From the Editor

By Lily Yang

In this issue we focus on Korea. In the Chinese section of this magazine we cover its culture, history, church, mission, economic development, Korean dramas and movies, and most of all, the people. Why? There are several reasons.

First, Korea has been quietly raising the world’s attention in many ways. South Korea was a broken country after the Korean War in the mid 1950s. The GDP per capita was less than US$100. In 2008 the GDP per capita will reach US$20,000. Other than their outstanding economic development, they have achieved a reputation in music, art, drama and many cultural fields. The Korean drama is popular throughout Asia including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Muslim areas like Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and even Egypt in recent years.

Secondly, in Korea, as in China and Japan, Confucianism and Buddhism used to dominate social order and values, usually becoming a resistant power to the acceptance of Christian faith. However, the country has become the most evangelized country in Asia (and possibly the world). Korean Christians are famous for their fervent, earnest prayers, and prayer meetings that sometimes last entire nights. The determination, passion and compassion of their evangelism has inspired and stimulated Christians all around the world to follow. Most of all, the courage and vision of many Korean Christians has set a higher goal for the rest of the world. Not only is the number of missionaries sent the highest next to the United States, but they also have the courage to go to places no one else dares to go. In the States, many campus ministries or campus churches are started and conducted by Korean Americans.

The last reason is personal. Before my son went to college I prayed for a good church and fellowship for him. The Lord answered the prayer by calling Rev. Young Kim to start a ministry and church right at the college my son goes to not long before he went to the college. And then I heard again and again many of my friends sharing same stories – children going to colleges to join a very good church and be nurtured and developed in a great spiritual environment led by a Korean American pastor.

This issue, Linda Pang, with her sharp and sensitive mind, brings us through the turmoil of Korean Church history. Joyce Yue interviewed her pastor Rev. I. J. Kim of GCF while I interviewed Rev. Young Kim of GCC. Here I would like to give my respect and gratitude to these great people who are nurturing, developing and impacting future kingdom servants with their own lives.

Continued from last issue, Esther would like to explore deeper three contributing factors that prevent Christians to live a truly abundant life.

Lily Yang