The Joy and Peace of Christ in the Midst of the Pandemic

A Letter from Myoungho Yang and Jiyeon Yoo, serving in China

December 2020

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings from Hong Kong!

The fall semester has just ended. I was able to teach this semester without any difficulties, even though all classes were held online. Thank you for your prayers. One of my students encouraged me when she said that she just registered for my course (Principles and Practices of Worship Service) without any particular expectations, but she thanked God for leading her to take this course. We could see each other and discuss online, but we missed the regular face-to-face classes a lot. Still, the school expects to hold online classes next semester. When I wrote last time, Hong Kong had no confirmed local infection cases, although a few imported cases had been reported. However, the government has recently implemented social-distancing rules because the number of confirmed cases has suddenly soared. It seems this wicked virus is trying to catch us off guard. Churches will be closed again beginning next Sunday.

While every area of our life has been affected by this invisible virus, we should still move forward. Last month the school had a commencement ceremony called “Theology Day.” Commencement is held in the middle of the Fall semester on the first Saturday of November. Graduates return from their places of ministry for graduation and students, families, and guests fill the auditorium to celebrate their reunion.

The coronavirus has changed many things in our lives. It is uncomfortable and threatens our lives and society. But in a sense, it is giving us an opportunity to remind ourselves of what we have forgotten. We often forget to be grateful for what we have taken for granted until we almost lose it. We have many things to be thankful for, such as breathing, sleeping, eating, and digesting. This pandemic situation has made us rethink the basics of giving thanks.

It has reminded me of my memory of a Thanksgiving Day a long time ago when my sons were little kids. That Thanksgiving Day, I gave my two sons pieces of paper and asked them to write down anything they were thankful for. When they first began to write, they couldn’t think of more than 10 things. But as time went by, they began to discover what they should be grateful for, starting with what they took for granted in every corner of their lives. My children had not initially recognized those things because they had always been there. If I had not stopped them, their lists might have grown to include over 100 items.

We dare not follow the example of the ancient Israelites who quickly forgot God’s grace and murmured instead. If this pandemic leads us to restore our heart of thankfulness, then this pandemic is bringing us a blessed time of spiritual renewal. This pandemic could cause us to be disheartened and fearful, and with the prophet Jeremiah we might proclaim,

“My soul continually thinks of it
   and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
   and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
   his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
   great is thy faithfulness” Lamentations 3:20-23.

We thank you for your support and prayers that encourage us to continue our ministry during this difficult time. Please continue to pray for us and our ministry.

I hope you enjoy joy and peace of Christ in the season of Christmas while we are in the midst of this pandemic.

Myoungho and Jiyeon