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Yonsei News

[YONSEI NEWS] The Underwood Award Ceremony and Commemorative Lectures

연세대학교 홍보팀 / news@yonsei.ac.kr
2006-11-27

The 6th Underwood Missionary Award Ceremony and Commemorative Lectures were held on October 12th at 3 o'clock in the Luce Chapel. Yonsei University established the Underwood Commemoration Project Association in 2000, in order to widely applaud the missionary spirit and cause of Dr. Underwood. Moreover, every year on October, the University selects and awards missionaries who are fulfilling their callings in various corners of the world. In addition, the University holds a commemorative lecture that academically reflects on the spirit and accomplishments of the Underwood missionaries. Kang Sung-Il and Jo Gi-Sul were the recipients of the 6th Underwood Missionary Award. During the 1st session, Visiting Professor Choi Jai-Keun (College of Theology) lectured on the theme of "Underwood's Differentiation Strategy in Establishing a University." Professor Choi commented that "Yonhi and Severance were pursuing university-level education even when the Japanese General Government did not accept university education in Korea. Hence, the two institutions exerted their utmost efforts in the fields of Korean studies, natural sciences, and medicine." Furthermore, he analyzed that based on this foundation, Yonsei was able to develop into a full-fledged university following Korea's independence. Moreover, he pointed out that its establishment in Seoul, its wide Ecumenical spirit, and its expansion of a range of academia as factors that induced Yonsei's development. Additionally, he also analyzed that Yonsei's establishment on the Christian mentality and its continuous development of the concept of the spirit of truth and freedom according to the changes of the era has been a pivotal factor in its persistent growth. "Missionary work is God's way of furthering blessing me" The Pioneering of the Brazilian Church and Divinity School Services, Missionary Kang Sung-Il Missionary Kang Sung-Il was selected as the first official missionary for the South American region by the 1983 General Assembly of Presbyterian Churches in Korea. Ever since, he has exerted efforts to support Brazilian churches and has carried out divinity school services. In particular, in 1992, he established a Bible school in the Northeastern region of Brazil, which is one of the most marginalized areas. In 1998, this school developed into a Divinity School after being confirmed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churches in Brazil, and in 2000s the Bachelor's program was established. Recently, this school has achieved the accomplishment of ranking 1st in the Brazil Scholastic Aptitude Competition among Divinity Schools. Missionary Kang said that "The words that Father Kwak Sun-Hee spoke to me 23 years ago to 'Be a missionary who stand shameless in front of God and the Church. Be a servile missionary. Compromise with reality.' have always been my guiding principles." Hence, he said that he has tried to always live by these words. Furthermore, he remarked that the "Missionary work was carried out by God. All I did was obey and persevere and I would not have been able to accomplish any of it had it not been for the Holy Spirit that guided me." He thanked and praised God's grace by saying that "Missionary work is God's way of further blessing me." "Gratitude and respect to Dr. Underwood who has shown an exemplary model of missionary work" Indonesia Missionary Hospital and Education Services, Missionary Jo Gi-Sul Missionary Jo Gi-Sul was dispatched as a missionary following the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churches in Korea in 1983. He went to Malaysia and pioneered Chinese and Indian churches, and since 1987 he has been exerting his utmost efforts in developing educational services in Sumatra, Indonesia. After establishing the first hospital in Sumatra in 1990, he has led efforts to cultivate Christians by founding an elementary school, a middle school, a Presbyterian Divinity School, and a Foreign Language University. Moreover, he founded the Indonesia General Assembly of Missionary Presbyterian Churches and served as its first President. The Ebenezer Presbyterian Church which he founded, experienced the great success of now having 40 branches. Missionary Jo said that "In Islamic countries, there were several situations in which we had no choice but to withdraw due to political, social, and economic difficulties. However, I have overcome the stumbling blocks and persevered the belief that this is the place where God has dispatched me," and also added, "I am thankful and think of this as an invaluable blessing from God who knows the difficulties that can be faced while carrying out any type of missionary work."