L'Abri Newsletter, December 2024

December 18, 2024

Dear praying family,

The winter term has always been my favorite for the past few decades. No matter how low the temperatures were and the expensive heating cost, when I was with young visitors, I often would not realize how cold winter was until spring arrived. Especially, the freezing but hot discussion winter were also when many young people came to believe in Jesus.

However, this winter is different. The weather has been icy already and I have a lot of worries entering this winter. It is not because of the cold weather or expensive electricity bills but because political events such as the president’s martial law declaration and his subsequent impeachment are turning our country into a hot and icy state.

In this difficult situation, it is easy for not only the people’s hands and feet to freeze but also their hearts. As the number of people who are worried, anxious, and fearful increase, so do verbal abuse, distrust, hatred, and violence. At this time, I would like to share what I have been meditating on recently and share updates on and prayer requests for L’Abri.

Dae-wook Kang, Coffee Stand 'Truth', 2024. Wood carving, lacquer finish with incised engraving, 38cm × 19cm.

1. Even before Jesus was born, the world was full of fear and surprise.

• Jesus’s father, Joseph, was “afraid” to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20). Some commentators say that this “fear” was not psychological but religious – an awe that one has after encountering God’s supernatural events.
• The shepherds in the field of Bethlehem were “filled with great fear” when they met the angel of the Lord (Luke 2:9-10). When the shepherds were frightened, it means they were “astonished” and “alarmed,” which is where we get the term “Phobos” (fear). When we likewise encounter something so unexpected, we may be overcome with fear, even if the encounter bears good news.
• King Herod was “troubled” and “astonished” when he heard that the King of the Jews had been born (Matthew 2:3). To be “troubled and astonished” indicates internal turmoil and agitation and a loss of peace and composure (Matthew 6:50, John 11:33). Here, the word “troubled” is the same as “surprised.”
• When Mary heard that she would give birth to a son, she “was greatly troubled at the saying” (Luke 1:29). She was so shaken that she lost her peace of mind. Everyone’s heart is startled when they encounter an unexpected or unfamiliar event.
• Zechariah the priest was also “troubled, and fear fell upon him” (Luke 1:12). He experienced “surprise and fear” at the same time. Although he was a great spiritual leader of his time, he was more surprised than Joseph or the shepherds were and trembled with more fear than King Herod or Mary.

Regarding these accounts and our present reality, some people say that it is natural for humans to be scared and surprised when they encounter something unexpected or big. Others say, “People are surprised and scared that God’s plans and promises from the beginning have come to fruition right before their eyes, tens of thousands of years later.” Still others say, “Phobia, perplexity, anxiety, fear, and debilitating worry are all things that are antithetical to peace and occur when there is no peace.” That is why peace is urgently needed in this land.

2. False shepherds give false peace. They know that people are afraid and frightened, and they know that peace is urgent, so they try to cover up and gain popularity with it. “Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him’” (Matthew 2:7-8). There are many people like Herod who offer fake peace.

• “The absence of desire is peace” (Plato)
• “National power guarantees peace” (Machiavelli)
• “Peace is achieved when politics are well-controlled” (Pax Romana)
• “I will solve all your problems” (Messiah complex patient)

We must be careful of these kinds of fake peace. A man who said he would worship baby Jesus was the same man who gave orders for murder within a few days. “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men” (Matthew 2:!6).

A scholar named Jeremias said, “Given the population of Bethlehem at the time, about 20 to 30 children would have killed by Herod’s sword.” Baby Jesus was able to escape the sword because his parents heard God's warning and quickly fled to Egypt.

The hallmarks of fake peace are unrealistic verbal mischief, deception, and unachievable promises. The prophet Jeremiah alluded to this. “As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet” (Jeremiah 28:9).

3. Real peace comes from Jesus. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).

Jesus is our “Prince of Peace.” He has given true peace. This is because he died on the cross for our sins, allowing us to be reconciled to God, telling us to love and forgive even our enemies, and giving people real psychological and intellectual peace in their hearts. No disturbance, no fear.

• First, in order to protect the peace the Lord has given us, we must be careful not to lose Christ-centered and not commit sins, and continue to pray for peace in the country.
• Second, we must fight against the fake peace preached by false shepherds. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.” We must not forget that He said, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). We must think about the cross that individuals and communities must bear for the truth and the gospel.
• Third, in order for us to spread the peace that Jesus gave, let us strive to rejoice, to be tolerant, to think uprightly, to be thankful in all circumstances, and to love our neighbors. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:4-9).

Many people visited last fall. Due to my wife’s and my limited physical strength and lack of helpers, we had a wide variety of guests visit over the weekend only. In addition to the weekend guests, about 30 high school seniors who are about to enter college came. For the first time, students and teachers from Byulmuri Christian School stayed with us. The discussions and questions were very lively, because the students had just read the hell section of Dante’s Divine Comedy. The students of Somyeong Vision School, who come every year, discussed a lot of relationship and career issues. Please pray that the students who go to the university become one in what they believe in and what they know.

The Lord sent Elder Dae-wook and Myung-hee Kang to help us with lectures and meals. In particular, Dae-wook lectured on "Calligraphy and Hobby," and the students responded very well. Dae-wook has been teaching at Pohang Jecheol High School for about 30 years and is a certified National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Master of Wood Carving. The Kangs returned home praying for the publication of a Wood carving calligraphy pictorial containing books and lecturing for their church in Kyungju.

Dae-wook Kang, Prosperity, 2024. Wood carving, lacquer finish with incised engraving, 27.5cm × 29cm. "In all that he does, he prospers." (Psalm 1:3)

For the first time during the term, we all went to visit my mother in hospital, and we were sorry that some guests had to cancel their visits. My mother (91 years old), who visited us last summer, was recently admitted to the hospital due to breathing difficulties. She has been praying, she wants to meet the Lord and her husband as soon as possible. Please pray that she won’t experience too much pain and that she will get to meet the Lord soon.

Hae-jin has been a great help since she started working last October. In particular, she is doing what she can to help with our ‘Bible Reading Guide with PPT’ and ‘Doubt in Pictures.’ During the next three years as a trainee period, Hae-jin hopes to further her studies to be helpful in the ministry of L’Abri. She was accepted to the online master's course (M.A. Biblical and Theological Studies) at Covenant Theological Seminary in the United States. Please pray for her health and tuition. (To complete the entire course, about 42,740 USD is needed, in addition to the cost of books, and about one-fifth of that is currently covered.)

Even though my wife is having a hard time, she is becoming stronger inside. The older I get, the more difficult it is to serve our visitors and talk to students. Meanwhile, my wife gave a lecture on 'Inferno from Dante's Divine Comedy,’ and I delivered regular sermons, and an online talk called 'Elijah's Rest' for Rochester L’Abri. At the 20th anniversary service of the establishment of Light and Salt Church in Seoul, I gave a lecture titled 'A Small Church in a Battlefield of Worldviews' according to Acts 27-28.

Yangyang L’Abri Chapel is continuing to do well at Jeongdaun Village. Recently, we invited three Yangyang Pasters and had a baptism and communion service. Please pray for the people to wisely respond to any Satan's counterattacks as the church grows. Jin-hyung Kim has completed the ‘Jeremiah’, Pastor Sang-ki Lee has completed the ‘Minor Prophets’ and I have completed the ‘Acts.’ We are now waiting for copies of the collection to be released.

Thanks to the help of our good helpers, Tae-yun and Hyun-ji, Gwang-sik and Nam-jeong, and Dae-wook and Myung-hee. I don’t think we could have survived last year without them. However, since we cannot continue to rely solely on helpers, please pray for full-time staff to join our team.

I am always grateful to those who have joined me through prayers and donations, even though we barely got by financially. Because we were busy paying for basic expenses every month, we were unable to do any repairs to the house or improve facilities. L’Abri does not conduct fundraising campaigns but prays that God will send us money to live on every month through the church and believers.

The winter term begins on January 4 and ends just before the Lunar New Year, and the spring semester begins on February 22 and runs until March 25.

• Saturday, January 4 – Monday, January 27, 2025: open daily
• Saturday, February 22 – Tuesday, March 25, 2025: open Saturday to Tuesday

For the winter term, Tae-yun and Hyun-ji will return to help, as well as a Japanese student who studied last summer and Jin-kyung also plans to visit and lend us a hand. Please pray that a group of honest young people will return home with honest answers. The peace of the Lord is with you this Christmas and New Year’s.

Yours, InKyung

Translated by Ye-Jin Ahn