Dear Family and Friends,

We recently returned from a trip best described as an introduction to South Korea’s history, culture and food. It’s a country that has done impressively well given it’s history, a true testament to it’s people.

On this tour, we circled the peninsula, taking in the beauty of it’s cities, the countryside, and breathtaking seasides. We witnessed the wide range of lifestyles of it’s people. We ate a lot.

And we learned a lot.

Including a lesson I wasn’t expecting, in a city called Gwangju tucked away in the southwest corner of South Korea.

It was here in Gwangju that I found the answer to a question that has evaded me for years.

About thirty percent of South Koreans are either Catholic or Protestant. What caused Christianity to prosper in Korea unlike other countries in Asia?

Our first stop in Gwangju was a neighborhood walking tour led by two retired gentlemen. Their neighborhood appeared to be so ordinary, we all wondered at first why we even stopped there.

We soon learned that this was no ordinary neighborhood.

After leading us through a theological university and seminary, we stopped at a western-style house built in the 1920’s.

It was the home of a missionary named Robert M. Wilson. The lower floor was designed for church gatherings and the family lived upstairs.

The local guide went on to explain that Missionary Wilson was also a doctor who would walk down the hill every day to a nearby medical clinic.

Dr. Wilson was the director of that clinic from 1908 to 1930. During his tenure, the clinic became a hospital. And a colony for those with Hansen’s disease was built.

Today, that clinic is now a 600-bed state of the art facility called The Christian Hospital. It’s motto: Sharing the love we have received.

The hospital’s website lists a host of contributions made to Gwangju in it’s first 100 years including, spreading the gospel through it’s medical mission, changing patient care from shamanism to modern medical treatment, and providing humanitarian charitable service.

Research shows that Christian missionaries helped the people of Korea in so many other ways. Too many to list here.  

After seeing all this, the answer to my earlier question became obvious.

There’s no doubt the missionaries went to Korea to make disciples. But they went to help the people as well.

This should be our mission as well – to give help to those in need.

“Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” Isaiah 58:10 NLT

The second lesson learned from our Gwangju visit is that helping others should not be a one and done effort.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”  Hebrews 6:10 NIV

Not only will God not forget our work, those whom we help continually will never forget as well.

To understand our third lesson, one must know a little history about this time period.

When Korea was colonized by the Empire of Japan from 1910 to 1945, Japan did everything possible to eliminate the Korean language, culture and history.

As one can imagine, this was a deeply painful time for Korea. This was a period of little to no hope.

Missionary Wilson shared the Gospel and it’s message of peace, hope and love when it was most needed.

And left a legacy that is this special little neighborhood that continues to spread the love of Jesus. 

Our final lesson for today is do as Missionary Wilson did.

Our country has been colonized by the enemy who is intent on destroying any hope for a future for many, especially our younger generations.

Today’s young adults are worried about money, school and careers, violence, climate change, and self-image.

The proof of their anxieties can be seen in rising suicide statistics. Suicide recently became the second leading cause of death for young adults.

What can we do?

Reach out to help. People need to know someone cares; convey your love through actions.

Keep on helping. Trust is built one brick at a time.

Then when the time is right and trust has been established, share what we know to be true.

In love always,