A few weeks ago, I was told by my Indonesian co-worker that a Korean businessman was ready to resign from his work and be trained for full-time Christian service.
I knew this Korean brother. He was probably in his late forties or early fifties. He is a successful businessman in Indonesia for over twenty years. He has three teenage kids studying in Singapore. He is faithfully serving as a deacon in his Korean church in Indonesia.
When I heard this news, I wasn’t surprised. Firstly, he had always wanted to serve God. Secondly, he was Korean! There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is working among the Koreans today.
Just a few decades ago, Korea was considered to be a Buddhist/Confucianist country. Today, the population of Korea is one third evangelical Christians and Korea is the second largest missionary sending country in the world (USA has sent 46,000 missionaries, Korea 16,000, Britain 6,000).
But these figures don’t tell the whole story because the amazing fact about Korean missionaries is not their numbers but rather their willingness to go wherever they feel that the Lord has led them.
I’ve often been surprised to find them in places that I thought no missionaries could enter, eg. a tiny remote village in Indonesia. In every Asian country, Korean missionaries have already entered and are busy in ministry.
When staunch US allies were afraid to send their troops into Afghanistan, Korean missionaries were determined to find ways and means to get in. Well over a thousand Korean Christians have been deported from Afghanistan in the past few years.
In China, especially northern China, you will find large numbers of Koreans studying in Chinese universities and numerous small Korean businesses.
And when you get to know these Koreans a little better you will discover that many of them are really missionaries using these “covers” to get into China and to reach Chinese people. I’ve not been to Russia or Eastern Europe but I’m told that they are also there in large numbers.
Korean Christians are willing to do anything, learn any language, make huge sacrifices and take scary risks to serve their Lord. This is so encouraging in a world of soft, selfish Christianity.
So when I heard that my Korean friend was leaving his business to enter the ministry, I wasn’t surprised. In fact, I thought that he was all along a missionary serving under the cover of business!
As we enter hostile communities, may God help us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves – and bold as Koreans!
The shock of everything is now starting to sink in and the dust is starting to settle some.
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a step further makes difference.. thank you for these dear brother, who are willing to leave his comfort zone, just like what our master did; and be our Master’s servant. I hope we can find the same way in all christians of today..
Amen…!!!!
i pray for Afghanistan people and for the missioners. if the will of God i want to came Afghanistan towns & to pray & to serve my Lord Jesus Christ