주는 자가 아닌 동반자/Called as Companions, not Givers

A Letter from Jieun and Myung Han, Regional Liaisons for East Asia

Summer 2022

Please see below for this letter in Korean or click this link to read this letter in Korean.
주는 자가 아닌 동반자

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus,  who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the gentiles. (Romans 16:3-4)

Dear friends,

When Jieun and I were called to be regional liaisons for East Asia, and stationed in Seoul, Korea as mission co-workers, some people, especially Korean-Americans, questioned us, “Does Korea still need mission co-workers?” South Korea now is one of the richest nations in the world, having risen from the ashes of the Korean War. The three largest Protestant churches in the world are all in Seoul, Korea. The Korean church is second in the world in terms of sending mission workers to other countries and has sent missionaries all over the world. Does Korea still need mission co-workers?

It is true that Korea doesn’t, according to the traditional mission paradigm. Originally, missionaries went to the non-Christian world to evangelize, educate and heal the people who did not know Christ. They were givers of truth, education and medicine to those who needed hope. Many missiologists raise concerns about the old mission paradigm.

No church on earth is perfect, so we are called to join, hand in hand, to learn from each other and to do good. Christians in Korea have expressed words of appreciation to us, for our presence provides what the Korean church lacks.

Last May and June, for example, we had an open house and a consultation with entities we work with. Participants rarely had an opportunity for such gatherings where there was a free, open-ended and equal sharing. The participants shared ways of how we could improve our partnership together. They said that such gatherings quench their thirst in the patriarchal culture of the Korean church.

Of course, there are strengths that the Korean church has, that PC(USA) does not. I wish we could have more cross-cultural experiences, so we may learn from each other. Mission is, and has always been, a two-way, not a one-way conversation. We are called to be companions, not givers.

Myung-Sung(Martin) & Jieun Han

Please read the following letter from Rev. Mienda Uriarte, acting director of World Mission:

Dear Partners in God’s Mission,

What an amazing journey we’re on together! Our call to be a Matthew 25 denomination has challenged us in so many ways to lean into new ways of reaching out. As we take on the responsibilities of dismantling systemic racism, eradicating the root causes of poverty and engaging in congregational vitality, we find that the Spirit of God is indeed moving throughout World Mission. Of course, the past two years have also been hard for so many as we’ve ventured through another year of the pandemic, been confronted with racism, wars and the heart wrenching toll of natural disasters. And yet, rather than succumb to the darkness, we are called to shine the light of Christ by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.

We are so grateful that you are on this journey as well. Your commitment enables mission co-workers around the world to accompany partners and share in so many expressions of the transformative work being done in Christ’s name. Thank you for your partnership, prayers and contributions to their ministries.

We hope you will continue to support World Mission in all the ways you are able:

Give – Consider making a year-end financial contribution for the sending and support of our mission personnel (E132192). This unified fund supports the work of all our mission co-workers as they accompany global partners in their life-giving work. Gifts can also be made “in honor of” a specific mission co-worker – just include their name on the memo line.

Pray – Include PC(USA) mission personnel and global partners in your daily prayers. If you would like to order prayer cards as a visual reminder of those for whom you are praying, please contact Cindy Rubin (cynthia.rubin@pcusa.org; 800-728-7228, ext. 5065).

Act – Invite a mission co-worker to visit your congregation either virtually or in person. Contact mission.live@pcusa.org to make a request or email the mission co-worker directly. Email addresses are listed on Mission Connections profile pages. Visit pcusa.org/missionconnections to search by last name.

Thank you for your consideration! We appreciate your faithfulness to God’s mission through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Prayerfully,

Rev. Mienda Uriarte, Acting Director
World Mission
Presbyterian Mission Agency
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

To give, please visit https://bit.ly/22MC-YE.

For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

주는 자가 아닌 동반자

너희는 그리스도 예수 안에서 나의 동역자들인 브리스가와 아굴라에게 문안하라.  그들은 내 목숨을 위하여 자기들의 목까지도 내놓았나니 나뿐 아니라 이방인의 모든 교회도 그들에게 감사하느니라.                                               (로마서 16:3-4)

저희 부부가 동아시아 선교 책임자로 부름받아 선교동역자로서 한국에 가게 되었을 때, 몇몇 분들이 물었습니다. “아직도 한국에 선교사가 필요한가요?” 전쟁의 폐허를 딛고 일어나 한국은 이제 선진국이 되었습니다. 세계에서 가장 큰 개신교회 셋이 서울에 있습니다. 한국교회는 세계에서 두번째로 선교사를 많이 파송하는 교회입니다. 아직도 한국에 선교동역자가 필요합니까?

맞습니다. 전통적인 선교의 개념으로 볼 때 한국은 선교사가 필요 없습니다. 과거 선교사는 이방 나라에 가서 어둠에 거하는 사람들에게 복음을 전하고 교육하고 병을 고쳤습니다. 미개한 이들에게 진리를 전하고 근대식 학교와 병원을 세웠습니다. 귀한 사역이었으나 많은 선교학자들은 이러한 일방적 선교에 문제점을 제기하고 있습니다.

이제 선교동역자는 하나님의 선하심이 이 땅에 임하도록 선교지 교회와 교단과 협력하는 동역자이며 동반자입니다. 그래서 미국장로교는 “선교사”가 아닌 “선교동역자”로 부르고 있습니다. 우리는 이 지역에 하나님의 나라가 임하도록 동아시아 교회와 협력하고 있습니다. 그래서 우리는 주는 자가 아닌 동반자입니다. 

이 땅의 모든 교회는 완벽하지 않습니다. 그래서 우리는 손에 손을 맞잡고 서로에게서 배우며 선한 일을 이루어 나아가야 합니다. 한국교회 성도님들은 종종 저희들에게 감사의 인사를 전합니다. 한국교회의 부족한 면을 돌아보게 만드는 좋은 본을 보여준다는 것입니다.

한 예로 지난 5월과 6월, 한국에 있는 장로교 교단들과 기독교 단체 관계자들을 초대하는 오픈하우스와 선교 간담회를 가졌습니다. 참석자들은 그렇게 나이, 지위, 성의 차별 없는 자유롭고 열려있는 의견 수렴의 모임이 별로 없었다며 기뻐했습니다. 어떻게 더 잘 동역을 할지에 대해 허심탄회한 대화와 의견 교환이 있었습니다. 참석자들은 가부장적인 한국교회 문화 속에서 느꼈던 갈증을 해소할 수 있었다고 말했습니다.

물론 미국장로교회가 갖지 못한 한국교회의 장점도 많습니다. 서로에게서 배울 수 있는 문화간 교류가 더욱 활발해졌으면 좋겠습니다. 선교는 일방 통행이 아니라 쌍방 통행입니다. 우리는 주는 자가 아닌 동반자로 부름을 받았습니다.

한명성, 김지은