An nyong ha sye yo?= Hello in Korean! My (Sal) first experince I can recall with a Korean were Korean-American I went to school growing up in St. Paul.
Then I encountered more of the Korean culture at UMM when I met adopttees, Korean Americans, and Korean int'l students through many activities at various college events (e.g. Asian Student Association).
Susan (Kor Am) and Young (Kor Int'l) having fun serving a Korean dish at the International Student Association Dinner in Winter Quarter of 1997
UMM has had pretty much an int'l student from Korea (eg. Yonsei Univeristy, a private "Christian" college that many students from Korea attend before coming here) every year since I attended UMM my freshmen year on 1995. One student from the summer of 2002 to the summer of 2003, shared some pictures from the DMZ (national geographic) similar to this, which I'm afraid to put in this website for security reasons.
Jun "Bug", Taeyoung, and Paul representing the Korean booth at the 2000 International Student Fair at UMM
Taeyoung and Me outside in the beautiful wintery Campus Mall
Another indirect relation experience is through shares and pictures from my sister, who had a life-time opportunity to visit South Korea. She went over there to visit her close friend, who was teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. A unique experience she had that some of my Korean friends has not had the opportunity to do is visit...
Cjeju Island
...It's like us "Americans" visiting Hawaii! This is an beautiful island in the southern part of South Korea for "honeymooners" and tourist. Please feel free to ask me to share some pictures my sister borrowed me from her trip there.
From my experience in my friendship relationships with Koreans that come study here, I've liked "kimchee" and love everything else of the Korean people ever since!
-Humanitarian Helping Hands Korea, from Family Care Production, a global ministry based in California "Helping Hands Korea (HHK), a Christian mission established in Seoul in 1990, launched its first endeavor to assist North Koreans in crisis in 1996, by providing famine relief to the northeastern portion of the impoverished nation, particularly to schools and orphanages. From 1998, HHK diversified its assistance activities to North Korea by giving special emphasis to direct aid for North Korean refugees in China and, in extraordinary circumstances, coordinating logistical support for their escape to third countries"
-Political North Korea, from Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama
-Testimonies What is God doing in North Koea?, from backtojerusalem "A North Korean escapee, who said that he fled his country because he was �starving to death� has issued an urgent prayer request to Christians around the world. �Please pray for a great revival in my country,� said the man, who asked only to be known as �Mr. Lee.� He went on, �I want every North Korean to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and only by God�s power is that possible. When I lived in North Korea, I never once heard about Jesus and so I know it will take a miracle for so many in my nation to be saved.� The North Korean said that he was an arts teacher in North Korea where his whole family�s income was only $1 US per month. �Back in 1996, I decided to make a trip by boat to China to sell some goods there so my family and I could survive,� he said. �When I went back to North Korea, I was arrested as a smuggler and sent to prison for a month.� He revealed that he then decided to try and go back to China and he succeeded and then something extraordinary occurred. �While I was in China, I met three missionaries from South Korea who traveled there as missionaries,� he explained. �They shared the Gospel with me and there and then I gave my life to Jesus Christ.� Eventually, he began the tortuous escape route that took him to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and then he was able to finally get to South Korea where he was welcomed with open arms. Still, he said he missed his family and was �mourning� for them, but as he�s grown in his faith, he said, �I was able to overcome my fears.� The North Korean now attends the Manmin Joong-Ang Church in Seoul and concluded by saying, �One day I want to become a minister.�-Assist News Service, May 2004
-Stores
Dong Yang Oriental Foods; Central Plaza 725 45th Ave. NE; Columbia Heights, MN 55421; 763.571.2009 "MN's Largest Korean Grocery Store & Cafe"
-Delicacy Wang Food
*I love the Sukina: Garder Congele Rice Cakes, which I bought at Kim's Oriental in N. Snelling Ave.; St. Paul
-Testimonies My Life So Far - by Peter Schmidt
Oct. 3, 2004 (Church of All Nations in Brooklyn Park, MN)
"Even now, I have many emotional problems I deal with on a day to day basis. I am uncomfortable around large groups of people. A combination of deep insecurity, paranoia, and drug use has damaged my memory and severely impaired the ability to create new memories. I have a hard time trusting people. I occasionally get aggressive and have a hard time controlling my temper. I also suffer from hallucinations, appetite problems, sleeping problems, and a host of other health issues. I used to smoke six packs a day, but I�ve been able to cut it down to one. I need God�s help to quit completely. All of my experiences since my teenage years have left me emotionally cold and physically weakened. But I�ve learned that you can�t live in the past. I now know that constant regret is a foolish waste of time and that I need to build on my past to create a better future.... ...I shared my entire life story with Pastor Jin, and then he asked me if I was a Christian. Having never gone to church or having any Christian family or friends, I did not really know what that meant. When he shared that God loves me for who I am, has loved me from my birth, and will love me to the end, I remember saying to Pastor Jin, �This is the good news I�ve always been waiting to hear.� He told me that his church needed people like me to be a part of the body of Christ. I remember thinking that that was the first time anyone had told me that I was important and needed. I prayed with him to accept Jesus Christ into my life and be born again. Even though my memory is not very good, I will always remember August 1, 2004 as my spiritual birthday when I became a Christian."
Arts
Koreana, magazine on rich cultural heritage on current artistic & cultural activities
"was an escalation of border clashes between two rival Korean regimes, each of which was supported by external powers, with each trying to topple the other through political and conventional tactics. In a very narrow sense, some may refer to it as a civil war, though many other factors were at play.[16] After failing to strengthen their cause in the free elections held in South Korea during May 1950[17] and the refusal of South Korea to hold new elections per North Korean demands, the communist North Korean Army assaulted the South on June 25, 1950. The conflict was then expanded by the United States and the Soviet Union's involvement as part of the larger Cold War. The main hostilities were during the period from June 25, 1950 until the armistice (ceasefire agreement) was signed on July 27, 1953..."
Korean War: in Color
"The Korean War known as The Forgotton War was fought over 50 years ago. Our young men fought and died as they are dying today in Iraq. Powerful anti-war statement."
Saints at War - "In Korea" Part 2
"This is truly a remarkable documentary"
Faith in War; Ryan's Story Part II
"It's hard to explain how war fits into God's plan or even how it can be any part of a plan designed by a loving a merciful God. It is probably best left for those who are scholars of God's Word like Pastor Ray Logan, a former military chaplain who counseled those during the Korean War to try and explain."
Honoring Korean War Veterans
"A news package about the Korean War Memorial in Plover, Wisconsin. Features Navy Veteran Robert Patrekis and his anecdotes on serving during this period in American history.
Done as part of Newschannel 7's Your Town Plover series.
Produced at WSAW Newschannel 7 in Wausau, Wisconsin. Written and voiced by Lauren Bergoyne, photographed and edited by Erik Cieslewicz."
"ST. LOUIS MO (ANS) -- Michael Oh faced two huge obstacles on his road to becoming a missionary and a seminary president in Nagoya, Japan. One was Japan’s legacy of imperialism in East Asia during the twentieth century. The other was the American Dream. But without either, he would not be where he is today.
Living Under Imperialism
His Korean family’s Christian roots go back five generations to the early
Michael Oh speaking at Urbana 09
Michael Oh speaking at Urbana 09 (photo by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA)
twentieth century; they were among the first Korean converts to Christianity. But when his father was born, Korea was under Japanese occupation. His father was given a Japanese name and was beaten when he spoke Korean.
As a grad student, studying anthropology and Japanese history, Michael discovered that the tensions he had felt in his family toward the Japanese were part of a much larger history. Japanese imperialism caused suffering that claimed millions of victims all over East Asia. One historian has calculated that as many as 30 million Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Cambodians, Indonesians, and others were slaughtered before and during WWII.
“As I learned that, the anger of the Korean people became my own,” he said as he gave his testimony at Urbana 09, InterVarsity’s student missions conference. “That anger threatened the ministry that the Lord had called me to lead in Japan.”
It was only after the Lord reminded him of the depths of his own sinful nature and the price that had been paid on the cross to redeem him that he was freed from that anger. “I knew then that I could claim no human right to hate or accuse another,” he said.
Pursuing the American Dream
Michael’s parents emigrated to the U.S. in 1970 to pursue the American Dream. They worked hard and reaped the rewards, as many immigrant families have done. They made sure that Michael and his sister had every opportunity. But pursuing the American dream also had a price, Michael and his sister did not see much of their father. “Up through my toddler years I hardly knew him,” he said.
At the University of Pennsylvania Michael got involved with InterVarsity, attended Urbana 90, participated in evangelism and missions projects, and became a leader of the chapter. By the time he was a senior, he felt God calling him to the mission field. But when he told this to his father, after church one Sunday afternoon, his father said, “no.”
Michael’s father told him that he wanted to look forward to more family time together, and in particular quality time with his grandchildren. Michael thanked his father for all of his sacrifices, but he said that he could not turn his back on God’s call.
“I told him that I refuse to live my life just to work hard so I can make lots of money so my kids can have every opportunity to go to a good college, get a good job and make lots of money so their kids can have every opportunity to go to a good college and make lots of money.”
Michael’s father eventually accepted Michael’s decision. Today he supports Michael in his ministry, as well as Michael’s sister, who is also preparing for the mission field with her husband.
“My father had an independent spirit, and he understood that if he would do such a radical thing in leaving Asia to come to America to pursue earthly dreams, how much more so does he need to allow God to do what God would do, to allow his son to return to Asia to follow the dream to share the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Michael said.
Moving to Japan
Michael and his wife completed their schooling and moved to Japan in January of 2004, after serving as short-term missionaries there several years earlier. In this largely un-evangelized country, where Christians make up less than one quarter of one percent of the population, they had discovered that the biggest need was for a good seminary to train young leaders. Christ Bible Seminary opened in Nagoya in April, 2005.
“I had no interest or calling to theological education necessarily, but I wanted to do what could be most effective,” Michael said. He also pastors a church in Nagoya and has begun preparing to plant churches and other ministries in other parts of Japan.
One of his biggest concerns is Japan’s young people, and providing safe space for them to grow up. “Japanese society for young people is predatory,” he said. “There are 30,000 suicides per year. There’s lots of bullying. And Japan is one of the few societies where possession of child pornography is legal.”
Looking back, Michael realized that one of the most important steps in his entire life was connecting with InterVarsity’s ministry during his first week on campus at the University of Pennsylvania. “It was a lifeline for me,” he said. “It was the single dynamic that God used to prevent me from falling into any number of pits that I was wired to fall into, such as the pursuit of wealth and power, sexual temptation, and the idolatry of intellectual pursuit.”
Today Michael is pursuing a dream that is much larger than the American Dream of personal fulfillment. He is pursuing a dream of peace and reconciliation for the Japanese people through the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Sports
-Football Hines Ward, 2006 Super Bowl MVP of the Pittsburg Steelers
*saw a cool documentary of his story growing-up biracial in South Korea and was looked down upon.. South Korea embraces Pittsburgh's Hines Ward
AP , SEOUL
Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006,Page 18 (Taipei Times) " Half-Korean Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward reached out yesterday to a country that has suddenly embraced him as a hero, expressing pride in his Korean roots although he shunned that side of his heritage after facing prejudice as a child.
"I'm proud to be a Korean, and that's something that when I was little as a kid I used to be ashamed of," Ward told a sea of journalists packed into a conference room at the central Seoul hotel where he was staying in a complimentary suite normally reserved for world leaders.
Ward was virtually unknown here before the Super Bowl, where American football isn't widely followed.
But since the Pittsburgh Steelers' February victory and Ward's MVP award, he has become a media phenomenon in South Korea -- also drawing attention to the discrimination faced here by children of mixed parentage. Ward was born in Seoul to a Korean mother, and his father was an African-American soldier.
"Miracle of hope and inspiration. This film is a story of my life and how I was saved from a garbage dump in Korea to be living God\'s will for my life. Special Thanks to Holt International for permission to use this historical footage. \r\n \r\nI am currently on the Winter Jam 09 concert tour sharing my story and music on behalf of orphan children for Holt International. \r\n \r\nPlease visit my personal website at: www.MyStoryKim.com \r\nOr if you are interested in helping ophan children like me please \r\nvisit. www.HoltInternational.org \r\n \r\nYou can write me directly at: k.jd@comcast.net"
"Abandoned at the age of four to wander the war-torn Korean countryside, Stephanie Fast has a remarkable story of survival. She was persecuted and tortured because of her bi-racial ethnicity. Abused on the city streets and finally discarded and left to die in a garbage dump."
"A snippet of worship at Yoido"
*I decided to re"search" more of this church after hearing a story (at a recent Men's Retreat on Saturday, Dec 6th of 2008) of the Korean pastor praying (30 days) for a woman prostitute for healing before building largest church. It was a challenge from a Bhuddist "priest" that had his temple next door to this proposed "church". The Bhuddist "ok" the pastor to build this church if this woman gets healed from her sickness. It wasn't until the last (30th) day after a dream of him saying "Go away in Jesus' name..." to this "seductive" woman going up to him, which this image turned to a serpent that slid way...
see GoodnewsEverybody: Ministry-Healing Wikipedia "is a Christian church on Yeouido Island in Seoul, South Korea. With about 830,000 members (2007), it is the largest Christian congregation in the world.[1] Founded and led by David Yonggi Cho since 1958, it is one of the most internationally visible manifestations of Korean Christianity....
This was the first time that international leadership of the denomination of fifty million members in sixty countries had passed out of American hands. He served in this capacity until August 2000. Pastor David Yonggi Cho, now assisted by a total of 171 associate pastors and 356 lay pastors, continues to lead the Yoido Full Gospel Church, whose status as the world's largest congregation has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records...
Pastor David Yonggi Cho began preaching on the Three-Fold Blessing (the blessing of the spirit, soul, and body), proclaiming that physical health and financial prosperity are as much a part of God's will for Christians as the salvation of the soul. Inspired by his message of hope and monetary wealth, many previously uncommitted people joined the church, and by the beginning of 1961, membership had grown to a thousand.[citation needed] Having grown too large for its tent, the church purchased its first plot of land, at Seodaemun (서대문)... Historical Background Of Paul Yonggi Cho and Yoido Full Gospel Church
Spring 2000
By Jeremy Reynalds ".. Cho had rejected the Buddhism of his youth during the time he was dying from tuberculosis.
Apparently, he said that if he was to ever get well he would like to become a medical doctor. Cho claims to have been converted after Jesus Christ appeared to him in the middle of the night, healed him, call him to preach and filled him with the Holy Spirit. Upon his graduation from Bible School, Cho planted the church for which he is so well known today. .." CYBERJOURNAL FOR PENTECOSTAL-CHARISMATIC RESEARCH
-
The Yoido Full Gospel Church
By
Dr. H. Vinson Synan (from pctii.org) "... With the end of the Korean war came freedom for the churches in South Korea to develop freely and to again receive help from abroad. It was in this period that the first American pentecostal denominations established Korean mission fields. (5)
The first of these was the American Assemblies of God Church which sent Abner Chesnut as their first missionary to Korea in 1952. Chesnut's first contacts were with the Chosun Pentecostal church which was still led by Sung San Park. The official name of the work was the "Korea Mission of the Pentecostal Church." As early as 1939, Mary Rumsey had applied to the American Assemblies of God to serve as a missionary to Korea. During world War Two she was looked on as an "unofficial representative" of the Assemblies of God. In 1953 the Korean Assemblies of God were organized with the Subinggo church and its branches as the nucleus of the new denomination. The next year, the Korean Assemblies of God opened their first Korean Bible School which attracted young Korean preachers for Bible studies. One of the first of these young students was Paul Yonggi Cho, a capable and young aspiring pastor whose family had suffered severe privations in the Korean War.."
Manmin "Manna" Church, largest church (building) in the world-located in Seoul, Korea!
From : George Allison orginial message
Sent : Monday, April 19, 2004 1:18 AM
To : saldapal@
Subject : Job Offer: Teach ESL in Korea Now!!!
Hello, I am a recruiter representing many Korean schools. I am wondering if you might be interested in teaching in Korea? Based on your qualifications, I can offer you a salary of over $20,000-30000 US, including free return airfare from anywhere in the world. 2 week paid vacation (all holidays), single or shared housing, health insurance, sponsored work permit, etc. We only require a one year contract. There is a bonus of approx one month salary after you renew your contract. * must have a university degree Applications WILL NOT be processed without a RESUME AND PICTURE. NATIVE SPEAKERS ONLY. Yours very truly, George Allison, Recruiter
"... represents Korea's best known food. Koreans serve kimchi at almost every meal, and few Koreans can last more than a few days before cravings get the better of them. During the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, thousands of foreigners were introduced to it for the first time. Despite a reputation for being spicy, most people usually develop a taste for it, and many foreigners also find themselves missing it after returning to their home country...
Making Kimchi
"..So why the sudden move toward tradition again?
The Gmarket poll shows that the widespread swine flu epidemic is the biggest reason behind people's newfound interest in the fermented vegetable dish.
"Fermented food is believed to help strengthen the human immune system, so kimchi is emerging as a good solution among health-conscious individuals," says Baek...
Swine Flu VS. Kimchi Warrior
"Can KIMCHI cure SWINE FLU(and other diseases?) by NY Wellness Examiner
Korean kimchi, that fermented mash of vegetables, garlic, peppers and fish juice is credited as being one of the healthiest foods on earth, packed with anti-oxidants, minerals and healthy bacteria (also lots of sodium)
Kimchi has been anecdotally found to prevent and kill SARS (bird flu) virus.
Kimchi has been credited with helping Koreans repel foreign invaders for centuries.
Sure more "scientific" study needs to be done to confirm the hunch, but it's like chicken soup. It can't hurt.
Kimchi is most often eaten as a side dish or added to soups. If anyone reading this has swine flu, ahem H1N1, or knows someone who does, please feed them kimchi and report back.
But you don't have to have swine flu. If you have cold, stomach virus, food poisoning etc. Get back to me let me know what this stuff can actually do. I eat extra when I'm sick and it does make me feel better, and helps open my nasal passages.
Gung-bae!..
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Health, Wellness, Medical Issues, etc...
"
The cross in South Korea Denise and the cross in South Korea
When my wife, Denise and I arrived at the airport in Seoul we rented a car and drove to Iri. There we started the cross walk. Denise would drive up the road a few miles and park and wait for me to arrive. She had water and refreshments and our bags.
South Korea impressed us mostly with the vast number of churches. Often I would see from ten to twenty steeples with crosses at once. How different from the rest of Asia. We had a good walk in the country with the cross. It's a mixture of rice patties and factories. As we were walking toward Seoul people seemed very shocked to see me carrying the cross. Most wanted to know which church I am with. They were very church oriented. A man just walking the road with a large cross was surprising them.
Arthur Blessitt and the cross in South Korea The cross in South Korea
The Lord spoke to me one day along the roadside, "It's time to go home, this is a long trip around the world". When I told Denise she fell into my arms and we shed tears together. I was very tired at this part on the trip. We had been in countries in Asia for six months.
We had traveled by plane around the world, taking 47 flights, and traveled on boats, taxis, buses, trains, three wheel motorcycles, rickshaws, been through so many airport and customs, walked in city after city. Jesus did it. It was time to go home for a rest. We drove to Seoul and flew back to Florida.
We had conversations with the people and prayed with some to come to Jesus.
A pilgrim follower of Jesus,
Arthur Blessitt
Luke 18:1
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Movies: The Passion, Crucification, Easter, Resurrection, etc..
Fear overcome for sake of hostages
Posted: 26 July, 2007 (Mission Network News)
* Topics in this story:
* demonstration,
* hostages,
* south korea,
* taliban
"Tuesday, locals in the Ghazni Province held a demonstration for the hostages' release, knowing they are Christians. This is a surprising act, considering the fear that surrounds the Taliban. Many people don't dare oppose the Taliban out of fear for their families' safety."
" KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan police discovered the bullet-riddled body of a male hostage on Wednesday, one of 23 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban last week.
Because of a recent spike in kidnappings � including an attempt against a Danish citizen Wednesday � police barred foreigners from leaving the Afghan capital without their permission.
South Korea reacted early Thursday by saying it would not tolerate the killing of an innocent civilian and vowed the kidnappers would be held accountable. It demanded the immediate release of the remaining hostages.
"The killing of an innocent civilian cannot be justified under any circumstance or for any reason," Baek Jong-chun, chief presidential secretary for security affairs, said in a statement. The kidnappers "will be held accountable for taking the life of a Korean citizen."
The South Korean victim was found with 10 bullet holes in his head, chest and stomach in the Mushaki area of Qarabagh district in Ghazni province, the region where the group was seized July 19 while riding a bus, said Abdul Rahman, a police officer.
A police official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation, said militants told him the hostage was sick and couldn't walk and was therefore shot.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry identified the victim as 42-year-old Bae Hyung-kyu.
A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose information, said reports had circulated Wednesday that eight of the hostages had been released. But he said those reports had never been confirmed.
Marajudin Pathan, the governor of Ghazni province, said the militants were still holding the remaining 22 South Korean hostages.
"No one has been released, and there has not been any exchange," Pathan told The Associated Press over the phone. "They are still in Taliban custody."
A South Korean official declined to comment Thursday on the condition of the remaining hostages or whether they had been transferred.
"The eight South Koreans are not in South Korean custody," the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Pathan said authorities were in contact with kidnappers early Thursday trying to secure the Koreans' freedom. The militants gave a list of eight Taliban prisoners who they want released in exchange for eight Koreans, he said.
An Afghan official involved in the negotiations earlier said a large sum of money would be paid to free eight of the hostages. The official also spoke on condition he not be identified, citing the matter's sensitivity. No other officials would confirm this account.
Foreign governments are suspected to have paid for the release of hostages in Afghanistan in the past, but have either kept it quiet or denied it outright. The Taliban at one point demanded that 23 jailed militants be freed in exchange for the Koreans.
The South Koreans, including 18 women, were kidnapped while on a bus trip through Ghazni province on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, Afghanistan's main thoroughfare.
South Korea has banned its citizens from traveling to Afghanistan in the wake of the kidnappings. Seoul also asked Kabul not to issue visas to South Koreans and to block their entry into the country.
Baek will fly to Afghanistan later Thursday as a presidential envoy to consult with top Afghan officials on how to secure the release of the remaining captives.
The South Korean church that the abductees attend has said it will suspend at least some of its volunteer work in Afghanistan. It also stressed that the Koreans abducted were not involved in any Christian missionary work, saying they provided only medical and other volunteer aid to distressed people in the war-ravaged country.
Two Germans were also kidnapped last week. One was found dead and the other apparently remains captive. A Danish reporter of Afghan origin escaped a kidnap attempt in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Danish Foreign Ministry said.
The unidentified man "was close to being caught but managed to get away and reach a local police station," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ole Neustrup said. The Dane was first reported to be German but that report was false, Khan said.
The series of recent kidnappings prompted the Afghan government to forbid foreigners living in Kabul from leaving the city without police permission.
Police said officials stationed at checkpoints at the city's main gates would stop foreigners from leaving the capital unless they informed officials 24 hours in advance of their travel plans, said Esmatullah Dauladzai, Kabul's provincial police chief.
Elsewhere, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said a soldier was killed in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday by a rocket-propelled grenade. ISAF didn't release the soldier's nationality, but the majority of troops in the east are American.
Britain said one of its soldiers was killed and two others injured when an explosion struck their vehicle in southern Helmand province on Wednesday.
The U.S.-led coalition said 20 suspected Taliban militants were killed Wednesday after a failed ambush on coalition and Afghan troops in Kandahar province.
Associated Press writers Noor Khan and Jason Straziuso in Kabul, Afghanistan and Kwang-Tae Kim in Seoul, South Korea contributed to this report." Taliban: 2 female Koreans to be freed, By AMIR SHAH, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 46 minutes ago (news.yahoo 8/11/07) ""God willing the government (of Afghanistan) and the government of Korea will accept this," Bashir said outside the Ghazni office of the Afghan Red Cross, which is acting as a neutral intermediary. "Definitely these people will be released. God willing our friends (Taliban militants in prison) will be released.""
"
Bibles are needed for Christians in restricted access nations. (Open Doors photo)
Afghanistan (MNN) � Taliban insurgents and South Korean negotiators have come to an agreement that allows for the release of the remaining 19 South Korean Christians. The insurgent group seized 23 Korean volunteers on July 19 from a bus in Ghazni province. The Taliban later released two women hostages as a gesture of goodwill during the first round of talks. Two others were killed.
However, the agreement could have an impact on missions work in Afghanistan, says the President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller. "The most troubling aspect of this announcement for us is that there is an apparent commitment by the South Korean government to restrict missionary activity on the part of Christians from South Korea."
South Korea's presidential Blue House issued a statement saying their agreement was on condition that it withdraw its troops from Afghanistan within the year and stop its nationals doing missionary work there.
Taliban representative, Qari Mohammad Bashir, confirmed a deal had been struck. But the Taliban demands did not include their main previous condition -- the release of a group of militants held prisoner by the Afghan government.
Moeller is concerned about this agreement. "Governments may want to use this in future cases as an opportunity to appease the Taliban or other extremist groups, but I can say also clearly that there are always going to be Christians who go where faith costs the most, no matter what the government's restrictions might be."
Open Doors support Christians in countries where it's illegal to practice their faith, and owning a Bible is equally unlawful. However, Open Doors provides them with God's Word, but they need your help. "$4 will deliver a Bible anywhere in the world to a persecuted Christian. The places we go and things that we do to get that Bible into the hands of a believer are somewhat extreme in some of these places."
If you'd like to help Open Doors with Bible distribution, click here. "
"SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (ANS) -- The youth pastor who was leading the group of 23 South Korean aid volunteers in Afghanistan was killed for refusing to convert to Islam, the head pastor of the church revealed after the final 19 former hostages arrived home.
According to a report on the Christian Today website, "Among the 19 hostages who returned on the second (of September), some were asked by the Taliban to convert and when they rejected, they were assaulted and severely beaten,” reported Park Eun-jo, pastor of the hostages’ home church, Saemmul Presbyterian Church in Bundang, just south of the South Korean capital Seoul.
“I heard from the hostages that they were threatened with death,” he added, according to Christian Today Korea. “Especially it is known that the reason Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu was murdered was because he refused the Taliban’s demand to convert.” "
"Cheju island known as a place of fantasy or mystery is most beautiful island in Korea and is located in the southwest sea of the Korean peninsula and is highlighted for its uniqueness. The theme of this Web site is "Travel & Tourism Guides of The Cheju Island in Korea". You can look over the famous roots of Cheju island that make it so mysterious and fantastic that everyone wants to come here. This Web site's general contents about Cheju island covers from historical background and Culture to Nature, Customs, Travel, Leisure, Transportation, Accommodations, Epicurism, Shopping, Cheju`s images and everything necessary to understand Cheju island."
Jeju Island plus Udo in Glorious South Korea
"The opening 3 1/2 minutes feature an amazing vocal performance from a traditional Korean folk singer. Her voice is simultaneously soft and delicate like the scenery, while remaining strong and hard like the seashore rocks. It is very, very old---but ahead of it's time. The other music is performed by a modern pop group known as Jadu. More vids at http://ah-sah.blogspot.com "
Youth
FATHERS LOVE MINISTRY SEOUL S. KOREA
"south korean young people on fire for God young people from south korea "fathers love ministry" .Here is their web-site http://www.fl.or.kr/ ..on Google also downloadable.. "ARE YOU READY FLM""
-Music:
Worship&Praise=>
YWAM Korea, Campus Worship - I'll Always Love You
" Campus Worship Team is Youth With A Mission Korea Worship Team...
this video is Mission Conference 2006 Live Worship"
"Only U.S. Band Invited to Play 25th Annual Friendship Art Festival
Atlanta-based, GRAMMY Award-winning band Casting Crowns received a rare invitation to participate in North Korea�s 25th Annual April Spring Friendship Art Festival in Pyongyang, D.P.R.K last week. Casting Crowns played three standing-room-only shows April 11-13 at the high-profile event which emphasizes artistic exchange and the promotion of peace and goodwill within the country.
Performers from around the world were invited to the festival with Casting Crowns being the only native U.S. band to attend. Global Resource Services (G.R.S.), a U.S. based humanitarian organization, has worked in North Korea for the past ten years, and cooperated with the organizing committee of the Friendship Art Festival to facilitate the band�s participation.
The band incorporated a few Korean favorites in its live show including the popular song �White Dove, Fly High� which is recognized as an anthem for peace. The band�s rendition of the song was warmly received by the full-capacity crowd. The Vice Chairman of the festival personally shared his gratitude to Casting Crowns for their participation and especially for the beautiful performance of the peace song. He further expressed his hope that groups like G.R.S., Casting Crowns and the people of the D.P.R.K. can work together to bring unity and peace.
For more on Casting Crowns, visit www.castingcrowns.com, and for more information about Global Resource Services, please visit www.grsworld.org....." CrimsonLight.com yourmusiczone.com
Persecution
Christians Persecuted In North Korea
"Persecution of the Church"
Psalm 25:5
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long
Jun Soo with his family all the way from South Korea after UMM's 2003 Graduation
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This page is dedicated to Anthony Wiehle, a former active leader while he attended UMM 93'-97', who was born in Korea and adopted in Bloomington, Minnesota-U.S.A. He currently speaks nationwide and is co-founder of Senior Capital Group, "....bring dignity and integrity back to the senior population". Anthony (a.k.a Tony"), was a great encouragement in my early years of coming to the Lord in 1996 (freshmen year). He was my floormate in UMM's Clayton A. Gay Hall my second year of college, and I still "try" to keep in touch with him since he graduated in 1997.
Thanks Anthony for your time serving the Lord here in "Motown" during and still after being a student.
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Cjeju Island