Back in 2007, one of our then PhD students, Sungho Choi, was helping out at a large international prayer meeting for revival being held not far from Carmarthen in South West Wales.
To his astonishment he found himself sitting next to a woman whose face he instantly recognised from the Korean media. Sungjoo Kim had gained celebrity status as a businesswoman who had succeeded spectacularly against all the odds in a fiercely male-dominated society.
But Sungho soon discovered that, like many Korean Christians, she had also developed a strong affection for Wales. Why? Because Robert Jermain Thomas, the first evangelical missionary to Korea, killed while distributing Bibles outside Pyongyang, the capital of modern North Korea, was a Welshman. Moreover, the roots of the great Korean Revival of 1907 can be traced unmistakably back to the Welsh Revival of 1904.
It soon transpired that Sungjoo Kim was looking to help theological education in Wales. Did Sungho know of any suitable institution? He said he did. My first realisation that something significant was happening occurred when Sungjoo accepted an invitation to give her remarkable testimony at WEST. The College Chapel was packed with Koreans from far and wide. The Korean press came down from London and I found myself being interviewed about links that at the time scarcely existed.
Korean partnership
Soon, however, we also received a visit from the Senior Pastor of SaRang Community Church, Sungjoo’s home fellowship in Seoul. Pastor John Oh, a godly and gracious man with a large heart and a clear vision for the spread of the gospel worldwide, was obviously stirred by the prospect of a partnership between WEST and SaRang. The motivation from his side was twofold. First, he also believed that Korea owed Wales a spiritual debt, somewhat along the lines of Romans 15.27. Secondly, as a vast Presbyterian Church with a membership of over 60,000, SaRang (the name means ‘Love’) seemingly had missionary bases in every part of the world — except Europe. WEST could be seen as a bridgehead that would enable missionaries to be trained for the re-evangelisation of post-Christian Europe.
I am well aware that this sounds grandiose to most British evangelicals, whose experience of relentless spiritual decline and defeat has led to cynicism. But try looking for a moment through the eyes of believers who have known nothing but spiritual growth and success, through the eyes of those who experienced the 20th century for what it was — by far and away the greatest period of growth that the Christian church has ever known. If you had never tasted the bitter fruit of failure, might not your faith and hope shine rather more brightly? At WEST, we came to believe that we needed to recapture something of this boundless vision and indefatigable zeal.
Negotiations
At this point, we took Sungho Choi on to the staff in order to facilitate negotiations with SaRang. Having lived in Wales since childhood, he has proved invaluable in helping us span the cultures. Our wonderfully faithful and prayerful WEST Council grappled with the many complex issues that emerged. They realised that they themselves were not in a position to project the School to the next level — to build the internationally recognised centre for theological learning and training for ministry they were praying for. They saw that SaRang were prepared to invest substantially in the School and could secure its development. They understood that good stewardship on SaRang’s part demanded that they should acquire a large stake in the formation of a new Board. They agreed that the baton needed to be passed on.
In October 2008, Council Chairman Peter Milsom, Sungho Choi and I were invited to attend the 30th anniversary celebrations of SaRang. It was a huge privilege to be able to stand in a packed Olympic stadium in Seoul and share something of the partnership we were hoping to build together. It was both humbling and refreshing to see so many hurrying well before daylight to passionate early-morning prayer meetings and to join in such vibrant worship. Being there, it was not difficult to understand how God has grown the fellowship so mightily in just three decades.
Safeguards and signatures
Back home, many more months were to pass as lawyers inevitably needed to be involved, and everything was done to safeguard our distinctives. This was the mutual desire of both parties. It would have been easier in many ways for SaRang simply to set up their own seminary in Wales but they greatly value WEST’s doctrinal and spiritual heritage and are equally determined to protect and promote it. An Advisory Council was devised, consisting initially of those members of the old Council who would not be transferring to the new Board. This Council has powers of its own but its primary role is to monitor the Board’s performance and ensure the maintenance and growth of relationships between the School and its historic church constituencies.
Unavoidable delays occurred in the process, not least because SaRang were involved in a massive rebuilding programme of their own. Nevertheless, though these proved frustrating at the time, looking back they provided providential and vital opportunities to build personal relationships and foster increasing understanding and trust. And so, eventually, at the end of February this year, Peter, Sungho and I returned to Seoul — together this time with Graham John, a longstanding Council member who is continuing on the new Board — for the formal signing of the papers that would seal our gospel partnership.
A well-attended press conference, involving both secular and Christian TV and print media, gave us some idea of the remarkable level of interest sparked off by any new SaRang venture. On ‘Global Partnership Sunday’ itself, the focus was almost exclusively on the WEST vision — complete with dramatic video footage on the giant screens of life at WEST and the beautiful coastline of the Vale of Glamorgan! I preached at each of the main services (8.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 and, finally, 16.00 hours) on the plea of the man of Macedonia, begging Paul to bring the gospel from Asia to Europe for the first time. I was pleased to remind those listening that the gospel was not originally a western export — and that Europe once more represented a unique challenge for the Church of Jesus Christ around the world.
The last service concluded with the signing itself. Special presentations were made to Sungjoo Kim for her inspirational and practical contribution and to Peter Milsom, as outgoing Chairman, for his huge and varied input to the College over so many years.
New beginning
This partnership signals a new beginning for WEST. Though world mission should always be omni-directional, it seems likely that the 21st century will increasingly see churches from the East, rather than the West, leading the way. We believe that our partnership may well be pioneering and modelling a form of strategic gospel initiative that others may choose to follow. At least we may now begin to build the faculty and facilities that will better help us to resource God’s people to grow God’s kingdom. Exciting and challenging days lie ahead.
If I have any fears, they lie in the area of potential misunderstanding — not with our new Korean partners — but among the church constituencies we love to serve here in the UK. Let me end by dispelling two possible misconceptions.
First, WEST has not been subject to any form of ‘takeover’ (an impossibility, in any case, under UK charity law). WEST retains its status as an independent, interdenominational and international theological school. Secondly, neither party intends or desires that SaRang should meet all WEST’s financial needs. It is earnestly hoped that this particular relationship will actually encourage increased investment in WEST by many like-minded churches here at home. Do please pray for us — and visit http://www.west.org.uk for ways in which your church can also partner with us.
