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In memoriam, Reverend Han
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Chapter 22 - In the memory of Reverend Han
In memory of Reverend Han
After entering the seminary and moving to United States, I had started the Youth Born Again Mission and was in charge so I had attended the church but couldn’t directly volunteer. I had seen Reverend Han only once after immigrating to United States. I had greeted him during his visit to San Jose but could not see him after.
I read Reverend Han’s resume in the memorial service after he had passed away. About 2 years ago I had done a seminar titled “Reverend Han’s life and his influence on me” in San Jose New Hope Church. The writing below is a writing in memory of Reverend KyungJik Han and published by the San Francisco Korea Times titled “Reverend Han in Memory”
Reverend Han!
I had accepted Christ as my savior after listening to your sermon on the 2nd week of May, 1963. The hymn number 373 “Do you Know the World is Dying?” which was sung as a special hymn after your sermon, I always enjoyed singing that and listening to it because it reminds me of the grace God had given me. I had received a call from a former church member who was living in Oregon while I was preparing sermon for the Easter Sunday worship. “Reverend Han had passed away on Wednesday 1:15 in afternoon in local time.” I had cried so much after hearing that news. It was because he was my life’s savior and the one who had helped me find my path to life.
Reverend! I had lived about a year in despair after I had graduated high school and was working. My sister in law had recommended me to join worship service in the YoungNak Presbyterian Church. The week I went you had preached John 3:16 as the central message of “God’s Love”. After that sermon my cold heart started to melt. I had reason to believe that a brighter future and that God loves and values even a person like me. I had repented my sins and my wrong thought. I wanted to live a plentiful life for God.
After the service was over I had gone to the first floor of the Education Department to register when you held my hand and said “Young man! I hope your life turns around today.” Reverend! That was the point of turn for me at that time. When I had written a letter to you about my baby-step belief and having hard time you had set a more solid foundation with your hand written letter. I had prayed that day I would be able to evangelize like you. God had given me the opportunity to go into college and into seminary after I had returned from the military even thought it looked very difficult.
Reverend!
I respect you not because you are a great preacher or because you are a great educator. Your care of the young adults who had the future was different. I wanted to be like the example of bringing the best to the Lord in word and action. Whenever I see you I see the peace that the world cannot give, and the shepherds care for those who are hurt and in need healing. You made a department for the deaf and had made first Korean church for deaf. You had made several offering box for the poor students. You had taught the church and its members how to love like God with YoungNak Orphanage, Nursing home, and a welfare establishment for mothers and children.
Reverend! You have always been a humble person. When the things you have done for the church was announced during your retirement, you had replied “That is not true, all the work was done because God was willing, and you all also did, I had merely borrowed the name.” You had held the gospel more than church but the nation and had a goal of “500 million to the Christ!”
Reverend Han lived in simple yet in integrity. He didn’t have a house or even a bank account. But always had live in full, and shared as well. During the time of the young adult rural village movement after all the church members left during the fund raising you had approached us quietly and gave us funds and held our hands and encouraged us saying “you are doing great.” I still remember that sight.
Reverend had always stood in the church stairs after 1st Sunday morning worship at 7:00am. In rain or in snow you had waved in gladness at the church teachers and students who were arriving at 8:30 for the Sunday bible school. I have seen during winter time Reverend wear knitted gloves and not a leather glove and wore very old worn coat. I saw the simple life and the passion for the education that day.
I remember the events of the Q&A session with the young adults during the time of your retirement. “What is the one thing you regret during your time as our senior pastor?” was the question and after short time he said “My pastoring job was too busy and I regret not having enough personal evangelism and follow them to grow them in Christ” was his answer. That was a precious word for my ministry. The importance of one person, the feeling of a shepherd looking for a lost sheep, and the gladness of seeing that the Reverend had the same goal as what Jesus wanted.
Reverend, I still have in my bag the “YoungNak Layman’s Conference” and the lecture you had given. The reverend had given us a clear vision. A soul changes with Gospel and that change the society around us, and to change the nation as well. The central point was, Gospel driven faith (Bible centered), moderately solemn Puritan ethics –Devotional life practice, church relation ecclesiology – Cooperation movement (in respect with ecumenical), and realize a just society. The paper may be yellow and old but it still teaches me every day.
Reverend Han had taught me how live and to be a child of God through your sermons. You were a role model to live simple and the passion to preach the gospel, also teaching me that saving a soul was important.
Reverend!
I wish to run the path in fullness like you did in patience. I wish to love and teach a person in full like you did. A pastor with a vision to give, and living simple pure life, a faithful servant to follow your footstep and after see you in heaven.
Reverend! May you be in peace in God!
(January 2011)
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Moving back to San Jose 
In memoriam, Reverend Han