August 11, 2019 Believe and be Baptized

Coming Soon

The place of my birth is in the town of Seosan in the South of Chungcheong Province. This place is at the shallow end of Cheonsu Bay, where the sea water comes back and forth. My family’s house was a straw-roofed house. If you looked down at my house from a tall building, you would see it to be in the shape of the letter ‘D’. In the side of the house which projects outwards, there was an overgrowth of a bamboo tree. In the inner side of that bamboo tree, there was a cluster of pine trees. And underneath them, a great rock securely rested. A few days after the fifth month according to the lunar calendar – in the early morning – I hurriedly came into the world with the loud cries of an infant.

I was named by one of my older distant relatives. He himself had only daughters, but when he heard the news that he had an infant nephew, he hurriedly rode his donkey to come and see me. When he saw my youthful eyes under the light of the morning sun, he gave me my name. In the time of emperor Kojong, he had a high government position as an executive secretary. The particle ‘Dong’ in my name is the generational code of my family, and the particle ‘Ki’ in my name embodies the meanings of ‘Bamboo’, ‘Pine’, and ‘Rock’. This is the philosophical meaning of my name.

I took the meaning of the name given me by my distant relative – who served in the Executive Government – and made that the stern mentality of my life. In the long journey of my life, there have been many difficulties and opposition. But I made it my resolve to firmly endure them all. Though the seasons change, the pine tree does not loose its color. No matter how dry the climate is, the bamboo tree stands upright, fiercely facing heaven. And no matter how much the typhoon harshly blows and the lightning strikes, the rock does not move. These are the key elements of the stern mentality of my life.

In the road of my life, I have met with all sorts of trials. But I believed in Jesus, received baptism and became a new man. Even afterwards, I continued to encounter all sorts of great trials, and I am still doing so. But rather than against my flesh, the current trials I am facing are the spiritual trials shaking hard against my spirit. At this time, I take a clear hold of my stern mentality – the ‘Pine – Bamboo – Rock’. I must struggle against the ever-changing thought of man and the world. Though the climate is dry, I must go up to the high places and shout aloud. Though the harsh wind and thunder comes against me, I must endure like a might rock. I must overcome.

The rock can endure some scratches, but it must overcome. It is my purpose to overcome. It was because of this stern mentality that – for my whole life – I have not shaken. God considered me worthy to be used and took a firm hold of me. I have no strength of will or power of my own, but I have the mentality of the ‘Pine – Bamboo – Rock’. I have endured war, famine, and poverty. I have faced the biting and violent wind, which tries to shake the rock. But I endure. I am not a mere grain of sand. I am a Rock. I will stand firm.

When I established this church, I believed it must be an independent church. This is the unmovable foundation by which I had founded this church. If this all goes back to failure, what is the use of being the ‘Pine – Bamboo – Rock’? I am most sure we will have victory. I believe this victory is in accordance to the will firmly set by God. I am the ‘Pine – Bamboo – Rock’. I – Semuon – am the ‘Pine – Bamboo – Rock’.

Semuon,

11th August 2019

Coming Soon

Outline translated by John Kim
Letter translated by John Kim
Interpretations by John Kim
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee