FROM PASTOR BOB AFTER A 20-HOUR DAY IN INCHEON, S. KOREA: This was a LONG day with some unique, amazing experiences. Here are the highlights: 1) Our group was introduced at the 9:30 a.m. service to great applause (I did not come here expecting celebrity status for merely being an American pastor!) and then went on a tour of the church facility. This church has an incredible mission spirit - everywhere we went there were reminders of their dedication to ministries all over the world including churches they have planted throughout Asia. Their commitment to discipling young people was also present - they even had a special lounge with food and drink for childrens and youth teachers who often spend many hours at the church ministering to the churchs youngest members. We also learned that parking is at such a premium that the church steeple is actually a parking garage with cars raised and lowered within by a rotating elevator system! The church requires 20 full-time employees and 60 volunteers to clean the facility and 5 full-time engineers to keep it functioning. Its the volunteers who every day change our sheets, clean our rooms, and take our linens and towels to be cleaned. 2) At the 11:15 service we were brought forward to sing Blessed Assurance in both English and Korean. Now, you have to understand that the Bupyeong Methodist Choir is 120 strong with an orchestra backing them up. We were just 30 pastors who had exactly one practice before getting up before our Korean friends. Yet, somehow we pulled it off and received seemingly sincere applause. Bishop Cho later said he was proud of us. 3) After another outstanding lunch, we were the guests of honor at a mini-concert. There wasnt anything mini about it except the intimate setting in a small dining area. We were treated to 8 different performances by world class musicians including the World Vision Childrens Choir, a tenor solo, an incredible flute soloist, the churchs handbell choir, a violinist, a brass quintet, and a marimba player. They even printed programs with Mini-Concert for UMC Virginia Annual Conference Spiritual Pilgrimage on the front. We are being honored in so many ways I never would have expected. 4) After a dinner with lamb chops, shrimp, octopus, and more we went to the 11th Annual Choir Festival in the sanctuary.This is Koreas largest choir festival. Five church choirs, several with over 100 members, and the World Vision Childrens Choir performed. These churches are so large that the choirs present did not represent all of the choirs in their churches; just a choir from one of their services. And the worlds largest church with 830,000 members, Yoido Full Gospel Church founded by Yong Gi Cho, also had a choir present. Again, we were asked to stand and receive applause during the televised concert - all very surreal. The music was absolutely incredible. 5) After the concert we were taken to the church cafeteria where we were served dessert and had a chance to meet with the choir conductors, all of whom are world renowned. I had my photo taken with Hak Won Yun, a conductor for 51 years who is known and revered as the Father of Choral Music in Korea and has performed all over the world. All the Koreans assured me he was a great star among the Koreans. A REFLECTION: While much of what Im experiencing is awe-inspiring and impressive, Gods plan is unique for every pastor and congregation. He works within the context of our lives and the setting of our ministries. What Verona, Virginia has in common with the churches of Incheon and Seoul is the commission to spread the good news of Jesus. And wherever we are, that only happens through prayer, living life the Jesus way, and depending on Gods grace. I have seen here the power of prayer and faith and truly believe that God is calling us to be faithful and live out his plan for our church. We must listen for his voice each and every step of the way. Blessings on everyone. And now to sleep.... Bob
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:05:58 +0000