Reflecting on Thirty Years of Mission Work in Africa

 

Reflecting on Thirty Years of Mission Work in Africa

Author: Pastor Park Ok-soo (Good News Gangnam Church)

In August 1994, during my first visit to Africa, I preached the Word to Kenyans gathered in a large stadium. Seeing these poor people give offerings even on empty stomachs just to be blessed, my heart was filled with an earnest desire to preach the gospel to them. I wanted to arrange everything and go to Kenya immediately.

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I Came Here to Show the Kenyans That God Is Alive

In November 1994, we sent two missionaries to Kenya. At that time, Kenya did not have a religious licensing system, and religious activities were not allowed. The General Superintendent of the large denomination in Kenya, Bishop Gitonga, allowed our missionaries to operate under their denomination. In August 1995, when I visited Kenya again, I met Bishop Gitonga for the first time.

Before meeting him, I had heard from our missionaries that Bishop Gitonga was demanding money from us as the price for allowing our mission activities. If we refused, he would claim that our missionaries did not belong to their denomination, and they would be deported immediately.

I told the two missionaries,
“You have come to Kenya according to God’s will—who can drive you out?”

Then I went to meet Bishop Gitonga. At that time, more than ten pastors were present. Bishop Gitonga said:

“I am very honored and grateful to meet the famous Pastor Park Ok-soo.
The two missionaries sent by the Good News Mission are excellent, and we have a very good relationship.
Now, by the grace of God, we are building a sanctuary and need 350,000 dollars.
Also, we are helping the poor and need 150,000 dollars.
I hope the pastor will pray for this and provide some support.”

We didn’t have that much money, and even if we did, I didn’t intend to give it. So I said:

“I did not come to Kenya to give money.
I came here to show the Kenyan people that God is alive.
We will obtain the religious license.
No matter who opposes it, we will get it,
and I will show everyone clearly that God is alive.”

I testified before the people present about how God had helped us. After that, I left and went to the countryside town of Migori, where I preached the gospel in the marketplace. People listened attentively and were very grateful.

During this time, the police came to arrest our missionaries to deport them. But since they weren’t at the church, the officers took a young man who was guarding the church. This young man’s grandfather, Mr. Mugawana, was a high-ranking official. He had read my book, been deeply moved, and had opened his heart to us.

When this happened, he prepared all the documents needed for our religious license application and submitted them to the Registration Department. A few months later, in March 1996, we miraculously obtained the religious license. This was a precious gift from God.

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After That, Bishop Gitonga Devoted Himself to Supporting Our Work

In 2012, I visited Kenya to attend the graduation ceremony of Mahanaim Bible College, operated by our mission. Bishop Gitonga also came. He apologized to me, and I invited him to join us in the work. Since then, Bishop Gitonga began wholeheartedly supporting everything we did.

At the 20th Anniversary Ceremony of African Mission in 2014, Bishop Gitonga said to the people:

“I will follow Pastor Park Ok-soo, and I ask all of you to follow me.
Then Kenya will be blessed.”

Recently, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of African mission work, I visited Kenya again. Before countless gathered people, I preached the gospel that “the blood of Jesus washed away our sins and made us righteous,” and I testified about the God who “loved us and sent Jesus to save us from destruction.”

The reason we shrink back and fail to overcome difficulties is because we cling to our own thoughts. When we think upon the Word of God, light enters our hearts and drives out fear and worry. When God works, difficulties turn into thanksgiving. When God is with us, we can overcome any hardship.

I give thanks to God, who is powerfully accomplishing the work of the gospel throughout the world.

 

回顾始于三十年前的非洲宣教

 

作者：朴玉洙（好消息江南教会牧师）

 

1994年8月，在第一次访问非洲时，我在一个大型运动场上，给聚集在那里的肯尼亚人传讲了话语。看到这些贫穷的人们为了蒙福，就算饿着肚子也要奉献，我心里充满了殷切地想要给他们传福音的心。我很想收拾好一切，前往肯尼亚。

 

我来这里，是想向肯尼亚人表明，神是活着的

1994年11月，我们把两名宣教士派到了肯尼亚。当时肯尼亚没有宗教许可证，是不允许进行宗教活动的。那时，肯尼亚的大教团总会长吉通加牧师让我们的宣教士从属于他们教团进行活动。1995年8月，我再次访问肯尼亚时，第一次与吉通加牧师见了面。见面前，我通过我们的宣教士听到吉通加牧师跟我们索要钱财，作为允许我们进行宣教活动的代价。如果我们拒绝他的要求，他就会说我们的两名宣教士不属于他们的教团。那么，他们马上就会被驱逐出境。我对两名宣教士说：“你们是奉神的旨意来肯尼亚的，谁能赶走你们呢？”然后，我去见了吉通加牧师。当时，现场有十多名牧师。吉通加牧师说：

“能够与有名的朴玉洙牧师见面，我感到非常荣幸，也非常感谢。好消息宣教会派来的两名宣教士非常出色，我们的关系也非常好。现在蒙神的恩典，我们正建造圣殿，需要35万美元。同时，我们还在周济贫民，需要15万美元。希望牧师为此祷告，并提供一些帮助。”

我们本来也没有这么多钱，就算有，我也不想给。我说：

“我不是来给肯尼亚送钱的。我来这里，是想向肯尼亚人表明，神是活着的。我们会取得宗教许可证的。不管是谁反对，我们都会得到，我要让所有人都清清楚楚地看到，神是活着的。”

我向在场的人讲述了神是如何帮助我们的。之后，我从那里出来，去了乡下的米古里，在集市上向人们传讲了福音。人们都侧耳倾听，特别感谢。

在这期间，警察为了把我们的两名宣教士驱逐出境，到教会来抓他们。但宣教士不在教会，他们就抓走了看守教会的一位青年。这位青年的爷爷——穆加瓦纳先生是一位高级公务员，他读了我的书，深受感动，向我们敞开了心扉。当发生这件事时，他为我们准备了申请宗教许可证的所有材料，并提交给了注册科。几个月后，1996年3月，我们奇迹般地得到了宗教许可证。这是神赐给我们的宝贵礼物。

 

此后，吉通加牧师全身心地为我们所做的事提供帮助

2012年，我访问了肯尼亚，参加了我们教会运营的“玛哈念神学院毕业仪式”。当时，吉通加牧师也来了。他向我道了歉，我邀请他和我们一起同工。此后，吉通加牧师开始全身心地为我们所做的事提供帮助。在2014年非洲宣教二十年纪念仪式上，吉通加牧师对人们说：

“我会跟随朴玉洙牧师，也请大家跟随我吧。这样，肯尼亚就会蒙福。”

不久前，正值非洲宣教三十年之际，我再次访问了肯尼亚。我在聚集的无数人面前，传讲了“耶稣的血洗净了我们的罪，使我们成义”的福音，讲述了“深爱着我们，为了把我们从灭亡中拯救出来，派遣了耶稣”的神。

我们之所以畏畏缩缩，战胜不了困难，是因为固执己见。如果思考神的话语，光就会进到我们心里，驱散担心和忧虑。只要神作工，就能将困难变成感谢。神与我们同行，就能战胜任何困难。将感谢献给“在全世界范围内，有力地成就着福音工作”的神。