Seeing Colleagues in Ministries in Korea (September 2018)

Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ of God's family. I had the joy of seeing many of the ministry colleagues, who are serving God in various capacities.

Tae Hyung Kim is a pastor. He is also a mobile app developer. Currently, he is leading an IT institute within a church. His heart is for overseas mission. When he was running a mobile web developer business, I spent some time to coach him. Against my desire, he insisted on buying the lunch, buying my bus ticket to ChungJu and even a cup of coffee. It was my first time to see his wife. Oh... he designed the SfK's current logo. Thanks!

Jae Chul Jung is an ordained pastor and a former missionary to Malaysia. For the past 10 years, he has been serving with E-Land in various position. He is leading Asia Mission, Workplace Ministry, Company Chaplains and Social Enterprise works of E-Land. He is a good friend as well as Kingdom fellow. I am honored to know him. We had lunch together with Bong Rae Lee, but I forgot to take a photo. Here is a photo borrowed from Google.

On one Sunday, I attended the worship service at Living Hope Church shepherded by Barnabas Chang Sun Moon. I faced a little challenge finding the church, but I made it. He is a wonderful fellow Kingdom worker. He is involved in so many ministries and I cannot keep track of them all. Feed the Children, Naga Land, Ministry for Foreign Workers, Jewish Messianic Voice Ministry are in addition to shepherding the church, leading WiThee, a mission agency for diasporas, and acting as Deputy Director of ICDM, a Korean diaspora mission agency. Wow...

Hansoo Kim is a professor at Yianjin University of Science and Technology. He also runs a business that designs and plans events and programs in China. He made an introduction between myself and Se Young Park, a former professor at YUST. He specializes in urban development and architecture. He and I went to the same university, but he was six years behind me. We met twice and in principle agreed to seek the ways to work together for His Kingdom. We will see what He has in store..

Min-Young Jung is one of the oldest friends and colleagues in His Kingdom ministries. He used to be a member of Wycliffe's global leadership team. He is well respected in the Korean mission ecosystem. Every time I get together with him, I learn and am inspired. I am honored to have him as one of advisers to SfK Ministries.

Sam Cho is now Country Director of InterServ Korea. He used to be a professor in Toronto Canada and a resource person on BAM with InterServ. He and I had an opportunity to share a room at one of IBA Conferences. We exchanged several ideas to work together for His Kingdom Young Jun Choi joined our meeting.

Young Chan Joo is Country Director of Hope Mission, a network of professional tent-makers. Hope has more than 200 missionaries who are serving in creative access nations (CANs) or restricted access nations (RANs). We discussed about several opportunities to work together. We will see what the Lord has in store.

Dong Ho Song is an ordained pastor and is now serving as Secretary General of IBA, Korea's BAM platform for churches and mission agencies. Apparently he has been involved with IBA for the past 8 years. I sense that fatigue is kicking in.

SS Kim is a missionary commissioned by WiThee and sent by Living Hope Church. He is also serving as CEO of SfK Tanzania. Thus, it was only natural to get together with Pastor Barbanas Moon and his wife. SS Kim's wife could not join us because they arrived late in the previous day. We had a short get together over breakfast.

SBS stands for Shalom Bible Study. It began in Rwanda while my wife and I were serving with Urwego Opportunity Bank in that country. Later, we began an on-line basis social media bible study on Kakao Talk with the graduates of SBS. This SBS has since grown to 16 groups. Wherever I go, I try to hold an off-line gathering with the SBS members. This time, I held a joint meeting with two groups: original Rwanda group and Heart 2 Heart group. We rejoiced greatly our fellowship. I am delighted to get together with them, particularly when I witness growth in their faith and godliness. Praise be to the Lord!

Yoon Bum (Ben) was one of the SBS members in Rwanda. He met his fiancee in Ethiopia and they are getting married in October. They could not stay till the end. But they showed up and we shared a joyous moment. His fiancee also served in Rwanda with 2 & 5, a Christian primary school. May God bless them to be a blessing to people around them!

After the SBS gathering, I met up with the parents in law of Joseph Kim. They desire to serve in one of South East nations as missionaries. We exchanged our views and thoughts. I learned that Joseph and Shalom are moving to the U.S. Joseph is going to teach Tae Kwon Do and Shalom will study for an MBA degree. They both served in Rwanda.

Joo Heum Baik was one of three who first started the SBS. He started a venture called Stubbyplanner.com, an on-line travel planning app to Europe. It has been five years since the inception. The business seems to make good progress and hope to see a tipping point next year.

Jiyoon Shin and Gyung Ah Park both worked at Rz Manna Cafe and Bakery in Rwanda. I worked with them to sort out the accounting issues for a week when it was critically necessary to get an extension from KOICA and to help both KOICA and Handong University to make a decision. I have since maintained our relationship via SBS. Recently, they have been married.

Isaac Baik was one of the SBS members in Rwanda. He is now working for Samsung Electronics as a team leader for software development works. He hgs a mature faith and a blessed sense of good stewardship of the resources that have been entrusted with him. He has been making significant monthly donation to SfK Ministries overe the past two years. I took an interview so that I can share his story on SfK Newsletter. I am blessed by his dedication to the Kingdom work and contribution to SfK Ministries.

Jong Choon Park was a new fellow Kingdom worker based on Sam Cho's introduction. But probably we met each other in New York where I was leading Shinhan Bank America. He came to collect data needed for credit scoring model development. Now he is with Hanhwa Group overseeing blockchain technology, digital finance solutions and fintech program in South East Asia. He studied Islamic Finance at University of Malaysia and worked on his doctorate degree in Arabic Studies at Myung Ji University. He has passion for world missions and desires to serve Him and His Kingdom in the most appropriate way. Our gathering revealed several more common grounds in our lives. But this meeting also lead to a pleasant surprise encounter with Bong Rae Lee. They are ROTC alumni and served at the same base. What a coincidence in our eyes but what a providence God has provided! Again, I wonder what the Lord has in store for this newfound relationship. Gory be to God Almighty!

My last meeting was with BJ Kim, my Sunday school student, and Won Jin (Ferdinando) Choi at the Incheon International Airport. We had a short gathering after I checked in my luggage before I entered to the departure area.

Isn't it mysterious to witness God's way of leading us to meet in His perfect time? God is an awesome God and He never ceases to amaze me. I am honored to be in His family and His Kingdom. Amen! - Jeffrey

Seeing Friends in Korea (September 2018)

Any trip that is accompanied by the opportunities to see friends is already valuable and pleasant. My recent to Korea was no exception from the first day until the last minute before the departure.

Jun (Young Jun) Kim is a former colleague when I was leading Premier Bank in Colorado. He says that he never knows any other bank CEO. He is tied up taking care of his father with dementia.  He has a warm heart.

Agape Friends - My college life was fruitful because of Agape Club, a club of college students of Yonsei and Ewha serving people in need in the villages. I participated in both summer and winter programs for all 4 years. I had a get together with the same graduates. Two are professors at Yonsei and one runs his business successfully. 

Kyoungsup Kwon is an elder of a church. Also, he is the founder and Chairman of Sovico, the largest sound systems company in Korea. Sovica has taken care of most of the audio systems at the larger churches in Korea and also of the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics and 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. We had breakfast and discussed various issues, but no photo was taken.

M Jae Moon is Underwood Professor at Yonsei University. He is an excellent teacher and a renowned researcher in public administration. Also, he serves as a member of SfK Korea board of directors.  Although he could not attend the board meeting due to his conflicting schedule, we had a get together.

High School Friends - I belonged to a couple of groups of friends when I was in high school. One consisted of 12 members and the other of six. The first was called Han Wool Hwe meaning one boundary. Unfortunately, one of them has already left this world. I got together with three of them who are usual friends to get together: Changho, Joonhan and Chuleui.

The other group was called "Six Friends." One of them is now in Busan, too far to meet. Another is living in Gwangju, again too far. Yet, another is living in Calgary, Canada. Again, too far to meet up. So we had a small gathering but we rejoiced greatly. We accidentally discovered a seafood place and we agreed to come to this restaurant all the time we meet. Gilyong and Myungkyu.

I have many college alumni, but have only several whom I can call friends. Pyung Ku is one of them. I have become closer with Jang Sik Shim who inherited and has been running sizable business in various industries.

Seeing friends is always great joy for my travel to Korea. I am making conscious efforts to maintaining my relationships with them. I hope and trust that I may gain some opportunities to witness who Jesus is. I am always grateful for my friends. - Jeffrey 

SfK Korea and Cconma - Korea (September 2018)

Another important purpose of my trip to Korea was to attend the SfK Korea board meeting. At this meeting, SfK Korea board made two important decisions.

One was to establish K-Impact Investment Fund by October 31. We will aim to collect the subscription amount to Won 1 billion, but we will launch it with any subscription amount above Won 800 million, which has already been pledged with the money that SfK Korea has so far collected and the new money Joybells has pledged to subscribe. So it is a done deal. I was thrilled that we are making progress with this project at last.

The other was to make an equity investment in Cconma, the holding company of on-line marketing platform called 꽃피는 아침마을 (meaning Village of Morning that Blossoms) and several others including Cconma USA. Again, Joybells is making its investment up to Won 2 billion of which SfK will take up Won 100 million. The purpose of the investment is to create a marketing platform to promote the products of missional businesses within SfK Network.

I made visit to Cconma located in Chungju together with Mr. Bong Rae Lee, CEO of Joybells. He is also serving as Director and Chief Investment Officer of SfK Korea. He is a God-send for me and SfK Korea. I am immeasurably grateful for him to God.

Mr. Dong Hoon Choi, CEO is in his 40's but has warm heart and passion for providing quality healthy foods for Koreans and humanity. The location and the facility were giving me warm feeling.

We stayed at 깊은 산속 옹달샘, an affiliate company of Cconma. It is a retreat center with the capacity to house up to 400 people. We enjoyed our stay and I was offered an opportunity to stay there at any time. I said I would stay there for a week.

The whole project began with Mr. Dowon Koh who went to school at Yonsei University but was terminated because of his anti-government protects. He later served as a reporter at Joong Ang Newspeper and also as the writer for former president Dae Joong Kim. He is the author and editor of daily e-mail newsletter called 고도원의 아침편지. This daily newsletter is being sent out to 3.4 million receivers. He started Cconma and Ongdalsaem and other related busineses. He remains the largest single shareholder. We had fellowship over breakfast.

This board meeting of SfK Korea was the most productive. I am again deeply grateful for God's gracious guidance. - Jeffrey

Family Gathering in Korea (September 2018)

During my recent trip to Korea, one of two major Korean festivals occurred: Chusok or Hangawi. Koreans celebrate Chusok on the eighth full moon in the Lunar Calendar. It coincides with the harvest time of the year.

Chusok is a 3-4 day holiday during which time people visit their parents and relatives.

We decided to make a trip to one of the hot springs resorts. We chose Kensington Dogo. One of the reasons to choose this one was to avoid long travel time because the highways become jammed with cars.

Kensington is a brand name for E-Land's hospitality business. It marks with quality and classy style. So I had an expectation. But not Kensington Dogo. First, this facility must have been purchased recently from Glory Condo, an old-fashioned style condo network. The exterior looked alright, but the interior was of poor quality and the designs were outdated. It was disappointing, but we still enjoyed our time together

Monday September 24 was officially the Chusok. So in the morning, we had a commemorative service reflecting on our father who passed two years ago and also two parents of my younger sister's husband who have passed to be with the Lord in recent years. We all should be grateful for our parents because without them we would not even exist now. Besides, their sacrificial love, including tough love, have shaped us to be who we are now. We have inherited from our father strong will, determination, discipline, ability to make breakthrough during crisis.

Chusok is known for a lot of foods, probably more than Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. People eat Songpyon, but a lot of veggies in all kinds of names. My younger sister, Minsook, prepared a lot of foods and our mom also brought a lot of veggies. The morning breakfast table was glamorous and overwhelming. We all enjoyed the foods thoroughly.
.

We ended up spending a lot of time playing Korean cards, called Hwatu or flower battle. We giggled and laughed a lot.

We took time and strolled around the area. Koreans are good at creating new words. At one location, there was a sign of Glamping or Glamorous Camping. I suppose it means luxurious camping.

Nearby, there were large rice fields where rice was ripe and getting ready for harvest. It has been a long while since I saw this golden rice fields.
Ripe rice field...

Near the condominium, there was a structure called LOVE. This four-letter word is surely mysterious to a lot of people, meaning differently. I was thinking of God's unceasing and overflowing love, agape, along with eros, phileo and epicuros. Without having to deeper with high level love, I felt the love from my family: my mother and my siblings and their extended family. Definitely, love signifies the driving engine for our meaningful life on earth.

I was deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend time together with my family over this year's Chusok. It was more meaningful because my mom reminded me that it has been 40 years since we had this time together over Chusok. - Jeffrey