미목연이란 이름의 모임은 제가 울산교회에서 24년간 사역할 때 함께 했던 목회자들로서, 현재 교수, 담임목사, 선교사 등으로 독립 사역을 하고 있는 분들과의 모임을 일컫는 말입니다. 그동안 부산, 대구, 광주 등 해마다 동역자들이 사역하는 지역별로 모였습니다. 그러면 그 지역에서 목회하는 분들의 교회를 방문하고, 상황을 듣고 기도제목을 마음에 품고 돌아오곤 했습니다. 그러나 작년에 헤어지면서 올해 모임은 국내보다는 해외로 가자고 야심찬 계획을 세웠습니다. 일본 삿포로가 후보지였지만 여러분이 짐작하시는대로 전쟁 통에 그 비용을 감당할 수가 없어서, 가까운 해외(?), 바다를 건너 제주도로 장소를 정하게 되었습니다.
월요일 12시를 전후해서 제주공항에 도착하기로 했습니다. 제주공항은 전국 어디에서라도 접근상 공평한(?) 장소입니다. 언제 누가 나타나도 그렇게 반가울 수 없는 해후가 이뤄집니다. 이것이 미목연의 구심력입니다. 24년이란 시간 때문에 직접 함께 사역한 경험이 없는 사이에도 그 때 울산교회의 분위기를 공동으로 경험했기에 서로 사랑하는 가족들의 재회 같았습니다. 저녁마다 모여서, 사모들은 가족이야기를 나누고, 남편들은 사역 이야기를 중심해서 나누었습니다. 한 사람 한 사람이 사연을 풀어놓을 때 그 입을 향하는 모두의 눈빛은 우리의 관계를 확인해 주었습니다.
이제 자녀들의 교육보다는 그들의 결혼에 대한 이야기가 부각되는 것을 보면서, 한 때는 젊은 부교역자였지만, 지금은 주로 50대를 전후한 중년들이라는 사실을 실감했습니다. 이미 할아버지 할머니가 된 분도 있고, 몇 달 안에 그 반열에 들어설 분들도 있으니 우리 모두 그 감격에 동참하기도 했습니다. 또한 담임이란 사역의 무게 때문에 여기 저기 몸이 망가진 이야기를 들으면서 아픔이 교차하지만 서로가 공감하고 하나되는 시간이었습니다. 다만 “방학한 소년, 휴가 나온 청년, 짐을 부린 머슴, 완주한 마라토너”로 사는 은퇴자의 마음은 한 편 미안하기도 했습니다. 해마다 우리에게 이와 같은 좋은 시간을 주신 하나님을 찬양합니다.
다녀와서 단톡에서 나눈 인사들입니다. “늘 그러하지만, 다녀오고 나니 꿈을 꾼 것 같습니다. 선배님들의 귀한 섬김으로 기쁨이 넘치는 복된 시간 가질 수 있어서 감사드립니다^^” “그 존재만으로도 격려가 되는 정근두 목사님과 사모님, 감사합니다.” “수고해주신 모든 분들, 특히 회장님과 임원들께 깊이 감사드립니다. 다들 뵙게 되어서 정말 감사했습니다…” “ 갈수록 더 많이 더 깊이 더 넓게 교제할 수 있어 즐겁고 행복한 시간이었습니다. 행님 목사님들 감사합니다. 모두 계신 곳에서 건강하시고 좋은 소식들이 들려오기를 기도하겠습니다.” 내년 모임도 일시와 장소는 정해졌습니다. “미목연 동역자 여러분, 이번 제주 미목연 모임은 하나님의 은혜 가운데 잘 마쳤습니다. 바쁜 교회 형편과 건강 때문에 참석하지 못한 분들이 계셔서 아쉬웠어요. 그래서 내년 미목연 수련회는 2027년 6월 28일(월)부터 30일(수)까지 다시 한 번 더 제주도에서 모이기로 하였습니다. 이번에 참석하지 못한 분들까지 모두 다음 미목연 모임에서는 꼭 만났으면 좋겠네요. 그때는 더 건강한 모습으로, 더 많은 이야기를 가지고 만나기를 기대합니다. 모두 감사합니다^^”
The gathering known as 'Mimokyeon' refers to the fellowship of pastors who served alongside me during my 24 years of ministry at Ulsan Church, and who are now serving independently in their own ministries as professors, senior pastors, and missionaries. Over the years, we met annually in the various regions where our co-workers ministered, such as Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju. On those occasions, we would visit the churches of those pastoring in the area, listen to their circumstances, and return home holding their prayer requests in our hearts. However, when we parted ways last year, we made an ambitious plan to hold this year’s gathering abroad rather than domestically. Sapporo, Japan, was considered as a candidate, but as you might guess, amid soaring costs exacerbated by global conflicts, we could not afford the expense. Thus, we decided on a 'nearby overseas' destination—crossing the waters to Jeju Island.
We arranged to arrive at Jeju Airport around noon on Monday. Jeju Airport is a reasonably fair and accessible meeting point from anywhere in the country. No matter who appeared or when, each reunion was filled with boundless joy. This is the centripetal force of Mimokyeon. Even among those who had not served together directly due to the wide span of 24 years, they shared the common memory and spirit of Ulsan Church back then, making our meeting feel just like a reunion of beloved family members. Each evening we gathered; the pastors' wives shared stories of family life, while their husbands centered their conversations on ministry. As each person opened up their heart and shared their story, the attentive gaze of everyone turned toward the speaker, reaffirming the depth of our bond.
Seeing that conversations about their children's marriages were now taking precedence over their education, I realized that those who were once young associate pastors are now middle-aged adults, mostly around their fifties. Some have already become grandfathers and grandmothers, and others are set to join their ranks in a few months, allowing us all to share in that heartfelt joy. At the same time, hearing how their physical health had suffered under the heavy burdens of senior pastoral ministry stirred a poignant ache in our hearts, yet it was a time of deep mutual empathy and unity. Still, living now as a retiree—like “a schoolboy on vacation, a young soldier on leave, a farmhand who has laid down his burden, or a marathoner who has crossed the finish line”—I could not help but feel a twinge of guilt. I praise God, who grants us such precious and uplifting times year after year.
Here are some of the greetings shared in our group chat after returning home:
“As always, now that it is over, it feels just like a dream. Thank you for the precious service of our senior pastors, which allowed us to have such a joyful and blessed time ^^”
“Thank you, Rev. Keun-Doo Jung and your wife, whose very presence is such an encouragement to us.”
“Deepest thanks to everyone who worked hard, especially the president and the executive committee. It was truly wonderful to see everyone. . .”
“It was such a delightful and happy time to fellowship more deeply and broadly as time goes by. Thank you, elder brother pastors. I will pray for your health wherever you are and hope to hear good news from all of you.”
The date and location for next year's gathering have already been decided:
“Dear Mimokyeon co-workers, this Mimokyeon gathering in Jeju has concluded well under God's grace. It was unfortunate that some could not attend due to busy church schedules or health issues. Therefore, we have decided to hold our next Mimokyeon retreat once again in Jeju from Monday, June 28 to Wednesday, June 30, 2027. We truly hope that everyone, including those who could not make it this time, will be able to join us at our next gathering. We look forward to meeting again in even better health and with many more stories to share. Thank you all so much ^^”
Die byeenkoms genaamd 'Mimokyeon' verwys na die groep leraars wat saam met my gedien het gedurende my 24 jaar van bediening by Ulsan Gemeente, en wat tans selfstandig dien as professore, hoofleraars, sendelinge en op ander terreine. Oor die jare het ons jaarliks byeengekom in die onderskeie streke waar ons medewerkers gearbei het, soos Busan, Daegu en Gwangju. Dan het ons die gemeentes van die leraars in daardie omgewing besoek, na hul omstandighede geluister en met hul gebedsversoeke in ons harte huiswaarts gekeer. Toe ons egter verlede jaar uitmekaargespreek het, het ons die ambisieuse plan beraam om vanjaar se byeenkoms oorsee pleks van plaaslik te hou. Sapporo in Japan was ’n moontlike bestemming, maar soos u kan raai, het die stygende kostes te midde van wêreldwye onrus dit onbekostigbaar gemaak. Gevolglik het ons besluit op ’n 'nabygeleë oorsese bestemming'—om die waters oor te steek na Jeju-eiland.
Ons het afgespreek om Maandag omstreeks twaalfuur die middag by Jeju-lughawe aan te kom. Jeju-lughawe is ’n regverdige en maklik bereikbare bymekaarkomplek vanuit enige deel van die land. Maak nie saak wie wanneer opgedaag het nie, elke herontmoeting was gevul met loutere vreugde. Dit is die bindende krag van Mimokyeon. Selfs tussen diegene wat weens die tydsverloop van 24 jaar nooit regstreeks saam gedien het nie, was daar die gedeelde herinnering en gees van Ulsan Gemeente uit daardie dae, sodat dit gevoel het soos die hereniging van geliefde familielede. Saans het ons saamgekom; die predikantsvroue het stories oor hul gesinne gedeel, terwyl die mans hoofsaaklik oor die bediening gesels het. Terwyl elkeen sy of haar hart uitgestort het, het almal se aandagtige oë op die spreker gerus—’n stille bevestiging van ons hegte band.
Toe ek merk dat die gesprekke nou meer gegaan het oor die kinders se huwelike as oor hul opvoeding, het ek besef dat diegene wat eens jong hulpleraars was, nou middeljarige mense in hul vyftigs is. Sommige is reeds oupa en ouma, en ander sal binne enkele maande by hulle aansluit, sodat ons almal in daardie innige vreugde kon deel. Terselfdertyd het die verhale van liggame wat geknak het onder die swaar vrag van die hoofleraaramp, ons harte diep geraak; tog was dit ’n tyd van wedersydse empatie en eenheid. As iemand wat egter nou as afgetredene leef—soos “’n skoolseun op vakansie, ’n jong soldaat met verlof, ’n plaaswerker wat sy vrag neergelê het, of ’n marathonatleet wat die wenstreep oorgesteek het”—kon ek nie help om ’n sweempie skuldgevoel te ervaar nie. Ek loof die Here wat ons jaar na jaar met sulke kosbare tye seën.
Hier is enkele groetboodskappe wat ná ons terugkeer in ons groepklets gedeel is:
“Soos altyd voel dit soos ’n droom noudat dit verby is. Baie dankie vir die kosbare diens van ons senior kollegas, wat ons in staat gestel het om so ’n vreugdevolle en geseënde tyd te beleef ^^”
“Dankie aan Ds. Keun-Doo Jung en sy eggenote, wie se blote teenwoordigheid alreeds so ’n bemoediging is.”
“Innige dank aan elkeen wat hard gewerk het, veral die voorsitter en die bestuur. Dit was werklik wonderlik om almal te sien. . .”
“Dit was ’n heerlike en gelukkige tyd om namate die tyd aanstap, al hoe meer, dieper en wyer gemeenskap te hê. Baie dankie, liewe senior leraars. Mag julle gesond bly waar julle ook al is, en ek bid dat ons net goeie nuus van julle sal hoor.”
Die datum en plek vir aanstaande jaar se byeenkoms is ook reeds vasgestel:
“Beste Mimokyeon-medewerkers, hierdie Mimokyeon-byeenkoms in Jeju is onder God se genade suksesvol afgehandel. Dit was jammer dat sommige nie kon bywoon nie weens besige kerklike verpligtinge en gesondheidsredes. Daarom het ons besluit om ons volgende Mimokyeon-saamtrek van Maandag 28 Junie tot Woensdag 30 Junie 2027 weer eens in Jeju te hou. Ons hoop van harte dat almal, ook diegene wat hierdie keer nie kon kom nie, by die volgende byeenkoms teenwoordig sal kan wees. Ons sien daarna uit om mekaar dan in nog beter gesondheid en met baie meer stories te ontmoet. Baie dankie aan almal ^^”