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God has a plan for
Afghans and Koreans
By Jin Kook Lee

When I returned home July 25, I found my wife sobbing. Her tears told me that something had happened. My daughter ran and hugged me. They told me that one of the 23 Koreans being held hostage in Afghanistan had been killed by the Taliban that day. It was the Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, leader of the team of mission volunteers from Saem-mul (Spring Water) Church in Korea.

Many critical comments in news reports followed the capture of the volunteers: "They were so careless." "They are selfish Christians who ignored the warnings of the government." "Did they go as volunteers or as missionaries?" "Korean Christians are ignorant; they do not respect other religions. They waste their time and money for nothing." "They must be responsible for their own actions."

Those words hurt me deeply, but I do not want to argue about them. It is natural for non-Christians to criticize the volunteers. However, it hurts me more to hear criticism from people of the church. I do not think that we as followers of Christ should attempt to pinpoint what went wrong for this group. It is a time for us to pray for the hostages and their families, for the Afghan people and even for the Taliban militants. It is time to shed tears with them. It is a time to ask God's grace and mercy on them.

I remember the story of a missionary, the Rev. Robert Thomas, who was 26 years old when he died near Pyongyang, North Korea, 140 years ago. By some accounts, he was executed in 1866 by Korean soldiers, but before he was killed gave a Bible to his executioner, who later became a Christian.

Thomas did not do great mission work in the eyes of people, but he gave his life for Korean Christians and churches before anybody else. We know now that because of Thomas' sacrifice, the seed of the Gospel was planted in Korea. Through his love, many Koreans, including me, became believers of Jesus Christ.

After 140 years, Korean churches and Christians have grown enough to send many missionaries into the world.

I understand the criticism of the hostages and their mission. This incident has a huge impact for missions in Afghanistan, Korea and around the world. However, as a Christian and as a Korean-American member of The United Methodist Church, I cannot criticize the hostages. We cannot.

Why did Rev. Thomas go to Korea 140 years ago? What is the gospel? Why did he sacrifice his own life for those whom he did not know or meet? Somehow, somebody placed a great love in his heart for the people of Korea. I hope and pray that you may look at the Korean hostages in Afghanistan with the eyes of Rev. Thomas.

This is the time to stop pointing fingers at each other. We need to remember people who ran to the land where nobody wanted to go in the name of Jesus Christ. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us pray with them and for their safe return. Let us cry with their families in Korea. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.

We may not fully understand or know what has happened to Korean Christians in Afghanistan. But I know that God has a plan for the Afghan people and the Korean churches.

The Rev. Jin Kook Lee serves at Korean Mission United Methodist Church of Rochester, New York. Distributed by UM News Service.

Bishop brings message
of hope to Zimbabweans
By Shaun A. Lane

David sat in the balcony of Hilltop United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe, as Bishop John R. Schol preached to 2,000 congregants about Jesus Christ's love and compassion for 10 lepers.

The story from Luke 17 was one with which David could relate. The 35-year-old resident of Mutare was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS nearly five years ago. He says that because of the lack of medicines in Zimbabwe, he is on the verge of death.

Following Schol's June 10 sermon, David was among nearly 1,500 people who accepted the bishop's invitation to come to the altar for healing. David said he had no choice.

"I wanted the bishop from the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference to pray for me," he said. "His sermon was exactly what I needed to hear today--like he was reading my mind. I am going to read that passage again and again.

"I know that I am going to die soon--maybe in less than six months. And my son, who is also sick with AIDS and malaria, will be without his father. I wanted the bishop to make me one with Jesus. When he placed his hands on my head and prayed for me, I was ready. My worries were gone."

Speaking to a congregation ravaged by AIDS and malaria, Bishop Schol said that despite suffering from diseases and poverty, Hilltop and its community have the richness of Jesus in their lives.

"When going down the street, (lepers) were required by law to tell people that they had the disease and had to do everything at a distance," the bishop said. "So they were surprised when they saw Jesus come closer to them, even as people yelled 'leper,' Jesus wanted to bring the power of healing to their lives."

The Rev. Tazvionepi Nyarota, superintendent of the Mutare District, said the bishop's sermon impacted people at Hilltop because many feel like outcasts.

"Hilltop has many people who suffer from AIDS and malaria," she said. "It has devastated a lot of our community. Hearing a sermon like this gives many people hope. There are so many people crying right now. Sometimes all they need to hear is a word of hope. The bishop has provided that word for us today."

People sang and danced as they came to the altar and waited for Schol and one of five other pastors to pray for them. The worship leaders spent 30 minutes praying for congregants wanting prayer. When the last person left the altar, Schol praised the people for their resolve in the face of a nationwide crisis.

Schol was part of a 13-member delegation from the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference that joined with the United Nations Foundation for an 11-day mission to distribute 7,125 insecticide-treated sleeping nets in rural Zimbabwe, where mosquito-borne malaria is another deadly reality.

They delivered nets to more than 15 churches, orphanages, clinics and hospitals. According to the foundation, the treated bed nets can prevent malaria transmission by 50 percent and are a cost-effective way to fight the disease.

Schol, who first visited the Hilltop church and the Zacova community in 1995, said "my faith has grown" with each visit. "We will pray with you so, together with Jesus, we will eliminate AIDS," said Schol.

David said he will pray with the church and the bishop to eliminate AIDS, even if it is too late for him. "My son may be helped," he said. "And my friends may be helped. So I will still pray. I know that it is too late for me and I will soon die. But still, I am healed. I am one with Jesus. I thank the bishop for his grace."

 

Shaun A. Lane is director of communications for the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. Adapted from United Methodist News Service.



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