S105

Society Protocol _05

Unknown Religion

Pastor Hwang attended the World Evangelism Conference seminar because of an email from Pastor Kang, who was his senior pastor when he was an evangelist.

During his time as an evangelist, he learned English while doing volunteer work overseas, and after visiting Israel and touring the Holy Land,

Pastor Kang became convinced of Pastor Hwang's competence and faith while traveling together.

He would not dismiss his opinion.

And in a sense, there was also a high possibility that he would stand at the forefront of achieving the goals he intended to accomplish.

He was fluent in English, kind, and the very epitome of an upright person.

Furthermore, this was because Pastor Kang had watched from afar as Pastor Hwang single-handedly established a pioneering church, gathered believers, and enabled them to interact with one another not only through faith but also on a business level.

“Thank you, God the Father. Thank you for creating this place where we can gather today to praise your power and grace in good health through the gracious love you have given us.”

“Amen.”

The believers responded with "Amen" whenever Pastor Hwang finished speaking. Sometimes it was "Hallelujah."

“Among our family gathered here today, there are sick and struggling little lambs. I believe that God will protect them with His strength and power.”

“Amen.”

“I have something I would like to tell you all today. Deacon Park Mok-wol, please stand up. If his family came with him, please stand up as well.”

In the middle of the chapel, a haggard-looking middle-aged woman and two female students stood up together.

“Deacon Lee Sang-do, the husband of Deacon Park Mok-wol, suffered a fall and sustained injuries while working on construction. Some of you may already know.”

The parishioners looked at one another and began to murmur.

“Deacon Lee Sang-do is dedicated to church service, and you all know that whenever there is a problem with the building—such as when we built the student cafeteria—he drops everything to rush over and fix it.

You also know that Jesus worked as a carpenter.

Deacon Lee Sang-do was seriously injured and unable to move, and he only barely managed to emerge from a coma a few days ago.

Despite it being a fatal accident, a miraculous thing happened, and Deacon Lee Sang-do has woken up.”

“Hallelujah.”

The congregation shouted "Hallelujah" and clapped toward the family.

“However, a very difficult situation has now befallen Deacon Lee Sang-do and Deacon Park Mok-wol. Housing prices have skyrocketed, and they need to sign a lease agreement, but the landlord has raised the rent ridiculously high, so they are reportedly facing eviction from their home.”

“Oh dear.”

The believers sighed and expressed their sympathy.

“And this wonderful family, who worked hard day after day to raise their children, care for their elderly parents and even their ailing mother-in-law, while also volunteering for the elders at the church, is currently facing difficulties. Fellow believers, let us pray for our family. And our lovely youngest daughter, what was her name again?”

The elementary school daughter sitting next to her mother spoke sadly.

“It’s Lee Mi-young.”

“Right, Mi-young, what grade are you in now?”

“I’m becoming a middle school student.”

“Fellow believers, Mi-young has now become a middle school student. She has gone from a child into a teenager.

However, she has to buy a school uniform and school supplies, and attend the academies that all her friends go to.

Furthermore, although the eldest daughter wanted to come to church today, she attends school while working part-time on weekdays and because someone needs to be by her father's side to care for him, she is currently caring for him in the hospital.

She is a high school senior who should be focusing on her studies.

I have seen with my own eyes how kind and well-mannered the eldest daughter, Su-young, has been since childhood.

However, I did not know.

That she is working part-time while attending school to earn her own tuition for the sake of her family.

When their minor daughter went to ask her parents for a consent form to work part-time,

how much pain and heartache must Deacon Lee Sang-do and Deacon Park Mok-wol have felt?”

As Deacon Park Mok-wol, who had been listening, burst into tears, the sound of sobbing could be heard from all parts of the church.

“Even so, the eldest daughter, the firstborn, comforted her parents, saying she really wanted to do it and that it was okay.

She said that working part-time was good because it helped her gain social experience, and that she enjoyed meeting people.

She reassured them that it was fine, and instead worried that her parents’ hearts might get hurt.

Seeing that filial, lovely, and beautiful sight of that kind daughter of God,

and thinking about how heartbroken and upset she must be as she nurses her father lying in his sickbed right now,

I, too, am moved to tears.”

Inside the sanctuary, there were men who shed silent tears, and there were also middle-aged women who were wailing.

“Their second child, Ji-young, is now in her final year of middle school and is preparing to enter high school.

Ji-young is a kind student who is good at both her studies and playing the piano.

She plays the piano accompaniment at the middle school worship service. You all know Ji-young well, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Ji-young stands at a very critical moment where she must do her best in her studies, without worrying about her parents, her older sister, or her younger sibling who has just become a middle school student.

Everyone, this is a moment when this family needs your prayers and miracles. Let us pray.”

In the chapel, people began to pray aloud, raising their voices.

They cried out "Lord, Lord" in a language they did not even know, shed tears, and raised their arms and swayed their bodies. A few minutes passed like this.

The piano began playing hymn accompaniment, and the people started singing along to Pastor Hwang's voice.

“How beautiful is our Savior Jesus, who is the friend I truly long for. Lilies beneath the mountain, shining morning star—Lord, there is no way to truly behold You. You are a great comfort when my heart aches, and a good friend when I am lonely. You are the lilies beneath the mountain, the shining morning star—there is nothing on this earth to compare You. You are the friend I truly long for.”

The believers inside the chapel sang hymns while clapping.

And when the hymn was finished, one of the believers raised their hand.

“I happen to have another house. It might be a bit cramped for Deacon Lee’s family, but I hope you will stay there until your situation improves.”

Pastor Hwang shouts.

“Hallelujah.”

“Amen.”

“I will provide school supplies for the students.”

“Hallelujah.”

“I will provide scholarships and tuition for private academies.”

“Hallelujah.”

“I will provide a job for Deacon Park.”

“Hallelujah.”

The piano accompaniment started again, and they began singing a hymn.

“Now, we will collect the funds to be used for the Deacon’s medical expenses.”

While the hymn accompaniment began, one person from each row came forward from the back to the front, holding a cloth bag to collect the offering, and began passing the bag around.

“Let us rest in the Lord’s kind arms; our hearts will be at peace, always joyful and blessed. Let us rest in His eternal arms. Let us rest in the Lord’s arms, in His mighty arms; let us rest in the Lord’s arms, in His eternal arms.”

Over 30 million won was collected in offerings, and the entire amount was delivered to the family.

Pastor Hwang went to the hospital to visit Deacon Lee, accompanied by those who had pledged to provide school supplies and scholarships.

Deacon Lee shed tears.

Among the church members, there were those who worked as movers and those who did wallpapering.

There were also those who sold furniture and those who ran electronics dealerships.

Everyone gathered to refurbish the new home of the injured believer's family.

This family will never forget the grace they received for the rest of their lives.

This applies to those who helped, and it will be the same for Pastor Hwang.

The believers' mutual support stemmed from a habit inherited from the days of the pioneering church, which began in a tent.

They provided jobs for the unemployed and purchased goods from merchants.

They helped with weddings and funerals; their relationship was not merely one of socializing at the church.

They provided scholarships to students who had attended since childhood and sometimes even raised funds for university tuition.

The pastor received an old, luxury car as a gift from a parishioner who dealt in used cars.

He initially refused, finding it burdensome, but all the parishioners insisted that the car was essential for the pastor, who was busy caring for the congregation, and demanded it.

As the church grew, when the believers wanted to replace their cars, they sold them to a believer who dealt in used cars.

When the church grew even larger and buses were needed, that believer who dealt in used cars sold them.

When the church was being rebuilt, believers in the construction business helped,

and the believers bought blankets from a believer who sold them at the market.

And after the children's service, the children of the church would buy and eat tteokbokki from a tteokbokki shop run by a believer who attended the church.

In this way, a community serving as a distinct economic entity was formed, and the neighborhood was filled with Pastor Hwang's followers.

To be elected as a member of the National Assembly, one had to receive ordination at Pastor Hwang's church.

District mayors and civil servants from local community centers also began attending Pastor Hwang's church.

There were police officers, as well as lawyers and accountants.

There were broadcasting officials, writers, and reporters.

The number of believers exceeded 5,000 and was approaching 10,000.

This was the first time a church had grown so rapidly since the early days of a few churches.

Amidst churches where the number of believers had stagnated or was even declining, Pastor Hwang's church stood out unrivaled.

The church purchased land in Gangwon-do and established a prayer retreat.

They also decided to rebuild the main sanctuary. They began collecting building funds.

People started contributing typically 200 million to 300 million won or more.

If someone contributed 200 million won, they were issued a receipt for 400 million won.

From the perspective of the paying companies, there was absolutely no loss.

On the contrary, he was praised in front of the believers and even gained the authority of an elder.

The pastor did not use money for personal gain. That is likely the difference from other churches.

He set his goal on continuously expanding the church.

And he expected the people attending his church to overcome difficulties, help one another,

and believe in and follow God's will.

When Pastor Hwang wrote a petition, the sentence of the sinful believer was reduced.

And the photo of that famous gangster boss, a former mobster, being baptized by Pastor Hwang was even published in online news.

That gangster became a deacon while greeting people and serving as a parking attendant on Sundays.

Pastor Hwang's church also had many celebrities. There were singers and actors.

The singer sang in the choir and became a teacher instructing students in the church school.

As famous celebrities became teachers, the number of believers increased, including not only elementary school students but also middle and high school students.

In fact, there were even parents who became believers by following their students.

Pastor Kang, who had been watching Pastor Hwang grow, finally made a choice.

He chose the right person to succeed him and lead this new faith.

Pastor Hwang is exceptional at manipulating the hearts and minds of the congregation.

At the same time, he lives a frugal and humble life. However, it was evident that his ambition was great.

Furthermore, while he did not spend money on himself, he did not shy away from using even slight shortcuts to increase the church's assets.

This was because he held the absolute belief that everything would be used for God's work and for the believers.

Pastor Hwang will answer Pastor Kang's call.

This is because he believes that Pastor Kang is a man sent from heaven who transformed him, who had been wandering, into a soldier of God.

Pastor Kang and Pastor Hwang spent about three hours together.

And Pastor Hwang shed tears, wearing a worried expression.

“What should our believers do? Lord, please let me know.”

Pastor Hwang, having received a thick hardcover booklet from Pastor Kang, went up to his prayer room at the top of the church tower and spent several days reading, praying, and fasting.

And he realized his mission.

It happened to be the day of the Friday all-night prayer service. The associate pastor was leading it.

Pastor Hwang washed his face, perhaps realizing that his eyes were swollen with tears.

However, he remembered the clothes he hadn't washed or changed into for days.

Nevertheless, the congregation would understand.

This is because he believes that the congregation loves him just as he loves them.

As Pastor Hwang came out of the restroom, he made eye contact with Deacon Choi.

“Hello, Pastor. I heard you are praying to God.”

“Deacon Choi, are you doing well? I heard that your daughter recently entered university.”

“Yes, thank you, Pastor.”

“It would be nice to attend the Sunday service and celebrate together. I should have arranged such an occasion sooner, but as you know, there have been issues with the church building and accidents involving the deacons.”

“No, Pastor. We all know you are very busy. I will definitely come to see you.”

“Yes, your daughter’s name is Mi-hee, isn’t it?”