|
December 2, 2001
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I send you greetings and Christmas joy from here in Korea, where
I’m in my second year of working with the members of the
Women Ministers Association (WMA) of the Presbyterian Church of
Korea (PCK). I am very happy to here serving as a missionary with
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I have the benefit of being
a Korean-American, and that helps my ministry be more effective.
The WMA now has more than 1500 members, the majority of which
are "Jundosa," that is, they are not ordained ministers.
Since the PCK began to ordain women in 1996, some 306 women have
been ordained by the Fall Presbytery. Women must still struggle
to survive in the male-dominated society in Korea, especially
in church. I believe we’re only just beginning and are now
in a transitional stage, working toward the goal of equal partnership
of male and female in the faith community.
For example, in the 2000 General Assembly of the PCK, two females
(an elder and a minister) were elected to be commissioners. In
the General Assembly of 2001, two female elders participated among
1,500 male commissioners. The women ministers have started late,
and their situations are very difficult in many ways. However,
they want to find survival skills and learn to grow. We have planned
a continuing education program for them. I arranged part of their
program with Professor Sang Hyun Lee at Princeton Theological
Seminary. Praise the Lord! Dr. Lee will provide them summer courses
and room and board for a week. Therefore, in the middle of July
2002, some of our ministers will participate at Princeton Seminary.
After that (July 29, 30) we plan to visit national staff of the
PC(USA) at the Louisville offices, if possible.
Beside empowering women ministers, WMA opened a "Good News"
shelter in March 2001. This shelter is for the victims of domestic
violence. I work there as a counselor for battered women. It is
a family setting at the WMA building. Even though there are many
gigantic churches, they do not have the heart for ministries to
battered women. There is an Extra Commitment Opportunity for this
ministry (ECO # 051661). Everywhere marginalized people are suffering
and need help. Since my professional field is social work, my
field of ministry was expanded to work for the Sister’s Welfare
Center. This is the shelter for the victims of domestic violence
and is also located in the Gimpo area.
My schedule usually involves meeting with victims going through
a crisis. On top of all the crises I deal with on a daily basis,
the terror of September 11 was too much to take. Since Korea is
13 hours earlier than New York, it happened here in the evening.
I was just about to go to bed and I saw the news and stayed in
front of the television. I couldn’t believe what I watched.
I couldn’t do anything. I wanted to call to find out about
the safety of my family, but the line didn’t work. All three
of my son’s families used to live in Manhattan. The oldest
son Sam’s family moved to New Jersey not long ago. But David’s
and Joseph’s families live in the city. I was especially
concerned for David’s wife Janine, who works in the building
next to the World Trade Center. I was sitting all night in front
of the TV. It seemed like a long time afterward that I got a call
saying that all were safe. Janine she saw the plane crash as she
just about to walk into her building. While I sat in front of
the television alone and watched and heard the news all night,
I thought about our human life and the life of missionaries who
are apart from their loved ones. We won’t be able to be with
them. Especially when they need us. In the midst of deep prayer
and meditation, I felt so warm and comforted and embraced closely
by the grace of our Lord. We are all one in Jesus Christ, whether
we are dead or alive, physically together or apart. I praise the
Lord.
My Lord called me to follow Him humbly to make the wounded whole
and to heal the sin-sick soul. I was singing from my heart. I
thank God to be involved in a ministry of healing.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul
Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
In spite of hardship through the year 2001, God blessed my family
abundantly. I received my D.Min degree from New York Theological
Seminary in May 2001. Sam and Jade have another child this year.
Sofia is 2 years old, loves music, and is so very smart, according
to her parents. Christian is 4 months old and was christened on
Thanksgiving Sunday. David works at PEI Architects, and for three
years they were a weekend couple due to Janine’s school.
Now they are reunited. Janine received her JD from Yale Law School
this May and passed the bar exam. Joe and Janice are a beautiful
couple too. Joe is an investment analyst and Janice is a writer
and a graduate school student in Manhattan. My husband K.J. Bae’s
unconditional love and support made me to reach mission work gracefully.
K.J. works as a senior chemist at WITCO chemical company.
Thanks to all of you for the prayer and support. In this Christmas
season of the year, the Peace of Christ be with you all. Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Sook Hee Bae
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 181
|
