(고 광철 조사님 가정 이야기)

LA의 고 광철 조사님이라는 분이 계시고 그 아들이 작년 여름에 이 노선과 말씀 때문에 신풍을 다녀 갔습니다. 그 동안 늘 개인적으로 대화가 있었고 지난 8 월에 사택의 이 영수가 LA 출장 갔을 때 LA의 대표적인 몇 교회를 찾아 볼 수 있도록 그 가정에 안내를 부탁했습니다. 그 가정에서 주일에는 숙식을 하는 등 안내를 받고 또 그 가정이 최근 출석하게 된 교회도 함께 가 보았습니다.

1984 년에 미국으로 이민을 갔고 간 지 얼마 되지 않아 설교록을 알게 되자 시카고에 있는 백 태영 목사님의 아들 백 광진 목사님 교회로 출석하려고 워싱턴에서 이사를 갔는데 막상 다녀 보니까 다른 진영과 같은 모습이 너무 보여 계속 다니지 못하고 LA로 왔고 LA에 있는 공회 교회도 비슷한 입장이어서 주로 가정 예배를 보고 지금까지 왔습니다.

그런데 4 명 자녀가 어려서부터 주로 가정에서 예배를 보고 재독을 하게 되니까 '집사'가 무엇인지 이름도 모를 정도여서 자녀들에게 교회 출석할 기회를 가져야 할 필요를 느껴 최근에 LA에서 그래도 제일 낫다고 느껴지는 교회를 출석했습니다. 그 교회가 '이 병규 목사님'의 동생이 목회하는 교회인데 우리 신풍 교회 옆에 있는 성광 교회 계통입니다. 이 용규 목사님이라는 분은 백 목사님 안수 때 김 현봉 목사님과 이 병규 목사님과 함께 안수 위원으로 오셨던 분입니다.
폴과 가족들이 그 교회를 출석하게 되자 바로 모두 여기 저기 책임자로 임명을 하고 그런다는 말을 들었는데 다음 편지는 폴이 그 교회 고등부 학생들을 가르친 이야기입니다.



(폴의 설교록 경험)

고등부 담당 목사님이 비어 10여 명 교사들이 돌아가면서 매주 금요일 저녁 모임 1시간 30분을 인도하는데, 첫 번째 담당한 여 교사는 다니엘서를 그룹 별로 맡겨 읽고 파악하게 한 다음 역할극을 맡겨 예를 들면 한 학생이 다니엘이 되고 다른 몇 명은 사자들이 되어 실제 모습을 펼친 다음 선생님이 내용을 요약했습니다. 4 그룹이어서 선생님의 설교 시간은 20 분 정도였습니다. 그런데 선생님의 설명 시간에는 자거나 장난을 치거나 휴대폰을 만지작거리면서 주의가 흩어졌다고 합니다.
그 다음 시간은 폴인데 한 주간 기도하고 걱정을 했는데 백 목사님 설교록 누가복음 은혜 받은 83 년 내용을 가지고 설교를 했는데 1 시간 30 분을 계속 설교를 했다고 합니다. 하나님께서 말씀을 전하는데 계속 은혜를 주셔서 자기는 그렇게 시간이 오래 갔는지도 몰랐고 몇 학생 외에는 전체 학생들이 잘 듣고 교사들과 책임자까지 은혜를 받더랍니다. 예배 후에 다른 교회를 다니면서 친구 따라 이 시간만 오는 학생 하나는 자기 교회 학생들도 함께 말씀을 듣고 싶다는 말을 했고 교사들과 지도자까지 모두 다 은혜 받은 말을 나눴다고 합니다. 백 목사님 설교의 은혜 면을 다시 한 번 느꼈고 자기는 이 설교가 처음이었으며 신앙의 큰 체험을 하게 되었다는 소식이었습니다.

누가 시간 있으면 해석해서 우리 교인들이 다 보게 해 주시면 고맙겠습니다.
누구든 상관없습니다.
그리고 편지 내용에는 다른 교회와 목사님 이름이 나오기 때문에 내용을 옮기면 안 됩니다.
이 병규 목사님 교회는 말씀에 대한 자존심이 남 다르고 그 동생 이 용규 목사님 역시 그렇습니다. 그런 교회와 목사님을 상대로 말씀 수준을 언급하고 비교하면 여러 분란이 생길 수 있습니다.







Hi Pastor Lee and Mr. Jung,

I wanted to share something with you guys.

Recently at the church that I go to, we had Youth Group teachers go around and take turns leading a Bible Study on Friday nights for the Youth Group(age ranges from 12-18, so 7th grade to 12th grade).  This is because we really don't have an actual full-time pastor who is in charge of the Youth Group.  Currently, we have a Deacon who is in charge of the Youth Group because the pastor who used to manage the Youth Group left our church(about 3 months ago).

Basically, he came up with the idea that all the Youth Group teachers should go around and take turns every week leading the Bible Study on Friday nights.  We have about roughly 10 teachers(I myself included).  

The Bible Study materials was basically whatever the teachers wanted to teach, so there really is no actual guidance from the deacons or pastors to check and see if we are teaching a material that is Biblical.  I know, this is very strange and should not be this way at a church....

Before it was my turn to lead the Bible Study, I went to see how the other teachers led the Bible Study.  I only saw one teacher doing it for myself.  The way she did it was, for a time span of about 1 hour and 30 minutes, she had the kids divide into 4 groups.  Then, she made them read different chapters from the Book Daniel so that they may discuss the chapter with each other.  Upon discussing and learning about the chapter, they had to perform a skit.  That is, basically performing the story in the front of the stage, like acting.  For example, one of the kids would act like Daniel while some kids would act like the lions.  

After a group performed a skit, that teacher would give a short summary of the chapter for about 5 minutes and the importance of that chapter.  Then the other group would go up and perform on the stage, and so forth and so on.

So in conclusion, the teacher probably taught and spoke for about a total of 20 minutes.  What I observed during this Bible Study was that during the time when the kids had the time to prepare for the skit, and when they actually performed and those who were watching them, kids were having a great time.  When she actually gave those short sermons, kids would be talking with their friends, play with their cell phones, fall asleep, etc...  Basically, they were not paying attention when the Word of God was being preached.  

Of course when I saw how the whole Bible Study was going about, I knew this was not the way it should be presented to kids.  After the Friday night Bible Study, on the following Lord's Day, I discovered something more amazing.  During my Bible Study class that I teach for the Sunday School, I asked my kids what they learned on the Friday night Bible Study.  To make a long story short, they said they really did not know.  Not just that, but they didn't even really know much about the simple story or outline of Daniel!  And these kids that I am teaching are 12th graders(ages 17-18).  So I was thinking if the older kids did not know what was really going on, I am pretty certain that the younger kids did not understand as well.  They seem to only remember how fun it was such as performing and watching the skits.

After that Bible Study on Friday night, it was going to be my turn(which I did last Friday, on October 3) to lead the Bible Study.  For that whole week, I was really stressed and pressured because it was going to be my very first sermon to a large group of crowds.  For the first few days, I was really struggling as to how I should lead the Bible Study.  Knowing the Paikian faith, there was simply no way I was going to lead a Bible Study that was similar to what the lady teacher did in terms of doing skit events.  

I first thought of re-teaching the sermons that I heard from our church from Senior Pastor Lee Young Kyu.  But I simply couldn't because I did not feel much blessing from his sermon(or really any of his sermons to tell you the truth).  

Then after much prayer and thoughts, I came to the conclusion that I will do a Bible Study that Rev. Paik Young Hee taught.  Of course I took extreme caution knowing that if my senior Pastor found out that if the sermon was from Rev. Paik Young Hee, he would not like it.  It was the sermon on Luke chapter 10:25-28, a sermon given in morning service on May 9, 1983.  I chose this because not only was I really blessed by it, but I felt that it was necessary for these kids to really know what it means to love God, neighbor, and yourself.  

On October 3, which was the Friday night Bible Study, after much prayer and realization of the sermon, I gave a sermon on this to the kids.  There were also teachers and the Youth Group leader deacon who was also in the chapel.  I did not really tell everything that I knew about the sermon, because I knew it would be too difficult for all of them.  But I adjusted in a way where it would not be too difficult but at the same time tried not to misinterpret the point of the message.  I simply told them what I realized from the Scripture of Luke 10:25-28.  

The sermon lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes.  I did not even realize I was speaking that long, but had to cut it short due to time constraint.  I mostly did the talking, but at times I interacted with the kids to make sure they were paying attention.  Like I would ask them questions, and etc...  

I realized several things after the Bible Study.  That prayer really works and is effective.  I really felt the presence of God being with me and all the kids.  I thought I would be nervous and not have much to say, but it was the exact opposite!  I felt the peace of God in my heart, and I couldn't stop talking.  

Another thing that I realized was that Paikian's method of faith, which my sermon was based on, is effective and powerful.  Usually, I know that kids cannot stand even for 20 minutes of sermon, but they were able to listen to the sermon for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.  I wouldn't say everyone were listening attentively, because there were some who were getting tired and sleepy, but most of them were paying attention.

After the sermon, I received many positive feedbacks from the kids, teachers, and the deacon.  One of the kids, who only comes to our church on Fridays and goes to a different church on the Lord's Day, said he really wanted to share this sermon with his church members.  One of the teacher said it was tough topic, but she said she enjoyed it for the most part.  The deacon said he really enjoyed the sermon from beginning to the end.

I know my email is really long, but the reason why I am mentioning all of this is to just let you guys know that I believe it is possible for Paikian's ministry to be evangelized to the Christians here in the United States.  I know I can't make any predictions based on this one incident, but I strongly do believe there are many capable believers who can receive the messages of the General Council.  

I am glad once again that I am part of this ministry.  I believe there is simply no better way to express our love to our neighbors than by distributing these messages of General Council to all the believers of U.S. and the world.

Paul Ko