Korea and Revival
Servant of Christ
In 1866 a Welsh missionary named Robert
Jermain Thomas sailed to Korea with a bible and handed it to a soldier who in
turn decapitated Mr Thomas, his lifeless body fell to the ground this was just
another death by martyrdom, added to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Over a hundred years later the same
seed that fell to the ground has produce over 12 million Christians in South
Korea today!
A young boy who preached his first sermon at
the age of seventeen in South Wales he came from a privileged background but
gave it all up to follow the leadings that Christ had placed in his heart which
he acknowledged in a letter a letter he addressed to New College London that he
was called to sacrifice!
He took to the task enthusiastically
first travelling to Shanghai China with his wife Caroline Thomas in 1863 as
newlyweds, after a few months she wife died 1835 – 1864. He had a gift for
languages so he moved north to Chefoo nearer to Korea working in the customs
office it was here where he met some Catholic believers who had no bibles.
When you in the will of God your steps
are ordered by Him we may not understand why we make some of the choices we
make but God has a plan. Robert gave up his job and went with these believers
to Korea in1864 and started to spread the word and give out bibles, this was a
risk because if caught with a bible it could cost you your head!
The Regent of Korea Daewongun at this
time was against western culture and wanted to kill 10,000 Catholic believers.
In 1866 the ship Mr Thomas was on, was
attacked and destroyed but he got to shore still giving out his bibles and as
stated earlier was killed while giving them out.
The story continues in 1890 Samuel
Moffett 1864 – 1939 went to North Korea (sent by the same bible society that
renounced Robert Jermain Thomas )as a missionary and met the twelve year old
boy (Choi Chi Ryang) who received a bible from Robert Thomas just before he was
beheaded. Now at the age of thirty eight became a Christian because of the life
of the martyr Robert Jermain Thomas and many were elders in the church started
by Samuel Moffett.
The rest is history!
South Korea has the largest church in the world and has prospered by God blessing the land.
South Korea has the largest church in the world and has prospered by God blessing the land.
My prayer today is bless us so we can
bless others!
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