Book ended in Prayer

Thursday, October 4, 2007

The day started at 5:30AM with a call to prayer. It came in the form of a bell ringing, echoing down the mountainside of Jesus Abbey. By 6AM everyone had assembled in the chapel for an hour of corporate prayer, which consisted of selected scripture readings woven into our time of intercession.

PRAYER Attic - Jesus Abbey

In the course of the day I journeyed back to Seoul by way of a 4 hour train ride. I reconnected with Dr. Kim (LEI’s Asia Director) for an evening meal along with Senior Pastor Kun Min Lee, (Global Literacy Mission Board member) and his lovely wife.

By 8:30PM the churches evening prayer meeting had begun. We concluded by 10PM. Our time together afforded me the privilege of preaching. I was honored to be invited to share, but felt a bit bad that I cut into the congregation’s intercessory time. I was told not to worry since most of the other nights of the week; the entire time was spent in prayer. Their schedule included corporate prayer time morning, noon and night, seven days a week.

Pastor Lee oversaw the growth of a 1,300 member church from a church plant 13 years prior. The pastor attributed all the growth to the power of prayer. Not only do they pray corporately three times a day. They have seven (7) prayer rooms, each with a specific focus which are intermittently filled 24/7. The prayer rooms themes includes prayers for physical and spiritual healing, prayers for missionaries, prayers for anointing and power, etc… We have so much to learn from our Korean brothers and sisters.

By 11PM Dr. Kim and I were catching a subway ride back across Seoul.

As my journey continued from Africa to Asia, from the languages of Kiswahili to Korean, the sweetness of the prayers flowed from a similar heart and Spirit. A spiritual geology formed in Christ followers was so evident. It was the same spiritual formation I experienced from one continent to another.

Jesus Abbey [Prayer Mountain]

Jesus Abbey is an intentional Christian community in the Taebaek Mountains of Kangwondo, South Korea. There are about 30 adult members and 30 novices and postulants (members in training) and 30 children. The community has been in existence for 42 years with the primary purpose of engaging in intercessory prayer for the nation, for the church, for the world. In addition to praying for LEI efforts around the world, they have also faithfully supported literacy missions through the following:

• Providing facilities to hold LEI teacher training workshops.
• Sponsoring LEI missionaries, Gloria and Gamaliel Kim in their work in Mongolia.
• Visiting and encourage the same.
• Providing a place of renewal and solace.

We at LEI consider ourselves very blessed to be connected to this Christian community in the mountains of South Korea.

October 3, 2007

During my brief stay at Jesus Abbey, Jane Torrey introduced me to Pastor Lim Young Su. After serving 10 years at Young Nak Presbyterian Church (10,000+ members), God lead Pastor Lim to start an intentional Christian Community (Mosegol.org) based upon Revelation 21:5 “I am making Everything New”. I mentioned to him that the picture of heaven that precedes Rev. 21:5 was one of my favorite passages. I asked if the rise in intentional communities around the world was one of the last works of God’s Spirit to prepare the bride for the bridegrooms return. This led to an animated and lengthy response.

It also led me to ponder how LEI might leveraging our facilities to provide space for an intentional community, steeped in prayer, that would be used by God to raise up missionaries for literacy missions.

May God give us creative insight as to how His Spirit is leading.

Pastor Lim left me with an invitation to preach at his community the next time I’m in Korea. So noted…

Red Crosses

After a three day journey to Seoul Korea from Kenya, which was originally planned to take only18 hours, I was back on the road again. This time I was weaving through the mountains of South Korea. My LEI associate and Director of Asia, Dr. Kim, and I were headed East to Chuncheon city, the location of the LEI Asia office and the office of Global Literacy Mission. Even though I was very tired from the long weekend of travel, my heart was lifted as we drove through the night. Spotted across the dark landscape were bright red crosses seemly everywhere. Dr. Kim indicated that they signified churches. What an incredible testament to the Christian community in Korea, shining brightly in the night.

My father (a former missionary to Korea) made a cross with red lights when I was a boy. It was tradition to hang it prominently over the garage at the top of our driveway during the Christmas season. The tradition continues to this day. And after all these years, now I understand the meaning of the red cross. It was as if to say, we stand with the Korean church. We are your brothers and sisters in Christ. We stand with you in proclaiming the message of the cross.

I was only 5 years old the last time I was in Korea (45 years ago). But upon my recent visit seemed strangely familiar.

The Same Geology

September 26, 2007

What a joy to travel to Machakos (S.E. of Nairobi), to see Rhoda from the 2007 Tulsa International Literacy Training Institute. She was working with Free Pentecostal Fellowship of Kenya facilitating a three day Teacher Training Workshop. The class consisted of 35 students from 29 churches. Their practice included using basic readers in either Maasai, Kiswahili or KaKamba.

Here’s Rhoda demonstrating the LEI teaching method.

Rhoda and her colleagues are using a unique blend of Micro Finances and Literacy. The micro loans are actually generated through the pooling of funds rather than receiving outside investments. They’ve found that as small businesses have sprung up, there is a natural demand for literacy programs. It’s a creative blend.

I was privileged to encourage the class during a time of devotion...

As Joseph Matheka (Director of Partners in Literacy Ministries) and I walked along the road from the outskirts of Machakos back into town to catch a bus to Nairobi, I couldn't help but notice that East Africa has stand stone and limestone deposits much the same as the great plains of North America. This similar geology struck me as a larger pattern of God’s design. His handiwork spans the globe with a familiar beauty. As we walked I shared this observation with Joseph. Even as I shared I began to realize that there is similar spiritual geology which has formed around the globe through the work of Christ.

On the other side of the world, whether in Africa, Asia or the Americas the beauty of God’s DNA is evident in those who have chosen to follow Jesus. We are brothers and sisters instantly bonded together through our common faith, our common leader. What a beautiful thing to behold, the unity in Christ Jesus.

On the African Railway

This is my new friend and brother in Christ, Pastor Paul - NEW LIFE RESTORATION CHURCH.

Stretching from the Indian Ocean westward through Kenya to Uganda into the very heart of Africa, the African Railway connects half a continent. It also runs through the middle of a Nairobi slum by the name of Kibera. It’s estimated at 1 million residents and growing. The population includes migrants from rural areas seeking jobs and a better life. Most are disappointed. Others include refugees from Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Students @ Restoration Academy

At the edge of the Kibera slums is the “NEW LIFE RESTORATION CENTRE and Academy which is both a church for the community and a school for 230 grade school children. It is run by Pastor’s Paul & Grace Mbithi. They report “We look forward to starting adult education programs in our church for the illiterate people in the Kibera community.” Using the LEI method, now the parents will be learning to read along with their children.

May God continue to smile on their work and witness.