Iksan - Week 1 - Our Church

Church

Sunday service began at 10:30, ended at noon, was followed by lunch in the fellowship hall, followed by another service from 3:15 til 4:30 PM. There were about 50 present for the morning worship.  This number was made up of about 10 children under the age of ten, about 5 teens, about 10 in the 20 to 40 year range, and about 25 seniors.  Included in this number were several men.  


This Sunday between lunch and the 3:15 service, the children and young people (Sheila and I included) went to a park, had a short devotion, then walked and played in the park.  It was the first time this year it has been warm enough for an outside activity.

Youth

There is a midweek service on Wednesday night and a prayer service that begins at 9:30 Friday night.  

The singing is beautiful and inspiring.  Several of the songs are standard hymns that we know - recognize the tune but not the words.  The robed choir sang one song.  A group of 4 ladies sang one song.  And, the congregation sang 6 - 8 songs during the service.  All the people clap their hands during the lively songs.  During Brother Choe’s message, there were many instances of everyone saying  “Amen” at the same time.   We could not tell if he just made a good point, or if he asked them to say Amen.  Actually, it must be spontaneous because it happened once or twice when Gene spoke when we were introduced.

Lunch in the fellowship hall

 The kimchi, the seaweed, the steamed rice, the turnip green soup (at least that is what it tastes like) were very good.  But, the marinated squid was excellent.     The man at our table is Hugh Thomas from Wales, UK.  He is the husband of Yang Hee.  He was notified the day we arrived here that he has been accepted into Oxford University to do post graduate work.  Fortunately for us, he will continue to live here and just travel to England a few times during his research.

After the services, Brother Choe, his daughter Yang Hee, Sheila, and I spent an hour as they shared their plans for our ministry.  The plan is to rent space in a building in Bongdong where Sheila and Yang Hee will teach young children several days per week.  On Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM Gene will lead an all English service at this new mission location.  This location will be in the modern high-tech town of Bongdong.  It is about 10 minutes east of the church.  Please pray for the right location to be made available for this work.  The room that had been considered has no bathroom, so Brother Choe will search again.   In addition, Sheila and Yang Hee have been invited to teach English 2 or 3 days per week in a local elementary school.  They went to a bookstore and bought books today.  We also hope to work with puppets.  If we understood correctly, they have never experienced puppets in ministry.  And, just imagine a Bongdong Bell Choir.  Yang Hee currently teaches 1st grade students in her apartment and has a mom's club with 6 ladies.

Yang Hee and students 

Apartments where Yang Hee teaches and where mission is planned.

After this part of the work is up and running, Brother Choe and Gene will begin having Bible study classes space already rented near the Wonkwang University.  This mission is in downtown Iksan and is about 20 minutes west of the church.   It consists of a room with a nice pulpit and about 25 chairs, a nice conference room (Bible study room), an office, restroom, and a small kitchen area.  Included in the titles/signs on the wall behind the pulpit is “Bible Training Institute” in very nice letters.  In both areas, there are many workers and students from other Asian nations.  It is hoped that we can reach these workers and then they can take the gospel home to their various nations.  

Wonkwang University 

Do pray that God will use us all as an effective team for his work to be accomplished.  

Sister Shin is a prayer warrior, rising hours before others every day and going into the church to pray.  She also drives fast, walks fast, - even Sheila has to hurry to keep up - imagine that.