AM Travel: Between poetry and Bible - a visit to the Korean Basic Community Church in Seoul
- Alia Mundi Magazine Blog
- Jun 3, 2023
- 2 min read
Egyptian writer and president of the Asian Journalists Association Ashraf Aboul-Yazid payed a short visit to the Korean Basic Community Church in Seoul
Five years ago, I attended the Sunday sermon for the first time at the Sunday Basic Community Church lesson in the South Korean capital, Seoul. Pastor Jo Young-min said that language means the existence of God. Existence is the home of language, and whoever seeks God will find Him and reward Him.
He said: The church is not a building, it is a prayer, but rather a person who believes in God. In our church we don't put up crosses and we don't put a name sign, we pray together.
Today, the third of June, 2023, my friend Lee Sang-ki, who attends the sermon every day, passed by me. It was 5:30 in the morning, we arrived in 40 minutes, and at 6:30, after music, chants and presentation, and the presence of most of them were young people, and he lined up Online viewers in the tens of thousands…
Today's tips are distributed around the word. In a life where there is not enough time for love, do not waste it in vain quarrels. Give us the wisdom to discern what we should and should not do.
As for the country and the people, a prayer, may this generation that suffers from all kinds of addictions be healed with greater value and love, Jesus. There was a call for children to learn true values, love and good lessons at home.
Concerning the church and the mission, he said, “Perhaps there will be a maturity in which change takes place, not just a numerical increase, and Christians may live a missionary life in their place, that is, so that good may spread among them first before they preach it outside the place…
The sermon, punctuated by group Bible readings with a loud choral voice, ended. I marveled at how Lee Sang-ki memorized everything the others read from the Bible!
We went up together, Reverend Joe, friend Sang Ki, and young preacher Tim, to a hosting hall that provided free drinks. I spoke with the preacher, who began his life as a media reporter in Washington, to become, after young years, the most famous Jesuit preacher in Korea. I remember showing him a book he gave me years ago, and he came It is my turn to dedicate my latest book to him, the new version of my poetry anthology, which was published in Arabic, English and Serbian, with the translation of Dr. Ana Stjelja, the well-known poet, publisher, and translator…
And just as I stopped at his sermons, he stopped at reading two short poems, and motioned for his young preacher to read them.
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