The Joy of Cross-Cultural Partnership in South Korea
An update from Marty Machowski, Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and Key Leader into South Korea…
My wife Lois and I enjoyed the privilege of visiting Lord’s Grace Church in South Korea in late March. Songhwan (Lead Pastor of Lord’s Grace Church) and Miran arranged for my wife and I to enjoy the first few days exploring Seoraksan National Park in Northeastern South Korea. Lois and I shared a home with Songhwan and Miran which afforded the time of fellowship where we were able to share our blessings and personal challenges and build relationally and strengthen our friendship.
The 48 foot tall bronze Buddha statue in the center of Seoraksan National Park accentuates Korea’s need for the gospel to penetrate their nation. It was sad to see the memorials people made by stacking rocks and the prayer cards left to this dead idol.
The four of us took the cable car up the mountain where we hiked to the top. The majesty of God’s creation from the peak dwarfed the Buddha barely visible below, like powerless ants compared to the vast creative majesty of our God. While the clouds and smoggy air muted the landscape for most of our visit the clouds parted for our hike up the mountain and blue skies marked our assent. The yet snow dusted mountains burst steep out of the sea and served as a God blessed backdrop to our photo.
Blessed by a gift from a family at Lord’s Grace Church, the four of us enjoyed a special dinner on the coast. We dined on an all-you-can-eat crab feast in the shadow of the crabbing boats as they unloaded their fresh catch nearby. True to form Songhwan and Miran peppered us with questions to learn as much as they could to learn and grow. Their humility marked our discussions.
Lois and I will never forget our time with Songhwan and Miran in Korea and the partnership that is forged by these visits. We are grateful for the Northeast Region and Covenant Fellowship who contributed to the cost of our flight and hotel.
Lord’s Grace Church has three pastoral interns working through the Sovereign Grace Ordination process. Shawn Woo from Trinity Cambridge Church is working to translate the exams for these men. So far all three have passed their Bible knowledge exam.
I was able to have an important meeting with the deacons and interns of the church who have served faithfully at Songhwan’s side. We discussed the changes that will take place as the interns pass their exams and are ordained, giving them a plurality of elders. We talked about the adjustment that will be for the deacons who may be less involved with certain decisions than before. The deacons were all quick to affirm the changes and demonstrated humility in offering their support and joy for the coming plurality.
The Spirit of God met us in the family seminar we held where I spoke on gospel hope for family trials. We all face trials as part of the faith maturing process the Lord takes us through. Still, we can fall prey to the lie that trials are bad and or the result of our failures as parents. The discussions and times of prayer after the sessions ministered to all. Folks were able to share honestly about the trials they are facing in their families and with their children.
Lord’s Grace Church is growing under Songhwan’s leadership. They have a goal of planting another church in the coming years and are saving money to cover the large deposit renting a facility will require. To rent a church space would need close to a $100,000 U.S. Dollar equivalent deposit.
In addition to saving for a future church plant Lord’s Grace Church was able to secure a loan to cover the deposit on a large expansion into the floor above them. The added floor provides needed classrooms for children and meetings and the large rooftop area provides a space for the church to meet for barbecues in the warmer weather.
We left our trip to South Korea encouraged for all the Lord is doing there and grateful for the friendship we have with Songhwan and Miran. Please pray for their elder candidates, and that the Lord will provide financially to save the funds needed to cover the deposit for rent for a future church plant.
