사도행전 9장 마지막 부분에 “여제자”라고 소개된 다비다(도르가)가 등장합니다. 그녀의 결혼상태는 ‘순싱’인지 ‘돌싱’인지는언급이 없지만 어쨌거나 싱글로 보입니다. 하여간 아주 오래 전에 신길성결교회 사경회에서 <여제자 다비다>란 제목으로 설교했습니다. 그 때 담임이던 박광철 목사의 사모께서 감동을 받았습니다. 사모님은 남편 목사님께서 혼자 미국으로 유학을 가셨을 때 한국에 남아있으면서 혼자된 여인의 애환을 몸소 겪었기에 뭔가 싱글 여성들을 위한 사역을 하고 싶어하다가 그날 저녁 메시지에 용기를 얻어서 바로 혼자된 친구 김혜란 집사(당시)와 저희를 포함한 몇 사람이 박 목사님 사택에 모여서 다비다자매회를 시작 했습니다.
27일 수요 점심 때 다비다 자매회의 창설회장인 김혜란 목사와 현 회장 이주은 목사, 그리고 사무국장 이영복 장로 세 분이 저희 집을 방문했습니다. “예기치 않는 손님”이 아니라 “예약된 손님”으로서 식탁을 함께 했습니다. 저처럼 옛 기억이 희미한 것이 흠이지만, 하여간 이 장로님은 “지난 십년 동안 먹은 음식 중에 최상”이었다고 수고한 아내를 칭찬해 주셨습니다. 음식만 나눈 것이 아니라 우리의 관심사를 나누었습니다. 성경을 읽어보시면 부모없는 아이들과 남편 없는 여인들을 우리 하나님께서 특별히 사랑하시는 것 같습니다. 당시 세상에서 가장 힘없고 어려운 계층이기 때문입니다. “네가 만일 그들을 해롭게 하므로 그들이 내게 부르짖으면 내가 반드시 그 부르짖음을 들으리라”(출 22:23)
다비다자매회는 내년 1월이면 설립 31주년이 됩니다. 그동안 혼자된 여인들을 섬기는 일에 자신이 혼자되어 신실하게 섬겼습니다. 어쩌면 혼자되었기에 모든 고통을 겪는 이들을 보다 잘 섬길 수 있었을 것입니다. 사별이든 이혼이든 혼자 된 여인들을 섬기는 모임을 이끌었습니다. 혼자되어 자녀를 키우고 이제는 30년의 세월이 흘러 그 자녀들이 결혼해서 부모를 떠나는 나이가 되었습니다. 이제 초창기 회원들은 60, 70대에 들어섰고, 대부분의 회원들은 30대, 40대의 젊은 나이에, 아이들을 위해 아빠의 몫까지 해야한다고 마음 먹지만, 현실은 엄마의 몫조차 감당하기가 버겁다는 사실을 깨닫습니다. 그래도 피해갈 수 없는 일이기에 지금도 매진하고 있습니다. 30년전에 김혜란 회장이 젊은 싱글맘들을 대상으로 사역을 시작했듯이 이주은 회장이 그 바톤을 이어받아 또 다른 30년을 향해 나아가고 있는 모습이 참 보기 좋았습니다
모임은 한 달에 한 번 매월 4째 토요일 2시에 이수역 부근 이수성결교회당에서 모이고 있습니다. 또 주중에는 돈암동에 있는 사무실에서 큐티모임과 중보기도모임이 정기적으로 모이고 회원들 개인 상담등을 합니다. 그동안 모임 장소를 제공한 잠실중앙교회, 예능교회 등에 감사합니다. 김혜란 님은 전 회장으로서 지금도 다비다 모임에서 시니어 그룹을 인도하고 있습니다. 시니어 분들과 함께 1박 2일 다녀온 일화를 들려주었습니다. 혼자서 한정된 시공간에 살다보니 겨우 지하철 경로우대 패스말고는, 버스를 타고 내리며 찍는 것도 서툰 분도 있고, 어느 아파트에 모인다고 하면 그 아파트에 찾아오는 방법을 몰라서 휴대폰이 불이 나기도 합니다. 나이가 들어서 이제 1박2일 여행할 때도 자기 가방 대신에 남의 가방을 여는 상황도 발생하고 말입니다. 빨리 변하고 편리해지는 세상은 그 분들에게는 너무 무섭고 불편한 세상이 되었습니다. 성경공부와 묵상나눔도 하지만 휴대폰 사용법을 가르쳐 드리는 일이 소그룹 리더의 일입니다. 하나님께서는 관심과 도움이 필요한 사람들을 여전히 왜 우리 곁에 두셨을까요? “가난한 자들은 항상 너희와 함께 있으니 아무 때라도 원하는대로 도울 수 있거니와 … “(막 14:7)
Toward the end of Acts chapter 9, Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) appears, introduced as a "disciple." The scriptures do not mention whether she had never married or was divorced, but either way, she appears to have been single. A very long time ago, I preached a sermon titled Tabitha, the Disciple at a Bible revival conference held at Singil Holiness Church. The wife of Rev. Kwang-Cheol Park, who was the senior pastor at the time, was deeply moved by the message. Having personally endured the sorrows and hardships of being left behind in Korea while her husband went abroad alone to study in the United States, she had long harbored a desire to minister to single women. Encouraged by that evening's message, she and her newly widowed friend, Deaconess Hyeran Kim (as she then was), along with a few others including ourselves, gathered at Rev. Park's parsonage to inaugurate the Tabitha Sisterhood.
On Wednesday the 27th, at lunchtime, three leaders of the Tabitha Sisterhood visited our home: Rev. Hyeran Kim, the founding president; Rev. Joo-Eun Lee, the current president; and Elder Young-Bok Lee, the general director. They shared our table not as "unexpected guests," but as "duly reserved guests." Although Elder Lee's memory—much like mine—is fading with age, he warmly praised my hardworking wife, remarking that it was "the best meal he had eaten in the past ten years." We shared not merely good food, but the deep concerns of our hearts. When reading the Scriptures, one cannot help but notice that our God holds a tender, special love for fatherless children and husbandless women. In that era, they represented the most vulnerable, powerless members of society. "If you do afflict them, and they cry out to Me, I will surely hear their cry" (Exodus 22:23).
This coming January, the Tabitha Sisterhood will mark its 31st anniversary. Throughout these years, those who were themselves single have faithfully served other women living alone. Perhaps because they knew singlehood firsthand, they could better empathize with and care for those who suffered all manner of pain. They led gatherings caring for single women, whether widowed or divorced. Having raised their children alone, thirty years have now flown by, and those children have grown, married, and left home. The early members have now entered their sixties and seventies. Meanwhile, most new members are young women in their thirties and forties; they resolve to fill the father's shoes for the sake of their children, only to realize that even carrying the mother's share alone is overwhelmingly burdensome. Yet, because it is a road they cannot avoid, they persevere wholeheartedly. Just as President Hyeran Kim launched this ministry thirty years ago for young single mothers, it was truly heartwarming to see President Joo-Eun Lee take up the baton and press forward into the next thirty years.
The fellowship meets once a month, on the fourth Saturday at 2:00 PM, near Isu Station at the Isu Holiness Church building. During weekdays, they hold regular Quiet Time (QT) devotions and intercessory prayer meetings, along with personal counseling for members, at their office in Donam-dong. We are deeply grateful to Jamsil Central Church, Yeneung Church, and others who have graciously provided venues over the years. As the former president, Rev. Hyeran Kim continues to lead the senior group within the Tabitha community. She shared an amusing yet poignant anecdote from a two-day retreat with the seniors. Having lived alone within a confined world, some struggle even with tapping their bus transit cards, managing only their free senior subway passes. When told that a gathering is at a certain apartment complex, their phones buzz incessantly because they cannot navigate the directions. With advancing age, there was even a moment during the retreat when someone opened someone else’s luggage instead of their own. A world that changes so rapidly and conveniently has become frightening and bewildering to them. Thus, alongside Bible study and meditation sharing, teaching them how to use their smartphones has become a vital duty for small-group leaders. Why has God still placed those in need of loving attention and practical help right by our side? "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good..." (Mark 14:7).
Aan die einde van Handelinge hoofstuk 9 verskyn Tabita (ook bekend as Dorkas), wat as 'n "dissipel" voorgestel word. Haar huwelikstatus word nie genoem nie—of sy nooit getroud was nie en of sy geskei was—maar sy blyk in elk geval enkellopend te wees. Baie lank gelede het ek tydens 'n Bybelherlewingsdiens by die Singil Heiligheidskerk 'n preek gelewer met die titel Die Dissipel Tabita. Die eggenote van wyle ds. Kwang-Cheol Park, destyds die leraar aldaar, is diep daardeur geraak. Omdat sy self die leed en beproewings van 'n eensame vrou ervaar het toe haar man alleen na die Verenigde State vertrek het om te studeer terwyl sy in Korea agtergebly het, het sy al lank gekoester om 'n bediening vir enkellopende vroue te begin. Aangemoedig deur daardie aand se boodskap, het sy saam met haar pas verweduwde vriendin, diaken Hyeran Kim (destyds), en 'n paar ander, insluitend onsself, by ds. Park se pastorie byeengekom om die Tabita-Susterskap te stig.
Op Woensdag die 27ste tydens middagete het drie leiers van die Tabita-Susterskap ons huis besoek: ds. Hyeran Kim, die stigterspresident; ds. Joo-Eun Lee, die huidige president; en ouderling Young-Bok Lee, die hoofsekretaris. Hulle het by ons aangesit, nie as "onverwagte gaste" nie, maar as "bespreekte gaste." Alhoewel ouderling Lee se geheue—soos myne—met die jare begin vervaag, het hy my hardwerkende vrou geprys en opgemerk dat dit "die beste maaltyd was wat hy in die afgelope tien jaar geëet het." Ons het nie net goeie kos gedeel nie, maar ook die diep begeertes van ons harte. As 'n mens die Skrif lees, kom dit voor asof ons God 'n baie besondere liefde koester vir weeskinders en vroue sonder mans. In daardie dae was hulle immers die mees magtelose en kwesbaarste groep in die samelewing. "As jy hulle op enige manier mishandel en hulle roep na My, sal Ek hulle geroep sekerlik verhoor" (Eksodus 22:23).
Komende Januarie vier die Tabita-Susterskap sy 31ste bestaansjaar. Al die jare lank het vroue wat self alleen was, ander enkellopende vroue getrou gedien. Miskien juis omdat hulle self alleen was, kon hulle diegene wat deur pyn gaan, des te beter bystaan. Hulle het byeenkomste gelei om vroue te bedien wat alleen agtergebly het, hetsy deur afsterwe of egskeiding. Hulle het hul kinders op eie houtjie grootgemaak, en nou, ná dertig jaar, het daardie kinders getrou en die ouerhuis verlaat. Die vroeë lede het intussen hul sestigs en sewentigs bereik. Die meeste nuwe lede is tans jong vroue in hul dertigs en veertigs; hulle neem hulle voor om ter wille van hul kinders ook die pa se rol te vervul, maar kom gou voor die werklikheid te staan dat selfs die ma se deel alleen reeds oorweldigend swaar is. Tog, omdat dit 'n taak is wat hulle nie kan ontwyk nie, wy hulle hul vandag nog met hart en siel daaraan toewy. Net soos president Hyeran Kim dertig jaar gelede die bediening vir jong enkelmoeders begin het, was dit wonderlik om te sien hoe president Joo-Eun Lee die aflosstokkie oorgeneem het en op pad is na die volgende dertig jaar.
Die byeenkoms vind een keer per maand plaas, elke vierde Saterdag om 14:00 by die Isu Heiligheidskerk naby Isu-stasie. Deur die week kom hulle gereeld by die kantoor in Donam-dong byeen vir stiltetyd (QT) en voorbidding, asook vir individuele berading van lede. Ons is opreg dankbaar teenoor Jamsil Sentrale Gemeente, Yeneung Gemeente en ander wat deur die jare bymekaarkomplekke beskikbaar gestel het. As voormalige president lei ds. Hyeran Kim vandag nog die seniorgroep binne die Tabita-geledere. Sy het 'n staaltjie vertel van 'n tweedaagse uitstappie saam met die seniors. Omdat hulle alleen in 'n afgebakende leefwêreld woon, sukkel sommiges selfs om 'n buskaartjie te skandeer en kan hulle skaars meer as hul gratis moltreinpas vir bejaardes hanteer. Wanneer daar aangekondig word dat hulle by 'n sekere woonstelblok bymekaarkom, lui die selfone aanhoudend omdat hulle nie die pad soontoe kan vind nie. Met die klim van die jare het dit tydens die reis selfs gebeur dat iemand 'n ander se reistas in plaas van haar eie oopgemaak het. Die vinnig veranderende en gerieflike wêreld het vir hulle 'n vreesaanjaende en ongemaklike plek geword. Benewens Bybelstudie en die deel van oordenkings, het dit die taak van die kleingroepleier geword om hulle te leer hoe om 'n slimfoon te gebruik. Waarom het God mense wat sorg en bystand nodig het, steeds aan ons sy gelaat? "Want die armes het julle altyd by julle, en wanneer julle wil, kan julle aan hulle goed doen..." (Markus 14:7).