I moved to Geoje in 2013 to work as an English teacher at a local school. Before I had moved to Korea I had already made the decision that I would only go if God provided a good, English-speaking church for me to attend and serve at. I had heard good things about the church from a friend who had been there the year before but little did I know what was in store for me at Okpo International Church!
I cannot go into detail about all the various blessings I received at this church but let me focus on one main story…
Two months into my contract, I snapped my achilles playing soccer (football, if you’re British; sport, if you’re a woman). This meant that I was to lose my precious leave (three weeks total leave for a year is common in Korea, sometimes a little generous), and be on crutches for eight weeks! After a week in hospital I moved home to my apartment, having to fend for myself by catching taxis into town to buy food, and generally “crutch around”. Thankfully, miraculously a wonderful family within the church offered to host me for a week and nurse me back to health with probably triple the amount of food an average human needs in a day. Multiple meals a day, interspersed with amazing chai tea and coffee, service fit for royalty, my own room, books to read, a view … it was paradise in this “hotel”!
Added to that, this family lent me their car whenever I needed it, prayed for me (probably daily), had me in their home every Saturday for a life group meeting, and did all they could to love and serve me. Endlessly. It was such a show of God’s love – what Christ would have done – and to me that is true Christianity. Others helped too with lifts, and an offering was taken up to help contribute to my medical bills, which was very thoughtful and helpful. Looking back at that time in crutches, and especially in that home, it was paradoxically one of my fondest memories of Korea, and my year as a teacher there. I can truly say with the Apostle James ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds’ as it was pure joy, indeed.
If you’re wondering if this church is for you, know that they have the love of God in them (at least, they did when I was there! 😉 and are willing to do anything for you, as for Christ Himself.
I hope this church continues to thrive and be a light to Geoje Island, and both Koreans and foreigners alike.
Bless you all,
Mike
Recent Comments