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Unforgettable, elder Min
Chapter 38 - Unforgettable, elder Min
 
Silicon Valley Open Door Church did not have floral decoration. If we did have some money for floral it would instead be used for scholarship or to help those in needs. But that doesn’t mean we had a decoration at all. In California, many flowers bloom during the seasons. The front stand was decorated with flowers that the church members who had houses had gathered. If someone was hospitalized or was in need of visit, the flower was used from there.

Christmas offering was used to help those in need. Easter offering was for scholarship, and finally Thanksgiving offering was sent as a special offering to the Great Commission Fund, in addition to the regular missionary offering. These ‘seasonal offerings’ would be very important to financially support our church, but this was the rare opportunity to use it for God’s works. Korean churches were able to be a big force in the mission’s field because of this DNA. This is possible because when the missionaries came to Korea to start churches and is growing. The early churches in Korea were all grateful. So during the Thanksgiving, a special offering was collected and sent to the denomination’s mission department. This is how early churches in Korea was able to sent missions to other countries. I learned all this while studying Korean church history. As a result, before Korean Independence we were able to send missionaries to USSR’s Vladivostok, China’s Shandong, and Manchuria. These early churches in Korea received many blessings from God.

All the special offering was sent to outside work. To be honest, it would unstabilize the church’s finance. But our church committee decided to use it for Mission and I give thanks to the committee members.

I now had to leave this church to the Lord and move to Fullerton to receive my job as the superintendant of Korean district of the C&MA. I had to find an apartment, in order to transit my position; I stayed at a motel for more than a week. But when Deacon YongJik Chun (who was a member when I had just started a new church in San Jose) heard my story and asked where the office was located. After a short time he called. He had found a motel near where I when I was going to be the new position. He had paid for a week’s worth of staying so he told me to go there in peace. Deacon Chun had graduated from UCLA and had found a job in Northern California. I had presided over his engagement ceremony. He and I still contact regularly. He was a great strength to me. I had a partner and a friend who could help and encourage me while I prepared to start a new job.

I had received my position as the Korean District superintendant but the job was all new. There were so many new jobs then I had expected. Concerning all the churches, examples would be appointing new pastors, committee meetings, ordination, regionally visitation, church problems, leadership training I got and teaching that, etc. At that time I had traveled back and forth about 150 days per year. Doing all this alone is not an easy task. I was getting trained by a faithful secretary pastor. But without the help of all the pastors from the denomination and all its churches, it would’ve been impossible. Some of the retired pastors would help during difficult times with helpful advises. I am thankful that all the pastors had always helped and that they had participated in the Great Commission Fund. I also give thanks to the churches that had helped faithfully fund the Korean District and its operation fund.

My denomination is the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA). It started in New York in 1887. Like the namesake, this was formed by the Christian’s and the missionary combined to focus on missionary and planting new churches. I give thanks to God that I am a part of this mission to be able to help grow his kingdom. The person who started is Dr. A.B. Simpson. He had spent his life to work in evangelism and wrote several hymns and many books. He had influenced greatly in 20th century missions – Faith Mission Movement, Student Volunteer Movement, and Bible College Movement. Dr. Simpson started the first Bible College in United States. The C&MA’s most famous theologian was Pastor A.W Tozer. Pastor Erwin Rutcher, who is in charge of the Moody Bible Church currently, which focuses on the centrality of the Gospel, is in the same denomination. When I was taking charge of the Korean district of C&MA, I saw how humbly Dr. Nanfelt served (who was the president of the C&MA while I was serving as the superintendant of the Korean District), along with Pastor Ralph Trainer, (in charge of Mission Mobilizing) finally church planting was in charge with Dr. Mikey Noel, who had a great passion for work of God.

When I look back from my job as the superintendant there is one person who I cannot forget. It is Elder HaSik Min who resides in Chicago. When I visited Chicago area Elder Min had helped greatly. He was a retired elder. Elder Min knew how pastor’s had busy schedules in Chicago area. He had volunteered to help me from the airport to visiting many churches around that area, all the meals, and back to the airport. He always encouraged me despite my lack of experience, and even helped save many of the funds in the C&MA. Even though he was elderly he was supportive, upright and very healthy.

I was in Chicago when September 11 happened in 2001. I was there to encourage and help many of the churches in Chicago. I had called some of the pastor’s who I could not meet personally. One of the pastors’ who had answered said “Superintendent, all the airports are shut down! Turn on the TV immediately!” (This was when I was heading back to California when I had called one pastor.) When I had turned on the TV I saw the World Trade Center was under attack by airplane, and all the chaos that ensued. A short time later Elder Min came and said to go to the airport despite the chaos. The airports were shut down as expected, and coming back, I had called the airplane company many times. It was impossible to get an airplane ticket. What’s more, all the rental cars were sold out, along with all the train tickets. So I had stayed in the hotel many days and went back to the airport back and forth. During all this time, elder Min had helped.

One thing I couldn’t forget was, despite all this Elder Min went to the Chicago Greyhound station. Knowing there would be no ticket available because people were swarming that place. We stood in the line after parking far away. We weren’t even sure a ticket was available to go to California. Even if a ticket was available, getting a rapid service would be impossible. Despite this, I was able to get a ticket and crossed 7 states in about 4 days to get to Los Angeles. Since he is the same age as my 2nd older brother he is about 80 years old. At that time he was already past 70 but he helped with a lot of sacrifice and gladness. He had helped so many times during my job as a superintendant. How could I ever forget a person like him?

A short time later the “Christian Herald, Korean Edition” wanted have a competition for 9/11 Memorial for poetry as an advertisement. I had a deep memory of the terrorist act and visiting my office during evening, spent about 2 hours to write this poem. The title is called ‘I Believe’.

(February 2011)
 
Number Title Reference
42 Epilogue
41 My Lord Yahweh-yireh
40 “Let us get married!”
39 Unforgettable, elder Min
38 We wish to stay at your place for a night Pastor!
37 You almost head to quit your pastor job!
36 Once again, a newly planted church
35 I’ll give you my credit card number.
34 I wish to be in a Bible Study!
33 Mrs. Ruth Brown and Elder JaeMyung Kim
32 “Confession of the Witness” Musical
31 When do you wish to have a worship service here?
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