Redemption in the 'Graveyard'

Missionaries often refer to Japan as a “graveyard for missionaries,” due to the sense of fierce resistance to the gospel, says Jeong Gho, who serves with his wife, Misook, with Christian Reformed World Missions in this challenging context.

Yet, within this graveyard for missionaries, where only about one percent of people follow Christ, the Ghos witness the Spirit at work through testimonies like that of the JongSuns’.

Living in South Korea, Pack JongSun and his wife had many opportunities to hear the Good News and find a community in which to practice their faith. In fact, their daughter, Chanmi, accepted Christ several years ago. Yet they never realized the full impact of the gospel.

Then, a few years ago, Chanmi moved to Japan and married a Japanese man, Mr. Hatakeyama. Through Chanmi’s example, Hatakeyama, too, became a Christian.

“Hatakeyama felt a great joy to have Chanmi as his wife. At the same time, when he heard that Chanmi’s parents were not believers in Christ, he felt a great burden for them,” said Jeong Gho.

Hatakeyama decided that he was going to demonstrate the joy that he had in his new faith to his in-laws. He invited them to stay with them for a few months in Japan, a big step given the cultural barriers that he knew he was facing.

“Chanmi’s marriage was difficult for the JongSuns because of the complicated relationship between South Korea and Japan,” said Gho. “Generally, South Koreans and Japanese do not get along.”

But as the JongSuns got to know their new son-in-law, many of the deeply-rooted ideas that they had about Japanese people began to fall away. He was a new believer in the Christian faith and his actions showed them what that faith meant to him.

“Hatakeyama was very gentle and kind in his actions and in his hospitality, even when they visited for months at a time,” said Misook Gho.

Over several visits with Hatakeyama and their daughter, the JongSuns continued to see the love of Christ reflected in them. They began to wonder how they, too, might be able to share in God’s love.

When Hatakeyama spoke with his pastor about his in-law’s growing faith, the pastor directed them to Jeong and Misook Gho, who were working in the Toyosenkyo church, a church plant of CRWM and the Reformed Church in Japan.

The Ghos offered baptismal classes for new believers or seekers. As Korean-born missionaries, they were able to disciple the JongSuns in their native tongue.

A few months later, Hatakeyama watched as his in-laws were baptized.

“This man is our son,” said Pack Jongsun at the baptism, demonstrating that the love that they shared in Christ had transcended their cultural differences.

“In many ways, this is a story of reconciliation,” said Misook Gho. “They had so many chances to hear the Good News in Korea, yet God used a Japanese man to reveal himself. It is amazing how he works.”