고신총회선교 70주년 기념대회가 6월 10일(화)~12일(목) 더케이호텔경주에서 모였습니다. 대한예수교장로회 가운데 한 교단인 고신은 일제치하에서 신사참배거부 운동으로 시작해서 1952년에 설립된 교단으로 신학적인 입장은 개혁주의를 표방하며, 신학의 정통과 생활의 순결을 강조하는 교단입니다. 고신의 간판을 단 교회당 수는 2,100 교회당을 약간 상회하고 있으며, 고신총회선교부에 소속된 선교사는 거의 500명 가깝고, 이번 대회에는 약 400명 이상 참석한 것으로 파악하고 있습니다.
“고신 교회여, 하나님의 세계경영에 동참하라”는 주제 아래, 함께 모여 <복음 함께 그리고 미래>를 논하는 자리가 있었습니다. 지난번 모임은 10년 전, 60주년에 모이고 10년 만에 다시 모인 귀한 자리였습니다.
이 자리가 소중한 것은 반가운 만남이 있었기 때문입니다. 전 세계 50여 개국에 흩어져 있던 선교사들과 파송교회가 서로 만나는 것은 이런 자리라야 가능하지만 사실 선교사님들이 서로 얼굴을 대하는 것도 이런 자리라야 겨우 가능한 분들도 많을 것입니다. 반가운 만남이 이뤄지는 현장에 참석해 보면 정말 귀한 자리라는 확신이 듭니다.
이 자리를 위해서 후원한 노회들, 교회들, 개인들에게 감사하고 싶습니다. 적지 않은 헌금들이 모였겠지만 의미 있는 일에 사용된 것은 틀림이 없습니다. 넉넉한 후원금 덕분에 계속되는 선교사 대회도 가능하다니 하나님의 풍성함이 나타난 대회였습니다. 선교토크 콘서트, 후원교회와 KPM과의 만남, 다음 세대를 위한 모임 등 특별프로그램 말고도 세 번의 선택주제강연이 있었습니다.
첫 시간 아내와 나는 교회개척선교, 전문인 선교, 보안지역선교 가운데 세 번째 보안지역 선교를 택해서 비대면 페이스북 전도(이바나바 선교사)와 중화권 교회지도자 양성(하민기 선교사)을 들었습니다. 특히 직접 만나서 복음을 전할 수 없는 아랍권에서 페이스북을 통한 전도는 탁월한 발상의 전환이기에 활짝 열린 전도의 문이기도 합니다. 그리고 하민기 선교사님의 TEE를 활용한 신학연장교육의 방법은 중국선교의 새 전략이 되고도 남아 보였습니다. 그리고 목요일 오전 세 번째 선택강의는 정노화 선교사의 국내이주민 선교, 특히 한국교회 이주민 단계별 선교전략은 10년 전부터 내가 소원한 일이고 정종기 선교사의 북한 선교에 대한 패러다임의 전환과 변화도 우리 한국교회에 새로운 눈을 뜨게 하는 꼭 필요한 강의였습니다.
그러나 고신총회선교 70년 기념대회의 백미는 찬양과 설교라고 말하고 싶습니다. 대부분의 청중들에게는 그런 찬양단이 있는지도 몰랐겠지만 첫날밤 선교부흥집회 시간에 등장한 고신 목사찬양단은 참으로 감동이었습니다. 파송예배 때 등장한 선교사님들의 찬양 “이 세상 나그네 길을 지나는 순례자”는 참으로 그 가사부터 감동적이었습니다.
그리고 현지인의 간증과 기도가 곁들여진 첫날 정태진 총회장의 “내가 경영한 것을 반드시 이루리라”는 기조설교, 첫날밤 김문훈 목사의 “복음의 사람, 사명, 사랑”도, 이튿날 밤의 천석길 님의 “성공을 위해서? 충성을 위해서?”도, 파송예배의 남일우 목사의 “선교의 도구들”까지 모두 감동이었습니다. 역시 고신은 말씀에 기반을 둔 교단이라는 확신이 들었던 고신다운 메시지였습니다. 고신을 세우시고 지난 70년 간 선교를 행하신 하나님께서 주님 오실 때까지 충성하는 선교사들을 계속 세워주시길 소원할 뿐입니다.
The 70th Anniversary Conference of Kosin General Assembly Missions was held from Tuesday, June 10 to Thursday, June 12 at The-K Hotel Gyeongju. Kosin, a Presbyterian denomination in Korea, originated from the movement resisting Shinto shrine worship under Japanese colonial rule and was officially established in 1952. Its theological stance upholds the Reformed faith, emphasizing theological orthodoxy and purity of life. The number of churches bearing the Kosin name slightly exceeds 2,100, while nearly 500 missionaries serve under the Kosin World Missions Board (KPM), with more than 400 attending this conference.
Under the theme “Kosin Church, Partake in God’s World Management,” we gathered together to reflect upon The Gospel, Together, and the Future. It had been ten years since our last gathering for the 60th anniversary, making this a truly precious reunion.
What made this gathering so meaningful was the joyful fellowship. A gathering of this scale is rare enough to bring together sending churches and missionaries scattered across some fifty nations worldwide, but for many missionaries themselves, it is virtually the only occasion where they can see one another face-to-face. Being present at the scene of these joyful reunions filled my heart with deep gratitude for how precious such moments truly are.
I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to the presbyteries, local churches, and individuals who sponsored this gathering. Generous offerings were gathered, and without question, they were used for a noble and worthy cause. Thanks to these abundant contributions, the ongoing missionary conference could take place smoothly—a vivid testament to God's rich provision. Alongside special programs such as the Mission Talk Concert, meetings between supporting churches and KPM, and sessions dedicated to the next generation, there were also three selective lecture tracks.
During the first session, my wife and I chose the "Security-Sensitive Region Missions" track—out of church planting, professional missions, and security-sensitive areas—and listened to presentations on non-face-to-face Facebook evangelism (Missionary Barnabas Lee) and the training of church leaders in the Chinese-speaking world (Missionary Minki Ha). In the Arab world, where one cannot openly meet people to share the gospel, evangelism through Facebook represents a remarkable shift in perspective and an open door for the gospel. Furthermore, Missionary Minki Ha's theological extension education through TEE stood out as a powerful and enduring strategy for Chinese missions. In the third elective lecture on Thursday morning, Missionary Noh-hwa Jung spoke on domestic diaspora/migrant ministry—specifically presenting step-by-step mission strategies for Korean churches, a vision I have cherished for over a decade—and Missionary Jong-ki Jung offered a lecture on a paradigm shift and transformation in North Korean missions, both offering indispensable insights that opened fresh perspectives for the Korean church.
Yet, the true highlight of the Kosin Missions 70th Anniversary Conference was undoubtedly the praise and the preaching. Most of the congregation may not have known such a choir even existed, but the Kosin Pastors' Choir that took the stage on the first evening's mission revival service was profoundly moving. During the commissioning service, when the missionaries sang “A Pilgrim Passing Through This Worldly Path,” the lyrics alone brought tears of deep emotion.
Furthermore, the preaching was deeply inspiring: from General Assembly Moderator Tae-jin Jung's keynote sermon on the first day, “What I Have Purposed, I Will Surely Accomplish,” enriched with testimonies and prayers from local believers; to Pastor Moon-hun Kim’s opening night message, “A Person of the Gospel, Mission, and Love”; to Rev. Seok-gil Cheon’s sermon on the second night, “For Success? Or for Faithfulness?”; down to Pastor Il-woo Nam’s commissioning address, “Instruments of Mission.” These were truly messages worthy of Kosin, reinforcing my deep conviction that Kosin remains a denomination firmly anchored in the Word of God. My earnest prayer is that God, who established Kosin and has led our missions over the past seventy years, will continue to raise up faithful missionaries until the day our Lord returns.
Die 70ste Herdenkingskonferensie van Kosin Algemene Sinodesending het vanaf Dinsdag 10 Junie tot Donderdag 12 Junie by The-K Hotel Gyeongju plaasgevind. Kosin, 'n Presbiteriaanse denominasie in Korea, het ontstaan uit die versetbeweging teen die Shinto-heiligdomaanbidding onder die Japannese koloniale bewind en is amptelik in 1952 gestig. Teologies bely die kerkverband die Gereformeerde leer en lê sterk klem op regsinnigheid in die teologie en heiligheid in die lewenswandel. Die aantal kerkgeboue wat die Kosin-naam dra, is effens meer as 2 100, terwyl byna 500 sendelinge onder die Kosin Sendingraad (KPM) dien. Meer as 400 sendelinge het hierdie konferensie bygewoon.
Onder die tema “Kosin-kerk, Neem Deel aan God se Wêreldbestuur”, het ons saamgekom om na te dink oor Die Evangelie Saam en die Toekoms. Dit was presies tien jaar gelede, by die 60ste herdenking, dat ons laas so byeengekom het, wat hierdie weerkaatsing van gemeenskap besonder kosbaar gemaak het.
Wat hierdie byeenkoms so waardevol gemaak het, was die hartlike herontmoetings. 'n Geleentheid soos hierdie is feitlik die enigste wyse waarop uitsturende gemeentes en sendelinge wat oor sowat vyftig lande wêreldwyd versprei is, mekaar kan ontmoet; en vir baie sendelinge onder mekaar is dit dikwels die enigste kans om mekaar van aangesig tot aangesig te sien. Wanneer 'n mens self teenwoordig is te midde van sulke vreugdevolle ontmoetings, word 'n mens diep oortuig van hoe kosbaar so 'n byeenkoms werklik is.
Ek wil graag my opregte dank uitspreek teenoor die ringe, gemeentes en individue wat hierdie konferensie finansieel ondersteun het. Heelwat milde bydraes is ingesamel, en daar bestaan geen twyfel dat dit vir 'n besonder betekenisvolle saak aangewend is nie. Danksy die ruimhartige skenkings kon die deurlopende sendelingkonferensie sonder kommer plaasvind—waarlik 'n tasbare bewys van God se oorvloedige voorsiening. Benewens spesiale programme soos die Sendinggesprekskonsert, ontmoetings tussen ondersteunende gemeentes en KPM, en sessies gerig op die volgende geslag, was daar ook drie keuselesings.
Tydens die eerste sessie het my vrou en ek, uit die keuses van gemeentestigting, professionele sending en sending in geslote/veiligheidsensitiwiewe gebiede, die derde opsie gekies. Ons het geluister na lesings oor nie-aangesig-tot-aangesig Facebook-evangelisasie (sendeling Barnabas Lee) en die opleiding van kerkleiers in die Chinees-sprekende wêreld (sendeling Minki Ha). Veral in die Arabiese wêreld, waar 'n mens mense nie openlik kan ontmoet om die evangelie te verkondig nie, verteenwoordig Facebook-evangelisasie 'n uitmuntende nuwe denkrigting en 'n wyd oopgestelde deur vir die goeie nuus. Voorts het sendeling Minki Ha se gebruik van TEE vir teologiese verlengingsopleiding geblyk 'n uiters doeltreffende en blywende strategie vir sending in China te wees. Donderdagoggend se derde keuselesing deur sendeling Noh-hwa Jung oor plaaslike immigrantesending—veral sy stapsgewyse sendingstrategie vir Koreaanse gemeentes, iets wat ek reeds tien jaar lank begeer—asook sendeling Jong-ki Jung se lesing oor 'n paradigmaskuif in Noord-Korea-sending, was broodnodige bydraes wat die oë van ons Koreaanse kerk opnuut oopgemaak het.
Die absolute hoogtepunt van die Kosin Sending 70-jaar Herdenkingskonferensie was egter sonder twyfel die lofsang en die prediking. Die meeste van die gehoor het waarskynlik nie eers geweet dat so 'n koor bestaan nie, maar die Kosin Predikantekoor wat tydens die herlewingsdiens op die eerste aand opgetree het, was waarlik aangrypend. Tydens die uitsturingsdiens het die sendelinge se sang van “'n Pelgrim wat Deur Hierdie Wêreldse Pad Reis” 'n mens van die heel eerste lirieke af diep in die hart geraak.
Daarbenewens was die prediking deurgaans besielend: van die openingsrede op die eerste dag deur moderator Tae-jin Jung, getiteld “Wat Ek Beraam Het, Sal Ek Sekerlik Tot Stand Bring”, verryk met getuienisse en gebede van plaaslike gelowiges; tot ds. Moon-hun Kim se boodskap op die eerste aand, “'n Mens van die Evangelie, Roeping en Liefde”; tot ds. Seok-gil Cheon se preek op die tweede aand, “Vir Sukses? Of vir Getrouheid?”; tot by ds. Il-woo Nam se toespraak by die uitsturingsdiens, “Instrumente van Sending”. Dit was boodskappe kenmerkend van Kosin, wat my diep oortuig het dat Kosin steeds 'n kerkverband is wat standvastig op die Woord gebou is. My innige verlange en gebed is eenvoudig dat God, wat Kosin opgerig en ons sending oor die afgelope 70 jaar gedra het, sal aanhou om getroue sendelinge toe te rus en uit te stuur totdat die Here weer kom.