The world is my parish.

Dear COAH,

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of my family's immigration to Canada. I still remember the first year of my life in Canada. Entering McDonald's was an intimidating experience. I stood at the end of the line for a long time, not knowing what to do. Once, my classmates were gracious enough to let me play football with them. I realized it was not the football I knew back in Korea. The ball looked more like a rugby ball. I stood there on the field for a long time, not knowing how to play football. I followed my father's decision to come to Canada fifty years ago. I did not have any other choice. A half-century later, I have my children and their children, all born in Canada.

Just before I left Korea in 1974, Seoul opened its first subway line from Seoul Train Station to Cheongnyangni Station, spanning 9.5 kilometers. I did not get to be on that train. Fast forward twenty years to 1994, I visited my motherland for the first time since immigration. I was super excited and nervous at the same time. I woke up early because of the time difference and walked to a nearby Line 3 subway station in Kangnam. But I did not have the courage (for some reason) to ride the train on my own. I needed to learn how to get the tickets and proceed to the train. Returning to the place of my lodging, I suddenly felt like I was a stranger in a strange place, almost the same feeling I felt when I first came to Canada.

Since I left Korea 50 years ago, the world has changed. I have changed also. I no longer feel like a stranger anywhere in the world. I don't feel like I belong anywhere. Instead, I feel like I am part of a global community. I may hop from one airport to another and understand how the system works. There is an ATM to get currency. There is also a booth where I can get a SIM card. So long as I secure a Wi-Fi connection and Google Maps, I can go to most places. That is the kind of world we live in.  

Why am I saying all this? We must embrace the changing world as it is. We cannot afford to stay in one region or country for fear of feeling like strangers elsewhere. Instead, we must broaden our horizons and see what God is doing in various corners of the world. As John Wesley proclaimed, "The world is my parish," and devoted himself to evangelism and missions for over 50 years, we, too, should dream big and go into the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here is Wesley’s prayer:

I am no longer my own but yours.

Put me to what you will,

Rank me with whom you will.

Blessings,

Pastor Minho Song