'My family had wanted me to be a Buddhist Monk,' says a Korean Pastor
by S. Kiran
May 17, 2007
LONDON, UK (ANS) -- A Korean Pastor has disclosed that his Buddhist family persecuted him to a great deal when he let them know that he had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior."Everyone cursed me. My family struck out my name from the family tree as they had wanted me to be a Buddhist monk in Asia," said Pastor Paul Song after agreeing to share his story of conversion.
Paul said he did not knuckle under the mounting pressure from his family to become a Buddhist Monk. I rather became Jesus' disciple, he said.
He went on to say his Buddhist parents put up a stiff opposition to stop him from converting to Christianity "They were strong in Buddhist faith. They expressed their reservations in categorical terms. They called me crazy. I did not mind being called crazy for Christ," he told ANS.
He said he studied theology in Korea, the UK and USA and was ordained as a pastor in Korea in 1992. Later he moved to London and started serving the Full Gospel Assemblies Church there.
Replying a question about Christian persecution, Pastor Paul Song who also happens to be the Principal of Logos International Bible College in the Victoria area of London, disclosed that he was attacked 10 times.
"The assailants left me almost dead for preaching Gospel in streets," said Pastor Paul. "Blood gushed out from my neck. The gangsters thrashed me 40 times. I faced all this persecution for His name."
Describing how he met his wife Deborah, he said he had earlier met with three women in Korea "but I figured none of them was for me." He said this disappointed him and he planned to go back to the UK. Fortunately, he said he missed the plane. The Pastor told ANS he went to the Prayer Mountain in Korea.
Prayer Mountain is in the north of Korea where the world's longest and biggest cross measuring 27 meters has been erected, he said. "People come to pray in front of the cross for healing," he said.
Paul maintained that he met the Director of Prayer Mountain who, he said, is his mother in Law.
"I met her sons and daughter, but I was not interested in her daughter at that time. God said to me that your partner would answer you correctly if you asked something of her. I told the daughter of Director of Prayer Mountain that one day I was going to die for Jesus."
The Pastor quoted her as saying that she would support him to die for Jesus.
"That was the correct answer. I told her that she would be my wife. She helps and encourages me in my ministerial work," he said.
He said he married Deborah on December 7, 1996.
When asked to name problems the youth in the UK were facing he mentioned alcohol, drugs, sex and Internet. He underscored the need for preaching and teaching to youth in Church. He called for mounting earnest efforts to draw more and more youths to Church to help keep them from committing social evils.
To a question he said he believed in Power Evangelism. He said he was of the view that the Christians should be friendly to non- Muslims and later share Gospel with them. "I like Power Evangelism it may even take someone two hours to win over someone."
Flaying politicians, he alleged they were using churches in a bid to advance their political agendas. Pastors, he said shouldn't compromise. They need to obey and not compromise on God's will, he said.
Sharing his responsibilities he said apart from running the Logos International Bible College along with Pastor Mike he was supposed to plant as well as look after churches. He said his Holy Nation Church has branches in Uganda, Kenya and the Netherlands.
"I preach in prisons it's our ministry as well. Word of God is my strength. Preaching is my responsibility mainly."
Pastor Paul said he had been be to 35 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa where he said he preached the word of God as well as led several conferences. Without being disrespectful to someone's faith he said the believers should preach the good news to non-believers.
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
