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Christianity Today, September (Web-only), 2007 |

Hostages' Pastor: 'Remorse Is the Face of the Church'

Interview with Park Eun-jo: 'I don't want this to be a stumbling block for missions.'

Sarah Pulliam | posted 9/04/2007 08:49AM

The 19 South Koreans freed by the Taliban returned to Seoul Sunday as the church that sent the group fields critical remarks for sending members to such a volatile country.

The return ends a 43-day ordeal ...

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Anonymous

Posted: September 16, 2007 10:12 AM

Yeah, well the problem is that too many people want to suit for such a thing-as one respondent put it that if it were his family, he would be considering a law suit against the church. Jesus said such things would happen. I agree that people should not go for the wrong reasons, but then look at Jesus, He came for the right reasons and He was beaten and crucified. Someone might say that God would not do that or allow that. One soul won to the Lord is worth more than this world. Be led of the Spirit, reach the lost, be responsible in choices and don't make them out of emotion. I am glad someone out there is letting us know what is going on in the world. Thanks.

David

Posted: September 09, 2007 10:23 AM

I have mixed feelings. I have been a christian for 30 years. Missionaries who work in high risk areas without security training and or have QUALITY risk assessments and contingency plans is incredibly irresponsible in my opinion. Should that stop people from going? No. But count the cost. Be sure it is God leading you and not fame,maryterdom, personalities attracted to high risk behavior or a book deal when death occurs. If they were my brothers I might be considering a lawsuit against the church or mission agency.

a south korean

Posted: September 06, 2007 12:43 AM

to Rick Thiessen. i am willing to admit your truly faith. but i think you don't know the cultural difference between U.S.A and S. Korea. Christianity is not a traditional religion that korean people believed, rather it is a foreign one. unfortunately, many korean people hardly understand what you wanted to hear from 19 koreans. further, ordinary koreans may be provoked if they say what your wanted to be heard. most non-chrisitan koreans are generous to other religions, and believed that all religions should respect the truth of other religions. so they think they are insulted if they should be converted by a chrisitian faith. so sadly, most chrisitans and churchs in korea have an oppressive mission strategies.

Rick Thiessen

Posted: September 05, 2007 10:19 AM

Agreed. And why does the gov't violate the long standing policy of not negotiating with terrorits and then blame the hostages as if they MADE them do so? They didn't make them do anything. While I'm sure they're happy to be alive, the missionaries knew the risks and the gov't wasn't under any obligation to compromise itself for them. I'm not surprised that secular Koreans can't understand the risk taking nature of those who live for another kind of Kingdom. I'm sorry that the missionaries were so apologetic coming back - they missed an opportunity. I would have rather heard something like, "we're sorry everyone's upset, but we didn't ask anyone to rescue us. Our Master didn't promise we'd be rescued from every trial, but he did call us to go. We went to help, to heal, to tell good news, to do good. We don't apologize for that. We pray others follow us because we love Afghan. and surely the blood of our martyrs proves to everyone just how much she needs love."

Braveheart

Posted: September 05, 2007 5:33 AM

I believe that the LORD allowed this to happen so we can pray more for the salvation of the Talibans and Al-Qaeda. We should recognize the sacrifice that these Korean brethren have done just to show the love of CHRIST to the Afghan people. I call on all Followers of Christ to worship, pray and fast during the Ramadan from September 7, 2007 to October 14, 2007 for the Holy Spirit to rain down on the whole nation of Afghanistan. We want to see breakthroughs and the hunger for JESUS to be the LORD and Savior of the Afghan people. The we will see Afghanistan transformed into Salaamistan. "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." A shepherd from Kandahar

Brent from Spain

Posted: September 05, 2007 5:20 AM

I see no reason for missioanries who were kidnapped at gunpoint to apologize and be seen as the bad people in this situation. They only did what Jesus Christ commanded us to 2000 years ago -- go makes disciples of every ethnic group (Mt. 28). He did not preface it with "If it is safe right now". How would the early church have viewed this -- They would have rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer persecution for Christ sake. While it is a wonderful document, the declaration of human rights, the Bible is what Christians must obey. If we go to the muslim nations then persecution will ensue and many missionaries may die, but just like the Romans they will not be able to continue killing missionaries forever.

Graham UK

Posted: September 05, 2007 12:35 AM

Martin Luther King Jnr said 'A person who is not prepared to die for something loses the right to live'; I know I paraphrase from a poor memory but the message is clear. God calls us out to prayerful action and Jesus is our shining Saviour and example. How many 'right thinking' people would have been just as critical as some here about our Saviour's calling if they lived in His time walking the earth? God bless us and open our eyes.

BC	Posted: September 04, 2007 9:56 PM


How we do Praise God for the release of the hostages, and we do know that God's people will always be taken advantage of - mainly I pray they will not feel shame for their efforts but will trust God to bring Good out of evil once again. He does just that kind of thing. And...may those who are so critical be instead thankful at this time. I am very thankful for their release.

Sending Exec

Posted: September 04, 2007 4:15 PM

Of course the Taliban are to blame for murder. Does that excuse agencies and sending churches from responsibly evaluating mission trips? Is John excusing the sending church because "they had good intentions?" The word is that the Taliban got $20 million -- cash is what they are after, and the Koreans were convenient and not subtle about their presence. Now, 180 missionaries have to leave Afghanistan. The consequences of this Korean missions trip are far-reaching. No one is saying that Christians aren't to go preach the Gospel, but most church missions groups do not sign up for martyrdom -- if anything they might want a career in missions, not date with death. Are they martyrs or murder victims? I am sure that our Korean brothers were welcomed into the Kingdom with open arms, but as missions leaders and pastors, we have a responsibility not to romanticize and flaunt danger. For those of us called to serve dangerous areas, there are other ways.

mv THOMPSON

Posted: September 04, 2007 3:58 PM


What did Jesus say? "Then they shall killl you and ye shall be hated of all nations for MY Name's sake..." Matthew 24:9,10,14. But He also commanded, "Go ye..." did He not? They were more obedient than most of us.

John	Posted: September 04, 2007 2:58 PM

Lets not lose track of the fact that the only bad guys here are the Taliban. Would that Christians reacted with half the zeal to the kidnapping and slaughter of their own that the worldwide Muslim world reacted to a few Danish cartoons. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights supports freedom of religious expression (along with lots of rights for women) that Muslim countries routinely trample upon without a whimper from the rest of the world. We need to get mad at the right people and not a bunch of well meaning Korean Christians.

Ray	Posted: September 04, 2007 2:34 PM

I haven't heard much outrage that the Taliban kidnaps foreign citizens, executes some, beats others, tries to forcibly convert them, and uses them pawns in a political blackmail. I'm sure the Koreans were aware that going into places like Afghanistan as foreigners with a different religion, even to do good work that the people desperately need, is dangerous. Why criticize them for being willing to risk their lives, and not criticize the Taliban for being willing to so easily take lives? Ray

Ray Levesque

Posted: September 04, 2007 2:09 PM

Maybe Korean-style missions IS the stumbling block to missions. Although the loss of two brothers is a horrible thing, we must reflect on whether persecution is self-inflicted. How might their methods (as reported earlier) have contributed to the punishment meted out by the Taliban? Will there be any review of methods and protocols while guests in another country? Hudson Taylor did all he could to blend in with the people he served. In my contact with Korean missions, they bring their standards and expect the target culture to comply with their Korean expectations. I hope that no more lives are lost, but let us not pass this opportunity by for self-examination. Let us hope that no one is willing to see missionaries sacrificed on the altar of arrogant methodology.

AnAppleAday

Posted: September 04, 2007 1:36 PM

Eh? What do you mean, Tim? That the hostages should have been left alone? And would any American missionary travel as missionaries in a group of 21 or 23 to Afghanistan? Tch, tch, so easy to be an armchair critic. The world won't know what took place before the hostages left home, neither will they know all that took place during their time as hostages. This article does not provide wide enough coverage of the story, just the words of one man.

Timothy Wright

Posted: September 04, 2007 10:32 AM


My friend who is in Afghanistan, sees this as a real blow to their work. Many from our org are leaving Afghanistan and going to other Muslim countries. I can't believe that the Korean church is this much under control of the Korean gov. Can you imagine this happening to Hudson Taylor or Tyndale? How tragic? Tim

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