2003.5.4. Rev. Young-Jin Cho

"Toward the New Future"

Joshua 3:14-17

The conference commemorating the centennial anniversary of Korean Methodist's Immigration took place at the Convention Center of Honolulu in Hawaii from April 24th through 27th. I, Elder Byung Nam Kim, and Exhorter In Sup Han participated as representatives of our church and returned healthy through four days of tight schedule. The conference was a great success with positive participation from five hundred Methodists from the mainland, two hundred from Korea, and from the local Methodists as well. The schedule consisted of morning prayers, evening services, subject lectures and workshops as remember the past, celebrate the present and dream the future as the theme of the conference.

Various events are being held continuously to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Korean American Immigration this year. Particularly on Friday of May 9, a dinner party is going to be given to celebrate the centennial anniversary of immigration at Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. Though we are sorry to hear that President Ro Moo Hyun could not come, the arrangement committees are trying to make the party bear significance. The Tae-Kwon-Do Federation, which played major role in internationalization, especially in Americanization of Koreans, is planning a celebration for the centennial anniversary.

There is a message unanimously emphasized through all these centennial anniversary events. That is the assertion that it is time for us to proceed to the Main Stream of American society. It is time for us to go beyond a life wandering around as a minority and to participate and contribute to the leading society. It is something that we all could relate to. Indeed, it is time for us. It is time for us to strengthen our roots of immigrant history and to jump into the main stream of this society.

However, participation into the mainstream is never accomplished with mere slogan. It is not possible by just several patriots' shouts. Dear congregation, how can we make into the mainstream that all of us can sympathize with? What and how can we change to participate in American history that surpasses mere slogan? How can we open our new future that goes beyond the celebration of centennial anniversary?

I.

Joshua chapter 3 is the scripture that I meditated with these questions in mind. Today's scripture tells us the first step of how the Israelites, with the help and grace of God, came out of Egypt, went through the 40 years in the wilderness and are finally entering Canaan, the promised land. The great leader Moses was summoned by God just before entering Canaan. Then it was on Joshua's shoulder to conquer and distribute Canaan, the Promised Land. The first hurdle entering Canaan was the river Jordan. Today's scripture tells us how the Israelites crossed the river Jordan.

The Israelites consecrated themselves according to Joshua's command. They prepared themselves while waiting for Almighty God's work to be done. The priests took the Ark of the Covenant and walked ahead of the people while crossing the Jordan River. As soon as they stepped into Jordan River with the ark of covenant, the water stopped flowing. The river severed and the dry ground revealed. The Israelites crossed the river stepping on the bottom of Jordan River, by the dry ground. It was revival of historical crossing of the Red Sea. Every representative from the twelve tribes took a stone in the center of the river, and piled them at Gilgal. It was to commemorate the fact that they crossed the Jordan River.

From the Israelites who entered Canaan crossing the Jordan River, I see ourselves entering into the American mainstream. The Israelites wandered around the outskirts of the Promised Land for forty years. But now they are able to step into the land they waited and wished. And by crossing the Jordan River, they blocked their way back. They now have their retreat cut off. They could no longer talk of returning to Egypt. It became clear that their only way to survive was to proceed, to enter the mainstream society of Canaan.

It is the same with us who is entering into this centennial anniversary of immigration. It is time for us to go beyond the life wandering around and enter into the mainstream society. It is time for us to stretch out while deeply rooted in America. It is time for us to go beyond the attachment and the nostalgia for the land we left and go forward. In this land, America, it is time to build a new future, a new history.

II.

There is a message that the scripture gives us today with such reality. There is God's word of advice for us who are stepping over the hundred years history of immigration to America.

(1) First of all, we should reflect and readjust the meaning and the goal of immigration in God's perspective.

Dear congregation, why have you come to this land? What is your purpose of living in this land? Is your faith towards God have any kind of relationship with you living in America? The Israelites who were about to enter into Canaan had a clear answer to this question. They were convinced that their way was the way God was leading. They firmly trusted that this way was the completion of God's promise to their ancestors. They conducted themselves upon this faith. They also stepped into Jordan River based upon this faith. This faith was the source of their courage and hope for accomplishing the work of conquering Canaan with power and ability.

Dear congregation, how about us? Were our decisions to cross the Pacific Ocean to be in this land merely an individual choice? Is there no other purpose than pursuing a better life, a better education for children? I don't think so. Till now, more than a million of Koreans came to this land across the Pacific Ocean. They set their roots here and began their new lives. It is clearly a racial migration in Korean history. Don't you think there was God's will behind this racial migration who leads the history?? When a million people crossed the Pacific Ocean, was our God sleeping? Was God just watching, saying that it's matter of individual decision?

No way! God led us to this land. He led us here not only to start new future for everyone but also to build American history anew. He led us here to do His will and to light the dark. It is not just a story. It also is not a highly planned strategy to comfort ourselves. God led us to this land. There certainly are God's plan and will behind this hundred year of Korean immigration history.

If we set up the meaning and goal of immigration in faith, entering into the mainstream is never an option or a choice. This is God's will who had led us to this land. This is God's request toward us. This is God's command that can not be turned down. There is no time to be wasted. This is not the time to enjoy just among ourselves or circle among Koreans no matter how American society runs. This is time for our minds to immigrate, where our bodies have already immigrated. This is time for us to watch American videos as well Korean videos.

This war with Iraq gave us another chance to remind ourselves that the issue of the United States is also the issue to us as well. What does the fact that there were many Korean-Americans who were deployed in Iraq tells us? It means that the issue of America is no longer the issue of America alone, but also the heart of our issue as well. Participation into American society is no longer matter of choice for us. The United States is also calling us. It is not time for us to hesitate in joining the American society.

Thus, we should know and learn about the United States. Rather than living amongst us surrounded with Koreans, we should hurry ourselves in preparing positively into the history. I always remember the words of pastor Shin, Young-Gak, who once served with me: "Pastor Cho, please tell the parents. Not only should they tell their children to learn Korean but the parents themselves must also learn English as well as American history." That's right. One of important things in participating into the mainstream is exercising your right to vote. Once you decided to stay in America, apply for citizenship and also remember to vote. History never changes by the indifferent bystanders. Only a responsible participant can make and renew the history. Being an United States citizen is not betraying Korea. To the contrary, if you live here as a responsible participant, you can do good for Korea. You can exercise an influence on the American policy on Korean peninsular. It is time for us to dream a new future suitable for the Korean population that is close to two million. It is time for us to wipe out the criticism that we cannot even serve ourselves a meal.

(2) Secondly, the Israelites consecrated themselves upon entering Canaan. In chapter 3 verse five, Joshua commanded: "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

We also have something to prepare for ourselves joining in mainstream of the American society. There is one thing that we should put in order before God. We should show an earnest faith. A truthful life. A holy life. Trust in the Lord with your body and soul not only with your lips. Trust in the Lord throughout the week not only on Sundays. Trust in the Lord in your workplace or where you are not only in the church. It is our task to overcome this separation of trust from our lives. We should have true faith in Jesus. We should confess our faith with whole body and soul.

To make it simple and basic, we Korean-Americans should obey the law and live honestly. Could you be the light and the salt of this land when you break the law and lie and still speak of your faith to God? We went through hardships and our share of struggles to survive through the history. In our struggle for survival, we might have broken the law, and might have lied. But it is time to shed our stained past as we begin our lives here in this land.

I say this wherever I go: The most important task for the first generation of immigrants is what kind of image we are planting in American history. If we plant an image that Korean-Americans are honest and reliable, it will be a great strength for our second and third generation of successors. However, if the first generation pass on the image of Ugly Korean that lie and break the law, we will leave great burden and hardships for our next generations to come.. Therefore, all of us should be honest. We should leave our footprint that tax report of Korean-American is trustworthy. This is not only because we are Korean-Americans, but also and moreover because we are Christians. The Israelites consecrated themselves upon entering Canaan. We should consecrate ourselves upon entering the mainstream society. We should be consecrated and prepared to be the bowls that can be used anyway God wants.

(3) What I'd like to say thirdly is to train the next generations who will lead new future of this land. It is to educate the truly influential leaders.

40 years in wilderness was a period of generation shift for Israelites. Those who were 20 years old or more when they fled Egypt had all finished their life in the wilderness. During this period, Moses trained Joshua, the leader of next generation, who would lead the history of conquer of Canaan. Our days as the first generation of immigrant are coming to an end. The foremost and urgent task for us to do is to train next generation of workers who will lead history of this land and transform this land according to God's will.

I always say this. God's work is not a marathon but a relay. One cannot serve God's work from the beginning through the end. God gives every generation its work to do. We can earnestly do our own work and pass the baton to the next generation. We might sow seeds and go as the first generation of immigrant. We might see only the sprout. It is possible that we may not see the thick forests and opulent fruits until next or after next generation.

Therefore, the important thing for us to do is to train and support the next generation of workers. Even if we don't bear the fruits now. It is all right to finish our lives with just a sprout. The only thing we should do is water and care for them. Dear congregation, the great works that were recorded in the Bible were always accomplished when there were man prepared. The transition period of history where the Israelites transits from Judges to Kingdoms also begins by the birth of Samuel. God's work that saves all mankind also begins by the birth of Jesus. If we train workers during our times, God will accomplish a great work using him in the next generation. We should train workers. We need to train workers. This is our task of cooperating together to open the new page of immigrant history.

(4) I'd like to tell you this for the fourth. Dear congregation, in today's scripture, who went ahead when they crossed over the Jordan River? Who put the first step into the flowing Jordan River? They were the priests. They were the priests who carried the ark of covenant. There is a message in this word. Dear congregation, who should go ahead in the work that opens a new future in American soil? They are the priests. They are the reverends who are leading churches. However, I would like to broaden its meaning. Dear congregation, the church should go ahead. The God's people should go ahead.

According to sociologists, more than 70 percent of Koreans have by all means relationships with churches. If the majority of Koreans have relationships with churches, churches have great responsibilities. Churches have responsibilities of keeping and leading Korean society to the right directions. Churches should be leading the ways to the mainstream. Are today's churches playing this role? Do they have this perception and awareness? They should seriously reflect themselves on that.

Through this conference held in Hawaii to commemorate centennial immigration, I once more confirmed my pride of our church being the member of Methodist Church. Nearly half of the first 102 immigrants to Hawaii were members of Naeri Methodist Church from Incheon. And the person who welcomed the immigrants was the Methodist Superintendent of Hawaii District. And it is well known that the first churches established in major cities were Methodist churches. Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, in these cities, the Methodist churches were first to be established. The Methodist churches that first opened their hearts towards minorities, are again opening their doors for Korean Christians to enter into the mainstream society. Today in the United Methodist Church, there are more than three hundred pastors who are serving American churches or institutions. Although first generation pastors are short of English, and have hardships in communication, many pastors are establishing their roots as pastors for Americans. In our Virginia Union, there are also six pastors who are serving American churches. The United Methodist Churches are also leading Koreans to enter into the mainstream. It is so thankful, isn't it?

Celebration of centennial anniversary of immigration should come as an alarm for our churches. Like the priests who led the Isrelites crossing the Jordan River to Canaan, today's church should lead Koreans to enter into mainstream. The churches should recognize and take upon their mission in leading the fellow Korean society.

III.

The most important thing for Israelites who crossed the Jordan River into Canaan was ultimately their faith. Their faith in God helped them step forward courageously to the Promised Land.

It is same of us today. On the ground of faith, we should once establish the meaning and the goal of immigration. Seeing through the eyes of faith, entering into the mainstream society is never a matter of choice. It is our task. It is God's will. Accomplishment of this task also depends on faith. On the ground of right faith, we should consecrate ourselves, and train people of faith. And churches on this belief, should lead and clear the path. If we rely on God's help and step forward, the Jordan River will sever. We can overcome the hardships. The new future will be opened. The dawn of new history will break.

I read this story in an article written by pastor Park, Sung Geun, who is serving L.A. Baptist Church. An armed robber broke into the Korean store. The robber aimed his gun and shouted "Hold up!" But the owner who did not knew the meaning of hold up, stammered "I am sorry. There is no Hold-up in my store, I only sell Seven-ups." Of course it is a joke, but it is also sad a story. He wasn't aware of what's going on even when his life was in danger. It is a story that shows the hardships of not knowing the English language. Even if you lack at speaking English language, you can still enter into the mainstream society when you live on your sincere faith. You can win recognition.

Pastor Park introduced an Elder who lives in Indianapolis. The Elder did not receive high level of education, for he lived in rural area when he was very young. In his earlier age, he picked up bits of tailoring skills running errands at the tailor shop. He became a master tailor and immigrated. He has been doing the same work ever since. Yes and no were the only two words that he could speak. However, the Elder is recognized as the best tailor in the mainstream society. The list of customers at his shop includes Reggie Miller, who is one of famous NBA stars. And many of political celebrities in Indianapolis are patrons at this store. When this story was introduced in a famous economy journal, the Elder smiled saying that his English had improved since then. I now can say "there" along with "yes and no." The Elder spoke of how he became who he is like this. "What can I ask for more when I live and try my best at the place where God has provided."

It is time for us to hurry ourselves up in entering the mainstream society. Our Lord who led us to this land tells us today. Cross the Jordan River to the Promised Land. With your faith firmly rooted, go forward to the mainstream. Get up and go towards new future.