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President of Pyongyang Univ of Sci & Tech
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Chai Young
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2022-05-08 17:20:23, hit : 669 |
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최영기
2020년 3월 18일 ·
목자가 평양과학기술대학 총장으로(President of Pyongyang Univ of Sci & Tech)-영어/한글
The servant leadership of House Church seems to be working on secular jobs as well. Many shepherds from Seoul Baptist Church successfully exercise servant leadership on their job. I’d like to introduce one of them - Dr. Yu-Taik Chon, the President of Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) in North Korea.
He was born into a Christian family, but as he got older, he became more interested in Zen Buddhism. He came to the U.S. for graduate studies, earned his PhD, worked in several different cities, then settled in Houston. When I came to Seoul Baptist Church, his wife Young-Ja Chon, was an unbeliever, but came to our first family retreat at her friend’s urging. The Holy Spirit deeply touched her during the retreat. She said she started crying for no reason and couldn’t keep tears back. Shortly after, she accepted Jesus Christ and her husband followed suit.
They diligently took the “Life” Bible study series offered at church, and their faith grew rapidly. Dr. Chon eventually served as Shepherd, Village Leader and Ordained Deacon.
Although they showed rapid growth in their faith, I didn’t expect them to be the first overseas volunteers from Seoul Baptist Church. But they were. They were trained and commissioned to Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST) in China. When Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) was opened, Dr. Chon and his wife went to North Korea to serve as faculty members, then recently became its president.
He has a special affection for Pyongyang because he was born there. He attended the same elementary school from which the late Chairman Kim Jung Il graduated. He joked that North Korean officials became extra polite when he mentioned that fact.
PUST is in a precarious situation due to the economic sanctions imposed on North Korea by President Trump. Dr. Chon is forbidden to return to North Korea because of the travel ban. He does his duty as the president from the USA through email. He recently went to Korea when the Coronavirus scare was at its peak for some important meetings. His wife pleaded with him not to go as he is part of the most vulnerable high-risk community – elderly with underlying health issues. But his commitment to PUST is stronger than his fear of illness.
He doesn’t command the acknowledgement or honor usually rendered to a university president, partly because of his humble demeanor and simple lifestyle. He carries his documents in his backpack and takes the subway.
Jesus said whosoever humbles himself will be exalted [Mt 23:12], and the last will be first [Lk 13:30] on Judgement Day. I expect Dr. and Mrs. Chon to be highly exalted in Heaven because they have willingly become servants here on earth.
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Introduction
Pastors 