교회 설립 46주년을 맞이하며 열렸던 선교대회는 대회가 끝난 이후 많은 생각을 우리에게 남겼습니다. 봉사자로 와서 힘을 다해 섬겨 주신 성도님들은 감동 그 자체였습니다. 봉사자들의 그 진심이 선교사님들의 마음에도 그대로 전해지면서, 서로 처음 보는 선교사님들의 마음이 활짝 열리게 되어 치유와 회복, 그리고 영적 재충전의 기회가 되었습니다.

선교대회를 시작할 때 “목사님, 무엇을 기획하고 계십니까?” “어떤 방향으로, 어떻게 드라이브를 걸까요?” “선교대회를 통해서 이루고자 하는 목표는 무엇입니까?” 등 다양한 질문이 쏟아졌습니다. 그때마다 저의 대답은 “저는 잘 모릅니다. 분명한 것은 팬데믹 이후 지쳤던 선교사님들이 잘 쉬었다 가셨으면 좋겠습니다.”였습니다. 선교사님들이 함께 모이면 하나님께서 틀림없이 뭔가를 하실 것이라는 확신이 저에겐 있었습니다. 개인적으로 큰 행사를 준비하면서 단지 ‘쉼’을 위해서만 행사를 준비해 본 적은 없었던 것 같습니다. 그러나 이번에는 제가 의도한 바대로 드라이브를 거는 것보다는 그냥 하나님이 하실 일에 대한 기대만을 가지고 조지아 땅을 밟았습니다.

선교대회를 마치면서 이번 대회에서 제일 인상에 남는 3가지는 무엇이었는지를 물었을 때, 선교사 아빠, 엄마를 따라온 초등학생 요엘은 갑자기 “썬키스트 오렌지요.”라고 말했습니다. 저는 무슨 말인지 못 알아듣고 “썬키스트?”라고 되묻자 “목사님이 설교 중에 썬키스트 오렌지 얘기하셨잖아요.”라고 대답하는 것이었습니다. 두 번째 인상에 남는 것도 다른 목사님 설교에서 나온 이야기였습니다. 함께 앉아 식사하던 선교사님들도 고개를 끄덕이시며 요엘의 대답에 놀라워했습니다. 어린 요엘에게는 이번 선교대회 때 예배가 제일 좋았다는 것입니다. 한 선교사님은 “지난 10년간 저 혼자만 일하고 있었다고 생각했는데, 이번 선교대회의 주제인 “Go Together!” 구호를 보면서 혼자가 아니라는 것을 깨달았어요.”라고 하셨습니다. 그 옆자리에 앉아 계셨던 선교사님은 “저도 선교한 지 10년이 되었는데 선교대회에 참석해본 적은 없었습니다. 아무런 기대 없이 왔는데 선교대회는 마치 선교 AI(Artificial Intelligence, 인공지능) 같았습니다. 궁금한 내용을 그 자리에서 바로바로 정확히 대답해주는 시간이었습니다.”라고 눈물을 글썽거리며 고맙다고 하시는데 제가 더 감동하였습니다. 어떤 선교사님은 “저는 지난 20년 동안 안식년 한번 못하고 달려왔는데, 한 번도 만나 보지 못했던 선교사님들과 이 자리에서 친해지고 마음을 나눌 수 있어서 저도 놀랐습니다. 베델이 이런 신뢰할만한 플랫폼을 만들어 주셔서 정말 감사합니다.”

선교사님들의 소감을 이 지면에 다 실을 수는 없지만, 제가 생각하지 못했던 방법으로 하나님은 하나님의 일을 하셨습니다. “베델교회 설립 46주년에 이런 대회를 한 것이 신기했습니다. 대개 50주년, 60주년 이렇게 숫자가 딱 떨어지는 해에 선교대회를 할 법도 한데 말입니다. 이번 선교대회에 참석하지 않았더라면 저는 선교를 포기할 뻔했습니다.”라며 이번 선교대회는 본인을 위한 대회였다며 감사를 전하신 선교사님도 계셨습니다. 이 모두가 하나님의 은혜요, 베델교회 성도들의 기도의 열매였습니다.

2022 Bethel Missions Conference Review

Rev. Bryan Kim

As we are commemorating the 46th anniversary of our church, there are many lessons we reflected upon at the missions conference. The wholehearted service of all our church members at the conference was the very definition of what it means to be deeply moved. Their wholeheartedness was clearly expressed to the hearts of the missionaries. With every encounter with the missionaries, we were greeted with open hearts. And through it all, there was healing and rehabilitation. It was an occasion for spiritual revival and refreshment.

As we began the missions conference I was flooded with a variety of questions such as, “Pastor, what is your vision?” “Which way, and in what direction should we press forward?” “What are the goals you plan to achieve through this mission conference?” Each time, I answered, “I am not quite sure. But for certain, after the exhaustion of getting through the pandemic, it would be best to give the missionaries a chance to get fully rested before they return.” I knew, without a doubt, that as long as we gathered all the missionaries together, God would surely do something grand. On a personal note, as I prepared an extensive program, it was not my intention to plan a full program of only “R&R” (Rest and Relaxation). And so, this time, instead of driving ahead with my solely own objectives, I stepped on the grounds of Georgia with an expectation of what God would do.

During the mission conference closing banquet, I asked what were the three things that had left the greatest impression. A young elementary school studen named Joel, who attended the trip with his missionary parents answered, “Sunkist oranges!” I had no idea what he was talking about and so asked, “Sunkist?” He answered, “Pastor, you talked about Sunkist oranges in your sermon, remember?” His second response was from something another pastor has said in during his sermon. All the other missionaries dining at this table laughed together and could not help but be amazed by his responses. To this young child, Joel, his most enjoyable time there was clearly the worship services. Everyone was in agreement. Another missionary said, “I thought I was all alone in this for the last 10 years. But I realized that I am not alone when I saw the theme ‘Go Together!’” And again, the missionary who sat next to him said, “I, too, was in the mission field for ten years, and never attended a conference like this and so I did not expect much. But, the conference was much like an all-knowing A.I. on missions. All the questions I had were answered most accurately.” He thanked me with tears glistening in his eyes, but I was the one who was moved to tears by his comments. And lastly, one other missionary expressed, “I have charged ahead these last 20 years without taking one sabbatical. I am quite surprised to be able to sit down together and open up to other missionaries that I would never have been able to meet. I am so grateful to Bethel for arranging this platform that we can rely upon.

All of the other missionaries’ impressions cannot be fully expressed here, but what is certain is that God worked out His plan precisely in ways I could not have imagined. The extraordinary fact is that this conference was held during Bethel Church’s 46th anniversary. This would be something you would expect from the 50th anniversary. If it were not for this conference I may have given up on missionary work altogether.” In addition to this, the missionary expressed his heartfelt gratitude and explained that he felt this conference was truly meant for him. The entire conference was truly built upon the Grace of God and upon the fruit of the prayers lifted up to God by the faithful members of Bethel Church.