UBF Info - Universität Bibel Freundschaft - Hochschulgemeinde » Pressemitteilungen http://www.ubfinfo.org Universität Bibel Freundschaft Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:39:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Interview mit HyunJeong Lee, UBF Korea Direktor (engl.) http://www.ubfinfo.org/2009/01/interview-mit-hyunjeong-lee-ubf-korea-direktor-engl/ http://www.ubfinfo.org/2009/01/interview-mit-hyunjeong-lee-ubf-korea-direktor-engl/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:57:42 +0000 Sam http://www.ubfinfo.org/?p=43

“I can feel great grace of God when I consider 3,400 attendants from 88 countries at the 2008 UBF (University Bible Fellowship) international conference organised by Korean Christians. I am convinced that Jesus blesses sacrificial lives of faith of our missionaries.”

 

Pastor HyunJeong Lee, Korean UBF director, who organised 2008 UBF international conference which was held in Purdue University in Indianapolis in USA between 24 ~ 27, said “I’m endlessly moved when I reflect on the UBF movement, that started in 1960s in Korea, which now spread all over the world.”

 

What he says is he is really surprised that UBF has become the most key bible study organisation both in German universities that boast most intellect and in American universities where Christian mission is most active.

 

The first reason UBF has became the most active mission organisation, is missionaries’ pure faith although they might have language problem and self-supporting problem.

 

Most people didn’t believe it would work when UBF sent laymen missionaries to West-Germany after 9 years prayer. However students in the USA and Europe were moved by missionaries’ pure faith that believes the miracle of five loaves and two fish.

 

Pastor Lee also added that students were touched by laymen missionaries’ life who overcame the culture of developed countries and lived a humble life and also practiced discipleship of Jesus.

 

World churches should note that as UBF missionary sending spreads, the quality of the native messengers also keeps growing, he added. In this conference, native messengers delivered powerful messages. On the evening of 26th, 500 people volunteered to go out as missionaries, which made all the attendants solemn.

 

One leader from a mega-church, who attended the conference, suggested that international conference like this should be co-hosted with Korean church rather than hosted by UBF only. He then recommended UBF for co-hosting.

]]> http://www.ubfinfo.org/2009/01/interview-mit-hyunjeong-lee-ubf-korea-direktor-engl/feed/ 0 In Search of Mission Organization http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/12/in-search-of-mission-organization/ http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/12/in-search-of-mission-organization/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:31:16 +0000 Sam http://www.ubfinfo.org/?p=38

In search of mission organization ― UBF (University Bible Fellowship)] Bible Reading and Disciple making targeted for college students world-wide


Kukmin-ilbo article on Feb 18, 2008

 Do you know which mission organization sent most missionaries last year? According to Korea World Mission Association, it is the University Bible Fellowship (UBF) which sent 1486 people (79 countries) out of total 17,697 people. The main focus of UBF, which started in Korea and grew world-wide and self-supporting, is bible study and disciple making and preaching the gospel to students world-wide.

The purpose of UBF, which was founded in Kwangju, Jeolla province by the Late Pastor Chang-Woo Lee and Sarah Barry from the Presbyterian Church, US-Southern, was to help college students, immediately after the 4/19 nation-wide demonstration and 5·16 coup d’état, to read the bible and live by it and follow Jesus’ world mission command. UBF, which started bible study and prayer meeting with a motto ‘Bible Korea, World Mission”, still focuses on the same purpose without change even after 47 years.

Campus mission is the most important activity in UBF. In particular, one-to-one bible study and small group bible study best depicts its character. Students learn through bible studies how to apply the word in everyday life and how to become true disciples of Christ. Campus mission is also the main focus of world mission. Missionaries teach the bible to college students, young people and neighbors and raise them as disciples.

Most UBF missionaries are sent after about 10 years of training. Bible study during under-graduate and post-graduate is the basic and they receive after graduation, more than two years, basic training as Christians, disciple making, preparation as tent-maker missionaries, foreign language training and culture study. Later they receive intensive training in the HQ for two months and then they are sent off.

UBF policy for mission is a professional self-supporting missionary. Thus they have to carry out the mission as well as working. The first missionary was sent to West-Germany in 1969 and it was a nurse. Missionaries sent up to now are all long-term missionaries with jobs.

As the professional self-supporting ministry is becoming a new mission strategy for restricted areas, UBF missionaries are becoming a subject of study. In particular, more attention is given as the natives, after receiving the missionary-calling, are sent out as missionaries. Hyun-Jeong Lee, the Korea UBF director, said “UBF will co-work with native missionaries and put more effort to mission” and “we will raise the disciples of Jesus through Jesus’ incarnation spirit with a focus of a 10-40 window area”

Reporter Sang-Mok Shin

 

]]> http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/12/in-search-of-mission-organization/feed/ 0 A Korean newspaper article about the Purdue conf. 2008 by a Kukminilbo reporter http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/08/middle-east-europe-africa-cis-links-to-other-chapters-north-america-south-america-middle-east-oceania-europe-africa-asia-cis-da/ http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/08/middle-east-europe-africa-cis-links-to-other-chapters-north-america-south-america-middle-east-oceania-europe-africa-asia-cis-da/#comments Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:00:40 +0000 Sam http://www.ubfinfo.org/?p=28 Click Kukminilbo Link!

Kukminilbo (08.7.27) article: World famous speakers testified God’s love In UBF international conference at Purdue University.

It was noticeable that well known speakers testified about the love of God during the University Bible Fellowship International Conference at the Purdue University in west Lafayette, Indiana during July 24-27, 2008. The speakers had accepted the gospel by the Korean missionaries from UBF and they are now professionals in their respective areas. Their messages were warmly welcomed.

Dr. Joseph Schafer from Penn State University came to the church by the Korean Missionary when he was a student at MIT, 26 years ago. He spoke on Luke 19 and emphasized that Jesus accepted Zacchaeus as he was. He said that Jesus was looking for Zacchaeus earnestly when Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus earnestly. This is the secret of the relationship between Jesus and each person. He urged that each person must find a salvation from despair, selfishness, loneliness, and isolation through personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Restoration of the personal relationship is the key to quench the spiritual thirst in our post modern young people.

Dr. James Rabchuck, a Physics professor and a Bible teacher at the Western Illinois University delivered Luke 15, ‘a parable of the prodigal son’ and emphasized that God has compassion toward the prodigal son and runs to welcome him. It is a great comfort and glory that each person has a heavenly Father.”

The title of the conference was ‘For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Despite famine and flood and war, family problems and personal hardships, people gathered there in order to testify the love of God toward each person.

Vladimir Levitsky from Ukraine testified, “I thought about the love of Jesus Christ as something far away or not applicable to me. But the conference helped me to know the love of God personally.”

West Lafayette- Soon Man Lim

]]> http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/08/middle-east-europe-africa-cis-links-to-other-chapters-north-america-south-america-middle-east-oceania-europe-africa-asia-cis-da/feed/ 0 Alternative for ‘High Price Low Efficiency’ Korea Mission is Immigrant and International Mission http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/07/alternative-for-%e2%80%98high-price-low-efficiency%e2%80%99-korea-mission-is-immigrant-and-international-mission/ http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/07/alternative-for-%e2%80%98high-price-low-efficiency%e2%80%99-korea-mission-is-immigrant-and-international-mission/#comments Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:10:19 +0000 Sam http://www.ubfinfo.org/?p=20 Alternative for ‘High Price Low Efficiency’ Korea Mission is Immigrant and International Mission

Immigrant and studying abroad mission is an effective paradigm of professional mission

November 10th – Christian Daily

 
"Immigrant and international student mission will be a new breakthrough in ‘high price low efficiency’ Korea mission system."

During a recent Korean Mission Leader World Forum Jung Kook Han KWMA executive director(UPMA Representative) said, in the report of ‘Korea Mission Future Project, Frontiers Mission 1st a 5-year Development Plan Interim Inspection’ with the theme, "It is emphasizing the importance of professionalism to get out of ‘high price low efficiency’ Korea mission system", "’Immigrant mission’ and ‘International student mission’ are very effective paradigm of professional mission, especially in Creative Access Nations (CAN)."

Director Han pointed out, first of all, the limit of approaching the existing professional mission that shrinks professionalism to ‘professional gifts’ as the means of mission and evangelism and regard it just as one part of mission, and strong asserted "true professional mission is mission and professionalism which complements and independent of each other."

For this reason "’Immigrant mission’ that is connected directly with existence and adaptation of work professionalism and ‘International mission’ that combines mission with studying will become an effective and natural paradigm of professional mission.

"The time that mission developed greatly in the history of the church was done by mass moving mission," and "Even in these day, Koryoin of Central Asia and Chosun Tribe of China, Korean residents in Japan and so forth has became the path of salvation for each nations in Korean immigration history." he said. He also spoke about many Korean mission resources immigrated abroad to developed country including America and Germany after 1950, and immigration of a undeveloped country including Philippine and Malaysia after 1960.

Executive director Han said, "While doing immigrant mission, professionalism will never degenerate only to become a tool of mission, and won’t need to do fund raise for mission." Also spoke about the possibility of making the true meaning of professional mission into a reality.

In the global era international student mission makes it possible to preach the gospel in creative access nations while studying. He suggested, "It is not that international student mission will be used to get a student visa but will need an international student mission for long term stay. Through international student mission it will be possible to learn the native language, culture, and prepare for business."

He once again emphasized, "Through the recent Afghan accident, we came to know that professional mission in creative access nations will never work if the natives regard it as ‘camouflaged mission’”.

Samuel Lee Korea representative of UBF said, “UBF sent many professional missionaries to mission field just like Germany along with immigrant parade since 1969, and at the same time with as the door of studying abroad opened in 1980s, international student missionaries have been sent out," "Now as the natives who are fostered by these missionaries has been sent to third countries. Immigrant mission and international student mission is very hopeful and pertinent mission method."

But some people argue that there needs to be an effort of the Christian and missionary community to enlarge the traditional concept and definition of traditional mission and missionary, and most of all take concern of the identity of missionary in the mission field. Representative Caleb Shin (All Nations Network) said, "Still there are controversies between the traditional concept of missionary and of professionalism missionary. There needs to be an effort to extend the definition of mission and missionary and put it into new mission paradigm."

Representative Chong Kim (US Center for World Mission) said, "No matter how well the missionary can speak the native language and have professionalism, he will always be considered as an outsider in the mission field forever. So it is most big problem how the missionary builds an identity to exercise great influence in the insider and the mainstream."

By Grace Kim
Christian Daily Reporter

]]> http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/07/alternative-for-%e2%80%98high-price-low-efficiency%e2%80%99-korea-mission-is-immigrant-and-international-mission/feed/ 0 Interview with Sarah Barry, UBF founder http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/07/interview-with-sarah-barry-ubf-founder/ http://www.ubfinfo.org/2008/07/interview-with-sarah-barry-ubf-founder/#comments Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:58:03 +0000 Sam http://www.ubfinfo.org/?p=19 I arranged an interview with Missionary Sarah Barry, who came to Korea at the age of 25 and established UBF. Then I read articles on UBF. As I came to know more about UBF and Sarah Barry, I really looked forward to the interview. Her life was like a drama. She was born into a rich family in the USA and graduated university. After that, she gave up everything and came as a missionary to Korea that was desolated due to the Korean War. The UBF (University Bible Fellowship) that she founded grew to become the No. 1 missionary sending organization in Korea after many ups and downs. To meet her, I visited on the 16th of April 2008, the UBF HQs on Chongno 5th Street. I arrived earlier and was waiting for her. Soon missionary Sarah Barry, who had brown eyes and white hair, came in with the smile of a girl, saying “Please to meet you!”. Before the interview, she said, “I am a boring person.” Looking at her kind and warm smile, I didn’t believe what she said. However, she gave answers those like from the textbook. There was no decoration in her answers—her life was like an example.

Christian Today: "It’s been a while since you visited Korea."

Sarah Barry: "Yes, I came in a hurry. Because Pastor Moses Kim (Kwan-Ok), who studied the Bible with me, passed away. I attended his funeral service and visited DamYang, his hometown. I also visited KwangJu where UBF started in and met few ministers."

Toilets were pretty and I even took pictures… “Korea grew a lot through God’s blessing”

< Missionary Sarah Barry. She said Korea is her spiritual hometown.

Christian Today: "Korea changed a lot?"

Sarah Barry: "Yes indeed. When I came first, all houses in Kwangju were thatched but now there are none like that. The roads were full of pebbles but now they are all paved well. What most interesting as the toilets at the service station on the motorway. It was very beautiful—with pretty flowers…it was so pretty that I even took pictures. There is no such a pretty toilet in the USA."

As she talked about the toilet, she asked me if I have seen a thatched house or conventional toilets. I told her I saw them only in the museum. Then she said, "Didn’t I tell you…God so blessed Korea that she developed a lot." 

Christian Today: "When you first came to Korea, I suppose there weren’t many foreigners. You must be famous."

Sarah Barry: "At first I lived in a small town in Kwangju. There was no foreigner. If I went out to the town, little children followed me a lot. Some of them even made a hole on the door to see me."

Christian Today: "Weren’t you embarrassed or annoyed?"

Sarah Barry: "No. It was interesting. I liked small Korean towns. I enjoyed seeing how they lived. I also saw the wedding ceremony, the funeral, how they made pottery, and how they made paper. I didn’t know much about Korea so everything was interesting as I wanted to learn Korean customs." Missionary Sarah Barry answered to any questions in Korean without any delay.

Christian Today: "Your Korean is great. How long did you study?"

Sarah Barry: "No. I can’t speak well. My tongue gets twisted. When I first came to Korea, I was recommended by American Southern Presbyterian Church to study Korean for two years. I studied only Korean from 8 in the morning till 5 in the afternoon for two years. Reciting and memorizing…I also learned in the church nursery."

"When Korea was poor, university students liked learning…"

Christian Today: "The students in the past and now—aren’t they much different?"

Sarah Barry: "Yes indeed. The time was right after the war and the students fought for democracy and the life was tough. They had no hope and didn’t know what to do. They liked learning to get a vision. Now students are rich. There are lots of things to enjoy and they can travel anywhere."

< In the early years of UBF, with Dr. Samuel Lee.

Christian Today: "UBF sent out more than 1,500 missionaries. It’s no. 1 in the country in terms of numbers. What do you think about this great fruit?"

She then stopped talking for few seconds and cooled down and said quietly. "I didn’t do much."

Sarah Barry: "What I did was to teach the Bible and English. I can’t see any connection between the fruit and what I did. It happened when the late Missionary Samuel Lee (UBF co-founder) or the initial members like Pastor John Jun (Present Head of World UBF) prayed and sacrificed."

Christian Today: "Didn’t you teach the initial members? You are very humble."

Sarah Barry: "I did teach but I didn’t do alone. We taught together." Pastor Samuel Lee (Present Head of Korean UBF), who sat beside her, felt sorry for her when her sacrifice didn’t appear properly, so he added, "Missionary Sarah Barry is the ancestor of faith and the spiritual mother to UBF members. She is an example and a master." Missionary Sarah Barry waved her hand saying, "Thank you. I’m embarrassed. Thank you." even before he finished speaking.

Christian Today: "How many world UBF members do you remember?"

Sarah Barry: "I visited UBF chapters throughout the world when I was the Head of World UBF from 2002 to 2006. I know all those I met during that time. However, I don’t know well recent UBF leaders."

Christian Today: "You stayed in America from 1977… What kind of ministry did you do?"

Sarah Barry: "I taught the Bible as I did in Korea. I spent most of the time teaching the Bible."

"I want to teach the Bible in Yeonbyun and North Korea !"

Christian Today: "You did not marry."

Sarah Barry: "I couldn’t find a proper person, and also I was too busy to think about it. However, if I can find a good person even now, I can marry, though it may be little bit late." Those who were there with Missionary Sarah laughed aloud. Then the atmosphere became friendlier.

Christian Today: "You are 77 this year. What do you want to do for the rest of your life?"

Sarah Barry: "I want to go to Yeonbyun, China and teach English and the Bible. There are many Koreans. I want to go to North Korea too, but I don’t know when the door will be opened."

Christian Today: "Your life-long ministry looks totally focused around Koreans. What made you love Korea so much?"

Sarah Barry: "I don’t know. Perhaps I received lots of love when I came here at my young age. Maybe God made me love Koreans."

Christian Today: "Have you ever regretted?"

Sarah Barry: "No."

Christian Today: "Any difficulties?"

To recall the moment, she thought for a while and said, "When UBF tried to pioneer other places outside Kwangju, we were blocked because of political reasons and it was difficult." When was the happiest moment? It was when people accepted Jesus. Then she said again and laughed, "Didn’t I tell you in the beginning, I am a boring person"

Sarah Barry: "I’m responsible for NAE withdrawal…I hope UBF to be an organization used by God"

Christian Today: "What happened with NAE(The National Association of Evangelicals)"

Sarah Barry: "It happened because of me (UBF joined NAE in 1995 and was withdrawn in 2003). One member who left UBF wrote a slandering letter to NAE. So they rang me to see if it’s true. However I said nothing—because I didn’t want to say evil words. But when I didn’t explain, they thought it strange and withdrew UBF from the membership. It’s all my responsibility. Recently NAE president was changed and he contacted me to say sorry. This year the membership was officially restored to UBF."

Christian Today: "If you define your life yourself?"

Sarah Barry: "When Jesus came into this world, he lived with people. I made an effort to live with those I tried to convert. It is to make an effort to live like Jesus."

Christian Today: "What kind of organization do you want UBF to be?"

Sarah Barry: "I hope it can be a fellowship that can be used by God. I hope it to disappear if it becomes a fellowship that God cannot use."

Christian Today: "Do you have any plan to write an autobiography?"

Sarah Barry: "Not yet. I don’t know what to write. I am not sure if I will have time. My life is simple. So it may be boring."

But if it’s a story about a person with more than 50 years campus mission, it will be a great guide to those who have a vision for campus students, I said. Then she said, ‘Thanks!’ smiling.

After the interview, she asked me if I am a Christian and if I have a calling from God. If I said, "I am not a Christian" She was ready to teach the Bible there then. When I saw the back of a missionary who sacrificed her whole life for Korean mission, I came to think it was really beautiful and I couldn’t but thank her as a Korean who received the benefit of the gospel.

Missionary Sarah Barry

She was a missionary from American Southern Presbyterian Church and a co-founder of the UBF. She came to Korea in 1955 at the age of 25 and founded UBF with late Missionary Samuel Lee in 1961. The UBF movement started from Kwangju and expanded to Daejun and Seoul and many churches were established in the main cities throughout Korea. UBF sent out 1,500 missionaries to 87 countries. She returned to America in 1977 and established the UBF World Mission headquarters in Chicago and she was the head of World UBF from 2002 to 2006. At present, she teaches the Bible to campus students and to UBF leaders in the HQs.

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