A Postcard from Eritrea

Dear Andy, Now I am in Eritrea. You might get this letter after coming from Ethiopia. Asmara is quite better than what I expect before I come here. Yesterday I visited Massawa the second biggest city in Eritrea. It was really hot there; the temperature was over 40 degrees Celsius. However in there I can see the Red Sea and swim in the Red Sea. Nowadays I teach Taekwondo to the students in a school here. The children here are so lovely, cute and blessed. I really want to be the real light for them. I only have one more week to teach them. I hope that all of your problems are solved away by Him. I really thanks to you for every helping and teaching. By your teaching, I can write a letter in English like this. I surely convince that He will always be with you all the way in Korea. Thanks again to you!! From your student, SooHo in Eritrea

The Love Birds Have Tied the Knot!

Just a few of the BEAUTIFUL pictures taken at Eric & Bonni'es wedding on August 15th. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend as I was in Ethiopia. Eric, Bonnie, Prophete and I had a fun evening out yesterday at Pizza Hut and then back to Eric & Bonnie's place for a tour of their new pad and an evening of fun and Bible Trivia! CONGRATULATIONS once again, Mr. and Mrs. Som!!! May God bless your exciting, new beginning together!!!

Handong University's 2006 Summer Retreat - 2006.8.21-23

Dear Friends,
Welcome to our Summer 2006 Faculty Retreat! I have been often deeply moved by your dedication, your sincere heart for God's kingdom and your service for His glory. I am so thankful to be serving the Lord with you in "God's University." I am also aware of the fact that we can grow weary and lose the passion that we once had for the Lord. I pray that this retreat and this coming semester will be times of renewal from the Lord. May the Lord meet us in such a way as to restore our first love for Him. May we remember, repent and do the things we did at first (Revelation 2:4-5). "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Young Ho Hwang, Head Champlain

Pastor Young-Ho, Gary Parrett and Handong University's Dean of Academic Affairs, Kim Young-Sup, enjoying a quick break in between lectures.

Teaching for IMPACT

Intercession
Modeling
Partnership
Alertness/Attentiveness
Cultivation
Trust/Time
Intercession-We must be constantly praying for our students.
Modeling-Like Jesus said to his disciples in John 1, "Come and See". Hands on! We must be kinds of Christians that people want to imitate (ultimately leading them to imitate Christ).
Partnership-We must work with other Christians/teachers. We are the BODY of Christ. We must realize our absolute dependence on the body of Christ.
Alertness/Attentiveness-We must "seize the teachable moments" which sometimes requires "interruption" of the intended schedule...
Cultivation-I must cultivate my own soul through sermons, study of the Holy Scriptures, and reading books that challenge my notions. I must be prepared to "break up the fallow ground" (Hosea 10:12) of my heart.
Trust/Time-I must trust that God's grace will do work wonders in faith. I must not see my students with "wordly eyes" but as Jesus sees them! Also, I must understand that God's timing is best. We might not see the fruit of our efforts. ("I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6) ("Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)
(These are reproduced sermon notes from Gary Parrett's lectures)

This is how the retreat was for 20 hours. A lot of lectures but extremely important especially in discussing the NURI grant which (Praise God!) has blessed the university with 16 million dollars over the next 4 years.

Seven Critical Questions for Christian Teaching

WHY? CONCEPT
Why do we teach? What are our goals-primary and secondary? How do we conceive our task? To what do we turn as sources for framing the task? How does my specific subject area (eg: literature, law, etc.) relate to the larger goals of Christian formation?
WHAT? CONTENT
What must be teach? What is the essential content of our teaching ministry if we are to be faithful and effective in our task? How is the approach to a given subject area at a Christian university the same as that at a secular university? How is it different?
WHO? CONTACT
Who is charged with the responsibility of teaching? How can we best organize those who are engaged in the teaching ministry of the Church? What manner of persons must teachers be in order to be faithful and effective in their task? How can professors and other university staff collaborate with one another toward a common goal and vision?
WHOM? CONGRUENCE
Whom do we teach? What are the socio-cultural realities of our learners and how must these affect the teaching task? As we consider the goals of Christian formation, what are some of the cultural obstacles we face-eg. the idols of the culture, the isms of the culture, the evil inclinations of the culture? How can we be sensitive to cultural diversity in the university community and in the classroom?
WHEN? CONTINUITY
When should we teach what? What are the developmental realities of our learners (both in terms of natural and spiritual development) and how must these affect the teaching task? How can we build upon previous learning and prepare for subsequent learning? How are developmental concerns being accounted for in the curriculum as a whole and in particular classes? Again, how can we be sensitive to diversity in this regard?
HOW? CONFLUENCE
How must be teach in order to engage whole persons-heads, hearts and hands-in Christian formation? How can we challenge the community toward transformation in all facets of its life? How does our teaching embrace the various domains of learning-perception, cognition, affection, behavior?
WHERE? CONTEXTS
Where should the teaching occur? What are the environments in which the community and individual students are best taught and formed? Is there variety in the learning environments? What are the limitations of strictly formal education?
(Sermon notes reproduced from Gary Parrett's lectures)

Handong University's Head Champlain, Young-Ho Hwang, and our Guest Lecturer, Gary Parrett, Prof. of Christian Education at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Gary was Young-Ho's youth pastor in New York YEARS AGO!

TWO DEFINITIONS OF TEACHING

"To teach is to create a space in which obedience to Truth is practiced." (Parker Palmer in "To Know as We are Known")
"To teach is to come alongside another in the power of the Holy Spirit to seek an encounter together with the Truth: taking aim to perceive it more clearly, consider it more clearly, consider it more critically, embrace it more passionately, obey it more faithfully, and embody it with greater integrity." (Gary Parrett in "A Many Colored Kingdom")
(Sermon notes from Gary Parrett's lectures)

Please be praying for our new Dean of Student Affairs as he wrestles with new dormitory rules the university is trying to implement. It's a delicate balancing act with trying to respect the freedom of students while also making them understand the need for basic university policies.

A Teacher's Tool Chest

Attributes & Aptitudes of Christlike Teaching:
Acceptance
Belief
Zeal
Knowledge
Listening
Pathos
Questions
Storytelling
Disequilibration
Truthfulness
Gentleness
Vulnerability
Observation
Withdrawal
Releasing
(Sermon notes from Gary Parrett's lectures)

A peaceful morning near Haeundae Hanhwa Resort during Handong Global University's Summer '06 Retreat in Pusan.