IncidentV; Encountered wiht the Jamsil Cemtral Church(News story from Christian news paper)
@A joint retreat between the Hyakunincho Church of UCCJ and the Jamsil
Central Church of Korean Presbyterian was held at Gotenba Youth Hostel
in Gotenba-city in Shizuoka Prefecture from August 10th
through 12th. A Sunday service on August 11th was
executed with both Korean and Japanese language, as titled gAllied Sunday
service with joint praying for the North-South Unification in Peaceh. This was
9th time of joint retreat.
In summer of 1979, Pastor Sung Ja Park made a
preach at the Hyakunincho. During lunch time having around her, some said, gWhy
not we can have a sister relation?h Then, the sister relationship was started.
Seizing this opportunity, junior and high school studentsf joint camp was
opened, other than a joint retreat. And also Korean language learning class was
opened in the Hyakunincho. Members in higher-grade class made a good progress
up to being able to translate a Korean preach. Those were put on the seasonal church
organ, gRobah.
Through mutual communication for more than 10
years, family exchange of both churches was deepened. During exchange, two
members of the Hyakunincho became able to interpret Korean to Japanese.
Participants were 11 persons from the Jamsil
and 40 from the Hyakunincho. 3 members of the Hyakunincho received baptism from
both Japanese and Korean pastors.
The retreat was programmed to address the theme of gvarious problems for
North-South unificationh, and a branch meeting was followed the theme.
Both church tried to find a way out of joint action up to gThe Year of
Jubilee of Peace and Unificationh in 1995.
Pastor Aso told, gI attempted to lead service by
both languages, and sung hymn as Japanese for first syllable, Korean for second
and both for third. I saw a strong impression welled up in participantfs heart,
since I believe we are sisters and brothers under the Load. This is exceptional
touching service we had ever. I wish to enlarge such a close friendship over to
Philippine, the Pacific Nations or others, and to mingle with any local people,
as planning to have an actual meeting.h
(Printed
from the Christ News Paper on September 14th, 1991. The title is gJapanese-Korean
Joint Retreat. A theme is North-South Unification.h)