10월 11일 두레교회 설립 40주년 기념예배의 말씀을 전해 달라는 부탁을 받았습니다. 주일 오전은 두 번 설교인데 1부는 30분, 2부는 40분 메시지를, 그리고 오후에는 100분 강의와 20분 질의응답을 부탁 받았습니다. 오전에는 요 19:25-27으로 십자가 상의 주님의 말씀을 통해서 <교회의 사명>을 두 차례 나누었습니다. 오후 특강은 두레교회 초창기 내가 섬겼던 1986년 가을에서 1989년 봄까지를 돌아보며, 50주년을 내다본 두레교회의 <바람직한 교회상>에 대한 특강을 했습니다. 역사는 보통 편년체와 기사체로 서술됩니다. 이씨 조선은 승정원 일기가 있다면 두레교회는 주보가 있습니다. 이름만의 주보가 아니라 두레교회 주보에는 교인들에게 알리는 광고만이 아니라, 설립 1년이 가까워지면서는 주간 뉴스(Weekly News)가 담긴 주보가 발행됩니다. 그래서 기록에 의존해서 열심히 열흘동안 준비했습니다. 그리고는 오후 2시의 청중들의 상태를 고려해서 웃음이 동반된 강의를 했습니다.
오후 예배를 마치고 바로 에스라 성경대학원대학교로 이동했습니다. 두레교회 박장로님이 막히는 길을 뚫고 데려다주셨습니다. 에스라 화이트하우스에 숙소를 잡고 월요일 아침에는 그동안 1년 6개월동안 자주 만나지 못한 교직원들을 만난다고 십분 단위의 일정이 잡히기도 했습니다. 물론 에스라 동문도, 총장 내외분도, 사무처장까지 포함되어 있었습니다. 점심 때는 장희종 목사님 부부를 비롯해서 두레, 탄포리교회 초창기 멤버들과 학교 근방에 있는 힐하우스에서 식사와 커피를 나누면서 옛 이야기에 꽃을 피웠습니다. 40년 세월은 금방 지나갔습니다. 나이 40이 되기 전에 두레, 탄포리 교회를 분립개척했으니 하나님의 은혜가 놀랍습니다. 장승백이의 두레교회는 장 목사가, 정릉의 탄포리교회는 정 목사가 목회를 하되, 처음에는 강단, 행정, 재정을 나누지 않고 한 교회 두 캠퍼스 식으로 몇 달동안 시도했습니다. 그런데 장승백이와 정릉은 경기노회, 서울노회라는 노회가 서로 다른 지역에 자리했기에 어른들은 달가와하지 않았습니다. 그보다도 이 일이 목회적으로 쉽지 않았습니다. 처음 분립한 멤버들은 왜 주일마다 장, 정 목사가 교대해서 설교하는지를 알았지만 새로 나오는 분들은 담임이 누구인지 헷갈려 해서 새로운 시도는 5개월쯤 계속하다가 중단되었습니다.
화요일과 수요일에는 에스라성경대학원대학교를 위한 일정으로 채워졌습니다. 화요일은 에스라 전, 현 총장들의 모임이 있었습니다. “오늘 전 총장님들과 사모님들의 얼굴을 뵙게 되어 정말 감사하고 좋았습니다. 서울에서 울산에서 그리고 미국에서 오셨으니 더 반가웠던 것 같습니다. 앞으로 정기적으로 만날 수 있는 자리를 마련하도록 해보겠습니다. 에스라의 가을을 마음에 담고 늘 기도해주십시오.”라고 현 총장 정현구 목사님의 톡이 올라왔는데 2대 총장 김한식 장로의 답입니다. “오늘 수고하셨습니다. 내외분께서 세심한 배려를 해 주셔서 우리 모두 모처럼 참 좋은 시간 가졌습니다. 앞으로 이렇게 정기적인 모임을 통해서 학교를 사랑하는 다양한 방법도 생각해보고 더 구체적으로 무엇을 어떻게 해야 할 것인가를 기탄 없이 서로 의견을 나누는 그런 시간 되었으면 좋겠습니다 … ” ”다들 건강한 모습으로 만나뵙게 되어 반갑고 감사했습니다. 그 위에 교직원들과 함께 앉아서 학교 이런저런 사정을 나누는 시간 참 좋았습니다. 세심하게 섬겨 주신 정현구 총장님께 감사드리구요. 모든 분들의 평안을 빕니다” 이전에는 서로 돌아가며 호스트 노릇을 하며 편하게 만났다면 이번에는 격조를 높여서 교직원 전체와 간담회를 가졌습니다.
그리고 제가 서울 두레교회 행사로 올라오는 것을 알고 수요일에는 에스라 연례 강해설교 세미나를 맡겨주어서 감사했습니다. 특히 점심 때는 1학년 학우와 동문 한 분의 아름다운 동행을 출발하는 세레모니가 1학년 학우들의 주선을 있었는데 그 일을 앞두고 에스라의 옛 전통인 양고기 바베큐를 위주로 야외에서 점심 식사를 했던 일도 기억에 남습니다. 상당히 오랜만에 다시 양고기를 즐길 수 있었으니 앞으로는 자주 잔치가 있기를 기대해 봅니다. 오후 2시 15분, 3시 30분에 두 차례의 강해설교 특강을 했습니다. 첫 시간에는 20세기 최대의 강해설교가 로이드존스를 소개하는 시간을 갖고, 둘째 시간에는 <본문에서 설교문까지> 어떻게 설교를 준비하는지 개인적인 경험을 나누었습니다. 첫 시간을 통해서 <설교자 로이드존스>, <로이드 존스에게 배우는 설교>라는 책을 읽게 된다면 목표를 달성했다고 생각합니다. 두 시간의 특강과 질의응답을 끝내고 에스라 수요예배에서는 이사야 40:6~8 본문으로 “풀은 마르고 꽃은 시드나”라는 제목으로 말씀을 전했습니다.
주일 오후 두레교회에서 특강을 끝내고 에스라에 도착했을 때는 5시가 가까운 시간이었습니다. 그런데 박병구 동문께서 학교 마당에 계셨습니다. 반갑게 인사를 나누고 우리 두 사람은 각자의 그날 일정에 포함되어 있지 않았지만 위에서 마련하신 일정에 따라서 3가정이 번개로 저녁을 나누었습니다. 만나보고 싶은 동문이었고 교수님 부부였습니다. 그리고 목요일은 울산으로 내려오는 일정이 잡힌 날입니다. 그런데 미국에 있는 아들이 해외 출장이 잡혀서 목요일 새벽에 인천에 랜딩을 한다니, 7시에 서울역에서 조찬을 하기로 했습니다. 일찍 문을 여는 한식당에서 아침을 먹고 아무래도 분위기가 너무 산만해서 위층 커피숍에서 3시간의 여유를 즐겼습니다. 우리 부부는 지난 여름에 4주간 함께 지냈지만, 에스라 룸메이트의 새로운 출발로 인해서 잠깐 에스라에 올라온 처제는 반가운 조카와의 시간을 그녀가 좋아하는 커피를 마시며 가졌으니 우리 하나님은 참으로 세심하신 분입니다. “나의 사는 모든 날 하루하루, 그분의 선하심과 인자하심이 반드시 나를 추적하리니, 내가 여호와의 집에 영원토록 돌아가리로다”는 말씀이 마음에 자리잡은 서울나들이였습니다.
I was asked to deliver the word of God for the 40th anniversary thanksgiving service of Doolae Church on October 11. For Sunday morning, I was requested to give two sermons—a 30-minute message for the first service and a 40-minute message for the second—followed by a 100-minute lecture and 20 minutes of Q&A in the afternoon. In the morning, taking John 19:25–27 as my text, I shared the message "The Mission of the Church" twice through our Lord's words spoken from the cross. In the afternoon special lecture, reflecting back on my early ministry at Doolae Church from the autumn of 1986 to the spring of 1989, I spoke on "The Desirable Image of the Church" as Doolae looks forward to its 50th anniversary. History is usually recorded in chronological annals or episodic narratives. If the Joseon Dynasty had the Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Diaries of the Royal Secretariat), Doolae Church had its weekly bulletins. These were not mere nominal church bulletins; they contained not only church announcements, but as the church approached its first anniversary, they were published as a weekly news chronicle. Relying diligently on these historical records, I spent ten days in preparation. Considering the condition of the audience at two in the afternoon, I delivered the lecture interspersed with plenty of warm laughter.
Right after the afternoon service, I traveled to Ezra Bible Graduate University. Elder Park of Doolae Church kindly gave me a ride, navigating through heavy traffic. After settling into the Ezra White House guest quarters, Monday morning brought a schedule packed in ten-minute increments to meet the faculty and staff whom I had not seen often over the past year and a half. Naturally, this included Ezra alumni, the university president and his wife, and even the head of administration. At lunchtime, together with Pastor Hee-Jong Chang and his wife, as well as founding members of the early Doolae and Tanpori churches, we shared a meal and coffee at Hill House near the campus, reminiscing fondly over old memories. Forty years have flown by in the blink of an eye. Founding and planting Doolae and Tanpori churches before turning forty was truly a testament to God's marvelous grace. Pastor Chang pastored Doolae Church in Jangseungbaegi, and I pastored Tanpori Church in Jeongneung. Initially, without dividing pulpit, administration, or finances, we experimented for several months as one church with two campuses. However, because Jangseungbaegi and Jeongneung belonged to different presbyteries—Gyeonggi Presbytery and Seoul Presbytery—the senior church leaders did not look upon it favorably. More than that, it was pastorally challenging. While the original founding members understood why Pastor Chang and I took turns preaching each Sunday, newcomers were confused about who their senior pastor was. Thus, after about five months, this pioneering experiment came to an end.
Tuesday and Wednesday were filled with itineraries for Ezra Bible Graduate University. On Tuesday, there was a gathering of former and current Ezra presidents. The current president, Rev. Hyun-Goo Jung, sent a message: "It was truly a joy and a blessing to see the faces of our former presidents and their wives today. It was even more delightful as you came from Seoul, Ulsan, and the United States. We will try to arrange regular gatherings like this in the future. Please keep Ezra's autumn in your hearts and pray for us continuously." Elder Han-Sik Kim, the second president, replied: "Thank you for your hard work today. Thanks to the thoughtful care of the President and his wife, all of us had a wonderful time after a long while. I hope that through regular meetings like this, we can brainstorm diverse ways to love the school and freely exchange opinions on what specifically needs to be done and how . . . " Another note read: "It was delightful and heartwarming to see everyone in good health. Moreover, sitting down with the staff to share various updates about the school was truly wonderful. My gratitude goes to President Hyun-Goo Jung for his considerate hospitality. Wishing peace to everyone." In the past, we met casually by taking turns hosting, but this time it was elevated into a dignified forum together with the entire faculty and staff.
Knowing that I was visiting Seoul for the Doolae Church event, the school graciously entrusted me with leading Ezra's annual Expository Preaching Seminar on Wednesday, for which I was grateful. Notably at lunchtime, there was a special ceremony arranged by the first-year students to celebrate a beautiful companionship beginning between a first-year student and an alumnus. Preceding that, we had an outdoor lunch featuring roasted lamb barbecue, an old Ezra tradition—a memorable moment indeed. It had been quite some time since I last enjoyed lamb, so I look forward to frequent celebratory feasts ahead. At 2:15 PM and 3:30 PM, I delivered two special lectures on expository preaching. In the first hour, I introduced Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the greatest expository preacher of the twentieth century; in the second hour, under the theme "From Text to Sermon," I shared my personal experience on how to prepare sermons. If the first session leads listeners to pick up books like The Preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones or Preaching Learned from Martyn Lloyd-Jones, I would consider my goal accomplished. After the two-hour lecture and Q&A, I preached at Ezra's Wednesday chapel service on Isaiah 40:6–8 under the title "The Grass Withers, the Flower Fades."
When I arrived at Ezra after finishing the afternoon lecture at Doolae Church on Sunday, it was nearly five o'clock. Alumnus Byung-Goo Park happened to be in the school courtyard. After greeting each other warmly, although it was not on our original itineraries for that day, three families spontaneously gathered for dinner according to a schedule orchestrated from above. They were alumni and a professor couple whom I had long wanted to see. Thursday was scheduled for my return to Ulsan. However, my son living in the United States had an overseas business trip and was scheduled to land at Incheon early Thursday morning, so we arranged to have breakfast at Seoul Station at seven. After breakfast at a Korean restaurant that opened early, we felt the atmosphere was too bustling, so we moved to an upstairs café and enjoyed a leisurely three hours together. While my wife and I had spent four weeks with him this past summer, my sister-in-law—who had briefly come up to Ezra for her former roommate's new beginning—was able to spend time with her beloved nephew over her favorite cup of coffee. Truly, our God is attentive to the finest details. It was a trip to Seoul where the scripture took deep root in my heart: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Ek is genooi om die woord van die Here te bedien tydens die 40ste herdenkingsdiens van Doolae Gemeente op 11 Oktober. Vir Sondagoggend is ek versoek om twee preke te lewer—'n boodskap van 30 minute vir die eerste diens en 40 minute vir die tweede—gevolg deur 'n lesing van 100 minute en 20 minute vir vrae en antwoorde in die middag. In die oggend het ek uit Johannes 19:25–27 aan die hand van ons Here se woorde aan die kruis die boodskap "Die Roeping van die Kerk" twee maal gedeel. Tydens die spesiale middaglesing het ek teruggekyk na my vroeë bediening by Doolae Gemeente vanaf die herfs van 1986 tot die lente van 1989, en 'n lesing gelewer oor "Die Gewenste Beeld van die Kerk" met die oog op Doolae se 50ste bestaansjaar. Geskiedenis word gewoonlik kronologies of verhalend opgeteken. As die Joseon-dinastie die Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Dagboeke van die Koninklike Sekretariaat) gehad het, het Doolae Gemeente sy weeklikse bulletins gehad. Dit was nie sommer net 'n bulletin in naam nie; dit het nie net afkondigings bevat nie, maar namate die gemeente sy eerste bestaansjaar genader het, is dit as 'n weeklikse nuusblad uitgegee. Deur deeglik op hierdie historiese rekords te steun, het ek tien dae lank ywerig voorberei. Met die toestand van die gehoor om tweeuur die middag in gedagte, het ek die lesing met 'n goeie dosis hartlike humor aangebied.
Reg ná die middagdiens het ek vertrek na Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit. Ouderling Park van Doolae Gemeente het my goedgunstiglik deur die digte verkeer daarheen geneem. Nadat ek my intrek in die Ezra Withuis-gastekwartiere geneem het, was Maandagoggend se program in tien-minute-gleuwe ingedeel om personeel en dosente te ontmoet wat ek die afgelope jaar en 'n half nie gereeld kon sien nie. Dit het natuurlik Ezra-alumni, die rektor en sy eggenote, en selfs die administratiewe hoof ingesluit. Teen etenstyd het ek saam met ds. Hee-Jong Chang en sy vrou, asook stigterslede van die vroeë Doolae- en Tanpori-gemeentes, by Hill House naby die kampus geëet en koffie gedrink terwyl ons kosbare herinneringe opgeroep het. Veertig jaar het in 'n oogwink verbygegaan. Om voor my veertigste lewensjaar die Doolae- en Tanpori-gemeentes te stig en te plant, was werklik 'n bewys van God se wonderbaarlike genade. Ds. Chang het Doolae Gemeente in Jangseungbaegi bedien, en ek het Tanpori Gemeente in Jeongneung bedien. Aanvanklik het ons sonder om die kansel, administrasie of finansies te skei, 'n paar maande lank as een gemeente met twee kampusse gefunksioneer. Omdat Jangseungbaegi en Jeongneung egter onder twee verskillende ringe geval het—Gyeonggi-ring en Seoel-ring—was die senior leiers nie baie ingenome daarmee nie. Bowenal was dit pastoraal nie maklik nie. Alhoewel die aanvanklike lede verstaan het waarom ds. Chang en ek Sondag vir Sondag beurte gemaak het om te preek, was nuwe besoekers verward oor wie die senior leraar was. Na ongeveer vyf maande is hierdie nuwe inisiatief toe gestaak.
Dinsdag en Woensdag was gevul met verpligtinge vir Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit. Dinsdag was daar 'n byeenkoms van oud- en huidige rektore van Ezra. Die huidige rektor, ds. Hyun-Goo Jung, het 'n boodskap gestuur: "Dit was vandag 'n ware voorreg en vreugde om ons voormalige rektore en hul eggenotes te ontmoet. Aangesien u van Seoel, Ulsan en Amerika gekom het, was die blydskap selfs groter. Ons sal poog om gereeld sulke geleenthede te reël. Hou asseblief Ezra se herfs in u harte en bid deurlopend vir ons." Ouderling Han-Sik Kim, die tweede rektor, het geantwoord: "Dankie vir u harde werk vandag. Danksy die gasvryheid en noukeurige sorg van die Rektor en sy eggenote het ons almal ná 'n lang tyd 'n heerlike tyd saam gehad. Ek hoop dat ons deur gereelde byeenkomste soos hierdie verskillende maniere kan bedink om die instelling te ondersteun en openhartig van gedagtes kan wissel oor wat presies gedoen moet word en hoe . . . " 'n Ander opmerking het gelui: "Dit was wonderlik en bemoedigend om almal in goeie gesondheid te sien. Om boonop saam met die personeel te sit en skoolsake te bespreek, was baie waardevol. Ons dank aan rektor Hyun-Goo Jung vir sy sorgsame bediening. Mag vrede met elkeen van u wees." Waar ons voorheen gemaklik bymekaargekom het deur mekaar om die beurt te onthaal, was dit hierdie keer verhef tot 'n deftige beraad saam met die hele personeelkorps.
Aangesien hulle geweet het dat ek vir die geleentheid by Doolae Gemeente na Seoel sou kom, het hulle my goedgunstiglik Woensdag se jaarlikse seminaar oor verklarende prediking by Ezra toevertrou, waarvoor ek baie dankbaar was. Veral etenstyd was onvergeetlik: die eerstekjaarstudente het 'n seremonie gereël om die begin van 'n pragtige lewenspad tussen 'n eerstejaarstudent en 'n alumnus te vier. Vooraf het ons buite 'n middagete geniet met lamsvleisbraai, 'n ou Ezra-tradisie. Dit was lanklaas dat ek lamsvleis kon geniet, en ek hoop dat daar in die toekoms gereeld sulke feeste sal wees. Om 14:15 en 15:30 het ek twee spesiale lesings oor verklarende prediking gelewer. Tydens die eerste lesing het ek Martyn Lloyd-Jones, die grootste verklarende prediker van die twintigste eeu, bekendgestel; in die tweede lesing het ek onder die tema "Van Teks tot Preek" my persoonlike ervaring gedeel oor hoe om 'n preek voor te berei. Indien die eerste lesing toehoorders inspireer om boeke soos Die Prediker Martyn Lloyd-Jones of Prediking Geleer by Martyn Lloyd-Jones te lees, ag ek my doelwit as bereik. Na afloop van die twee uur lange lesing en vraag-en-antwoordsessie het ek tydens Ezra se Woensdagaanddiens gepreek oor Jesaja 40:6–8 onder die titel "Die gras verdor, die blom verwelk."
Toe ek Sondagmiddag ná die lesing by Doolae Gemeente by Ezra aankom, was dit reeds byna vyfuur. Alumnus Byung-Goo Park was egter op die kampuswerf. Ná 'n hartlike begroeting het drie gesinne—alhoewel dit nie op ons beplande roosters vir daardie dag was nie, maar volgens 'n skedule wat van Bo gereël is—spontaan saam aandete geniet. Dit was 'n alumnus en 'n professor-egpaar wat ek baie graag wou ontmoet. Donderdag was die dag vir my terugreis na Ulsan. My seun wat in Amerika woon, moes egter vir 'n oorsese sakereis vroeg Donderdagoggend op Incheon land, en ons het gereël om sewe-uur by Seoel-stasie saam te ontbyt. Ná ontbyt in 'n Koreaanse restaurant wat vroeg oopgemaak het, was die atmosfeer ietwat te bedrywig, en ons het na 'n koffiewinkel op die boonste verdieping verskuif waar ons drie rustige ure saam kon geniet. Terwyl my vrou en ek die afgelope somer vier weke lank saam met hom deurgebring het, kon my skoonsuster—wat weens 'n nuwe begin van haar eertydse Ezra-kamermaat kortliks na Ezra gekom het—kosbare tyd saam met haar geliefde nefie deurbring terwyl sy haar gunstelingkoffie geniet het. Waarlik, ons God is fyn ingestel op elke detail. Dit was 'n reis na Seoel waar die skrifwoord diep in my hart geanker is: "Net goedheid en guns sal my volg al die dae van my lewe, en ek sal in die huis van die Here bly tot in lengte van dae."