Called to Study, Ordained to Serve
From The Forum Magazine, Winter 2015 - view the full issue here
Who would have thought a simple visit to a local bookstore would change the course of a life? That’s precisely the story of Paul (Byungsoo) Han’s journey from graduate student in economics to assistant professor of systematic theology at the Asian Center for Theological Studies and Mission in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Paul came across Dr. Richard Muller’s Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics in a bookstore, and upon reading it he felt led to study Reformed orthodoxy at Calvin Theological Seminary under Dr. Muller. Paul completed his Th.M. degree in historical theology in 2006 and went on to receive his Ph.D. in historical theology in 2013.
Paul is one of many South Korean students at Calvin Seminary; in fact, nearly one in five students at Calvin Seminary has come from South Korea to study Reformed theology. About a quarter of South Koreans self-identify as Christian. “My country, South Korea, pronounces religious freedom, so there is no problem with any religion which does not harm the Korean society,” says Paul. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is home to the world’s largest Pentecostal church, Yoido Full Gospel Church.
Paul grew up in a non-Christian home with six siblings. At the age of seven, both of his parents passed away. This left him wrestling with the “‘to be or not to be’ issue” and what life and death mean. “I kept asking of myself who I am,” he says. Then, at the age of nineteen he recalls experiencing “a kind of divine encounter” between the Lord and himself. This was the beginning of Paul’s journey as a believer, enabling him to identify himself as a child of God and say, “God is my father and my lord.”
Shortly thereafter, in 2004, Paul, with the support of his wife and children, moved to Grand Rapids and began his studies at Calvin Seminary. He spent almost ten years as a student at Calvin Seminary studying under Dr. Muller, and Paul received what he had hoped for and much more. More specifically, he says, “I learned sound doctrine, a well-balanced system of Reformed theology, harmony of theoria and praxis, intimate fellowship among the members of a community, and sincere application of the Reformed confession in the field of the local church.”
In addition to completing the Th.M. and Ph.D. programs, Paul was ordained in the Christian Reformed Church on December 14, 2014, at Church of the Servant in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He, like many students from South Korea, comes from the Presbyterian tradition. Many of these students return to South Korea upon completion of their program and serve in Presbyterian churches. Paul, however, took a different route. Though he was a member of Hapshin Presbyterian Church, he was “unconsciously but graciously getting more familiar with the CRC polity and theological tradition.” In the end, he decided to seek ordination in the Christian Reformed Church. “The CRC has a great theological and ecclesiastical tradition and a good tradition of Reformed theology and faith,” he says. “Especially the church polity is very well organized, and the process of making decisions on very delicate issues is very reasonable and legitimate.”
As a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary and an ordained pastor in the CRC, Paul hopes to maintain the connections among the churches in Korea, China and the United States. When asked what the global church can learn from the church in his country, Paul replied, “The Korean church, though having a lot of weaknesses, is indeed strong in evangelism and prayer and preaching. Korean pastors are so passionate and devoted in pastoral care, working from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.” These strengths have contributed to the significant growth of Christians since 1970. “The reasons for this growth, in my eyes, are the emphasis on active evangelism by devoted pastors, spiritual miracles, the economic/religious situation at that time, and most of all, God’s grace upon which every revival of God’s church should rely,” he says. Paul adds that the biggest need of the Christian church in his home country is “church polity based on Reformed faith and the application of sound doctrine in Christian life.”
As for Paul, his personal prayer request is “to learn more about how to harmonize Scripture and theology and the Christian life and to learn how to inculcate the church polity of the CRC in Korean churches.” Many blessings to you, Paul, and your family as you faithfully respond to God’s calling and serve His people around the world.
