MISSIONARY PRAYER LETTERS
Serving the Lord in Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda
Rev. and Mrs. Kyung Soo Kim
IBPFM Missionaries
Prayer Letter, November 2019
Dear Co-Laborers in the Lord,
Greetings from East Africa in the precious Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It has been quite a long time since our last letter. We trust that you are well in the Lord. By the grace of God through your prayers, we are well and serving the Lord. We will share with you the things that God has done recently.
Bible College of East Africa
Bible College of East Africa continues to grow by His grace. This academic term began with 82 students in Kenya, 20 in Tanzania, and 65 in Rwanda. Due to a number of reasons (finances, family issues, etc.) several students discontinued their studies. Of special concern is one Congolese student on our Rwanda campus who was unable to return due to civil unrest at the border. The homes of his family and the family of his BCEA classmate were burned down in the midst of the violent conflict. We do ask for your prayers for him and for all of our students – for their safety, for God’s special grace during their training, and for their future ministries.
In August, the BCEA Alumni Association held its 7th Alumni Conference (pictured above) at the Nairobi campus. About 80 alumni took a few days away from their ministries and gathered for a time of fellowship at their alma mater. The theme of this year’s conference was “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). For five days and four nights, we were blessed as the Word was taught by BCEA faculty and alumni, and news was shared of what God has done in and through the ministries of those who have gone through BCEA. We ask for your continued prayer for BCEA graduates. May they hold to the Word as they serve Him faithfully and be used mightily as precious instruments for the progress of the Gospel.
Library Books
Library books arrived safely at BCEA-Rwanda. Thanks to your prayers. Our book drive for the library began in May, and the books which God gathered so rapidly have already arrived on the BCEA campus in Kigali. We praise God for the great work He has done in just four months and for bringing all 12,000 books safely from the USA to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and across the border into Rwanda through various customs points. The books so generously sent by Far Eastern Bible College in Singapore have also arrived safely in Kenya, ready to be brought into Rwanda. We praise God for His miraculous provision. As soon as the books are organized and digitized and our facilities upgraded, we will apply for accreditation by the Higher Education Council in Rwanda. This process is imperative for us to operate legally in this country, and to meet the stringent education requirements that pastors now face prior to entering ministry. We ask for your special prayers for the accreditation process to go smoothly.
Urgent Prayer Needs
We are in urgent need of your prayers. Without the assistance that God provides through your prayers, we are unable to accomplish even the smallest of plans. Only prayer makes possible all things – whether those things that can be explained or even those things that cannot be explained with words. We do ask for your continued prayer for the ministry of BCEA. May He lead many who are called and faithful to this place, and may they use their time here to be equipped as effective ministers of the Gospel. We praise God for continued prayer and support, and pray alongside you that He will provide for all your needs.
Serving the Lord in Kenya and Korea
Eun-Young Bai
IBPFM Missionary
Prayer Letter, November 2019
Greetings in the Name of the Lord. I am thankful for your prayers and support, and would like to share my furlough experience here in my home place, South Korea.
A Stranger In My Hometown
For the first six months since coming back to my (South) Korean home, I felt like a foreigner to this place. Those years that I stayed away on the mission field were enough to make me different from the people in my hometown. Meanwhile, many things in this part of the world have changed, too. So, even before I have fully introduced myself, people easily notice that I am from somewhere far away, just by hearing my “Hi”. How? I don’t know. I had to work on narrowing down the gap between the changes in the place and in me. Anyway, it took more or less about six months before things like people, places, bus numbers, shops, and social issues began to make sense to me, and I could tell what to do with them. This experience makes me imagine the cultural shock that senior missionaries possibly go through as they retire from their service on the foreign field, and go back “home”. On the other hand, with the experience of changes even in a community, I understand better what to value in this life. The Bible says “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Is. 40:7, 8)
Teaching the Korean Language
Let me be more specific. In the city of Busan, where I am staying with my parents, there are an increased number of foreigners living, working, or studying. For example, when I stand at the bus station to get the bus to go home, I get confused as to whether I am in Korea or somewhere else because of the large number of foreigners from South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, South America, and so on, who are waiting for the bus together. Indeed, this was very rare just a few years ago.
While at home I hoped to use my time to be updated about ministries in the church, especially for the ministry of Sunday school and Junior Youth fellowship. One Sunday, I saw a written announcement in the church bulletin where my mother attends, saying someone was needed to help with multi-cultured families in the church. Though it was not exactly what I wanted, any opportunity to serve and learn was precious; on the other hand, I understand that one learns while doing. So, I contacted the number in the bulletin and they welcomed me. They placed me with a Vietnamese Congregation in the church. They have about 40 Vietnamese who married Korean university or factory workers in the city of Busan. They worship in their own language. I was saying in my heart, “Lord! Isn’t this too far from what I wanted? Why am I in a ministry with a Vietnamese congregation while I am in Korea?” Imagine, I have to be there while understanding nothing. But, it did not take long for me to realize that not all of them are Christians, even though they come to the Sunday worship service. What happens is that they come to the worship service, and then they hear the gospel, are converted, and become committed. I was even given a chance to conduct a Korean language class as a program offered after the service. Personally, I know what it means to be living in a foreign country and learning a foreign language. This made me feel close to these Vietnamese (there are up to five, the number varies every Sunday) in my Korean class. I was thankful that they enjoy learning with me. Some even record my voice while I read for them. They comment that my Korean has a good intonation and pronunciation.
Well, things in this part of the world have changed so that even my own language can be used as a contact point to meet unbelieving foreigners to share the gospel. Eventually, one Sunday afternoon, one of them asked in the Korean language, “Teacher, what makes the difference when one believes in God?”
Christians in North Korea
An issue that captured my attention was the changing attitude about North Koreans staying in South Korea. It is well known how they risked their lives to run away from North Korea to arrive in the South. One day, there was a story in the news-media about a mother and her child found dead in their house. There was no food in the house, nor a balance in their bank account. They were from North Korea and starved to death in the middle of the city where they came to live at the risk of their lives. Many commented on this case, but everyone agreed that it was just too heartbreaking. The case shows how hard it is for North Koreans to settle down in this land of liberty and democracy. Though they might differ in their political views and supporting parties, no South Korean denies that someday in the future, both Koreas should be united once again. We don’t know yet how and when. Interestingly enough, now that the denuclearization of North Korea is on the table as they talk with the USA, maybe sooner or later the barrier in between will be removed, and then we can find easy access into North Korea. If such a time comes, will there be Christians ready to share the gospel, or plant churches, and strengthen the believers there? In such a poverty-stricken and dictatorship-oppressed society, what things can be done to win them to Christ? Are there would-be missionaries for such a time and place? Are churches praying for North Korea as a mission field?
I am thankful for the experience that widens my view about Christian ministries. Thank you for your concern and love in Christ.
[P.S. Although she did not mention it, Miss Bai will be returning to Kenya by the end of the year, to take up her responsibilities at the Bible College of East Africa. (Rev Keith Coleman, Executive Director, Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, 1000 Germantown Pike Ste. B6, Plymouth Meeting, PA USA).]
