together with them to break through the long-stagnant wall of a 7% Christian population remains a season richly filled with precious thanksgiving. I also fondly remember the 'Teens Festival' organized for our youth. I pray that all those young souls, who used to gather for forty days of prayer each year ahead of the festival, have now grown into steadfast men and women of faith.
First, I would like to recount the time when Ulsan FEBC was established. It was a project for which truly many people had prayed over a long time. Eventually, Elder Chan-deok Jung arrived as the first station director and took upon himself the demanding burden of establishing the station. At the time, the fundraising goal to launch Ulsan FEBC was 1.3 billion KRW. As we sat together, everyone was quietly watching to see what Ulsan Church would do. If we pledged 100 million KRW, the other churches would naturally pledge several tens of millions, making it painfully evident that reaching the 1.3 billion KRW target would be impossible. Thus, Ulsan Church had no choice but to pledge 200 million KRW. Following that decision, other churches stepped forward with pledges of 100 million KRW, and achieving our 1.3 billion KRW goal remains an immensely grateful memory.
Elder Chan-deok Jung, who labored so selflessly at the forefront of that endeavor, fought ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) for seven years before resting peacefully in the arms of the Lord not long ago. The verse comes to mind: "...that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
CBS also poured immense toil into taking root in Ulsan. Arriving later than FEBC seemed to have placed quite a heavy burden on its directors. Yet, because of his extraordinary passion, there is one person we must remember. When Jae-won Jung was assigned to Ulsan CBS as an unranked 'broadcasting commissioner,' headquarters assumed he would submit his resignation within a week. However, having received a deep conviction in prayer that God was sending him for a purpose, he never lost heart and poured his life into the work. He notably bridged mission efforts between Ulsan and Japan, and even after leaving the company, he continues to run toward that very vision. As time passed, Pastor Seong-tae Yang of Taehwa Church took office as the board chairman of CBS Ulsan and began steering its operations, which firmly established the network.
On December 6, 2004, CTS Ulsan was inaugurated as the youngest of the Christian broadcasting networks in the Ulsan region. CTS also carries special memories from its beginnings. Managing Director Soon-ae Kim, who came from the Seoul headquarters for the launch, was truly remarkable. As I recall, she stayed in Ulsan for less than a week, yet she appointed me as branch director (and later board chairman) and formed a board of trustees consisting of around twenty leaders for CTS Ulsan. Watching her dynamic drive to bring together pastors with whom I had always hoped to partner left me in awe.
She kept hold of me for days on end, barely letting me out of her sight to the point that I hardly knew where I was living. As it turned out, she was the author of Even Angels Would Marvel, an active member of Kwanglim Church in Seoul who had famously led the defector Man-cheol Kim and his family to Christ.
The people who stood with CTS back then continue to labor for Ulsan's evangelization even today. One such person is CEO Cheol-min Lee, current publisher of The Church Newspaper. Having joined CTS Christian TV as a producer, he was working at the Seoul headquarters when he was transferred to his hometown of Ulsan. He served as a core member of the preparation team for the 2004 launch, became the inaugural station director of CTS Ulsan in 2011, and served as the Yeongnam Regional Director in 2019.
In this way, all three Christian broadcasting stations in Ulsan have firmly established their roots. Furthermore, along with the Christian newspaper The Light of Ulsan, the emergence of The Church Newspaper (formerly Church Network News), which now reaches 210,000 subscribers and readers, has completed a well-positioned Christian media presence for the evangelization of Ulsan. May all these media ministries unite in one heart to become noble instruments that hasten the full blossoming of the Gospel.
Ulsan is 'n ideale stad om saam te werk vir die evangelisasie van sy mense. Met 'n bevolking van een miljoen het dit die groot voordeel dat mense binne dertig minute bymekaar kan kom. Wanneer ek terugdink aan die afgelope vier-en-twintig jaar, vanaf die einde van 1995 tot die einde van 2019, toe ons saam in Ulsan vir die evangelisasie van die stad gearbei het, loop my hart oor van dankbaarheid.
In die besonder het God Christelike uitsaaiers soos FEBC, CTS en CBS, asook gedrukte media soos Die Lig van Ulsan, opgerig. Die tyd wat ons saam gewerk het om die lank reeds gestagneerde muur van 'n 7%-Christenbevolking te deurbreek, bly 'n kosbare seisoen vol danksegging. Ek dink ook aan die 'Teens Festival' wat vir ons jeug gereël is. Ek bid dat al daardie jongmense, wat jaarliks veertig dae lank voor die fees in gebed saamgetrek het, vandag volwasse manne en vroue van geloof is.
Eers wil ek terugdink aan die stigting van Ulsan FEBC. Dit was inderdaad 'n saak waarvoor baie mense lank gebid het. Uiteindelik het ouderling Chan-deok Jung as die eerste stasiebestuurder gekom en die veeleisende taak van die vestiging op hom geneem. Om Ulsan FEBC, waarvoor so lank gebid is, tot stand te bring, was die insamelingsdoelwit destyds 1,3 miljard KRW. Terwyl ons bymekaar gesit het, het almal fyn dopgehou wat Ulsan Gemeente sou doen. As ons 100 miljoen KRW sou belowe, sou die ander gemeentes slegs 'n paar tiene miljoene bydra, en dit was glashelder dat die mikpunt van 1,3 miljard KRW nooit bereik sou word nie. Daarom kon Ulsan Gemeente nie anders as om 200 miljoen KRW te onderneem nie. Daarna het ander gemeentes gevolg met beloftes van 100 miljoen KRW, en dat ons uiteindelik die mikpunt van 1,3 miljard KRW bereik het, bly voorwaar 'n geseënde herinnering.
Ouderling Chan-deok Jung, wat so onvermoeid aan die spits van daardie werk gearbei het, het egter sewe jaar lank aan ALS (Lou Gehrig se siekte) gely voordat hy onlangs vredig in die arms van die Here ontslaap het. Die woorde kom by my op: '...sodat hulle kan rus van hul arbeid, en hulle werke volg hulle.'
Ook CBS het geweldig baie moeite gedoen om in Ulsan wortel te skiet. Omdat hulle later as FEBC opgedaag het, was dit skynbaar 'n groot uitdaging vir die streekhofde. En vanweë sy ywer is daar iemand wat ons beslis moet onthou. Toe Jae-won Jung as 'n 'uitsaaikommissaris' sonder rang by Ulsan CBS aangestel is, het die hoofkantoor gemeen dat hy binne 'n week sy bedanking sou indien. Maar omdat hy tydens gebed die diepe oortuiging ontvang het dat God hom met 'n doel daarheen gestuur het, het hy nooit moed verloor nie en met oorgawe gewerk. Hy het veral die grondslag gelê vir 'n sendingbrug tussen Ulsan en Japan, en selfs nadat hy die uitsaaier verlaat het, streef hy steeds daardie visie na. Met die verloop van tyd het leraar Seong-tae Yang van die Taehwa-gemeente die voorsitterskap van CBS Ulsan oorgeneem en die leisels begin trek, en so het die stasie, na my wete, stewig posgevat.
Op 6 Desember 2004 is CTS Ulsan as die jongste van die Christelike uitsaaiers in die streek ingewy. Ook CTS bring besondere herinneringe aan sy begintyd na vore. Die ywer van besturende direkteur Soon-ae Kim, wat vanaf die hoofkantoor in Seoel gekom het om die inwyding te lei, was merkwaardig. Sover ek onthou, het sy nie eens 'n week lank in Ulsan vertoef nie, maar sy het my as streekshoof (en later as direksievoorsitter) aangestel en 'n bestuursraad van sowat twintig lede vir CTS Ulsan op die been gebring. Haar dryfkrag om juis daardie predikante saam te snoer met wie ek nog altyd graag wou saamwerk, het my met diepe bewondering vervul.
Sy het my dae aaneen vergesel en my skaars uit haar oog verloor, sodat ek byna vergeet het waar ek woon. Dit blyk toe dat sy die skrywer was van Selfs Engele Sou Verwonderd Wees, 'n getroue lidmaat van die Kwanglim-gemeente in Seoel, wat destyds die Noord-Koreaanse vlugteling Man-cheol Kim en sy gesin na Christus gelei het.
Daardie selfde mense van CTS arbei vandag nog vir die evangelisasie van Ulsan. Een van hulle is die huidige uitgewer van Die Kerkkoerant, besturende direkteur Cheol-min Lee. Hy het oorspronklik as regisseur by CTS Christian TV aangesluit en by die hoofkantoor in Seoel gewerk toe hy na sy tuisstad Ulsan verplaas is. Hy was 'n sleutelfiguur in die voorbereidingspan vir die 2004-bekendstelling, het in 2011 die eerste stasiebestuurder van CTS Ulsan geword, en in 2019 as hoof van die Yeongnam-streek gedien.
So het die drie Christelike uitsaaiers in Ulsan nou 'n stewige fondament verkry. Daarby het nie net die Christelike koerant Die Lig van Ulsan bygekom nie, maar onlangs ook Die Kerkkoerant (voorheen Kerknetwerk-koerant) met meer as 210 000 intekenare en lesers. Sodoende is die Christelike media vir die evangelisasie van Ulsan vandag uitstekend toegerus. Mag al hierdie media-instellings met een hart dien as goeie instrumente wat die volle opbloei van die Evangelie verhaas.