On November 8, 2024, a special Friday service was held to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Korean Mission. The musical company Sulammi performed the play “Face-to-Face.” The play depicts the life of Theodora Wang Je-rin (Korean name Wang Dae-ah), who was sent to Joseon at the age of 21 and never gave up her missionary work even after losing her beloved husband and child.
The performance deeply moved the audience at the venue and those watching remotely through YouTube, bringing many to tears. Among those watching from a local church in Gangwon Province was Pastor Han YoonGu, who had retired from ministry at the Southeast Korean Conference (SEKC).
After the event, he called the conference officers and senior pastors. He proposed building a monument to honor the missionary couple Wang AhShi and Wang DaeAh, who spread the gospel in the Southeast (Yeongnam) region and promised to donate 5 million won for its construction costs.
A little over a month later, on December 30, 2024, a monument was erected in front of the SEKC building in Sijidong, Daegu. It stands next to a sculpture that symbolizes the world’s mission. Despite the chilly weather, the Conference president, staff, pastors, and lay leaders from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions attended the ceremony to show their support.
Pastor Han explained the purpose of the monument as follows: “One day, I heard the story of missionaries Wang AhShi and Wang DaeAh and thought it would be nice to have something to honor their noble missionary work. Then, after watching the ‘Sulammi’ performance, I decided to dedicate a monument. Thanks to this, the Yeongnam region’s mission work has again been brought to light. I hope we will never forget this beautiful history and their lives.”
He then continued, emphasizing the significance of revival: “The Korean Adventist Church has grown greatly through God’s blessing. We used to be a country needing help, but now we can help others. Of course, this revival was achieved through the dedication of our church members, but it was also made possible by the foreign missionaries who went to this challenging and impoverished land, giving up everything to serve.”
The participants reflected on the lives of missionaries who risked their lives to evangelize Korea and proclaim the Three Angels’ Messages. They prayed earnestly: “Although it is difficult to carry out missionary work in our local Conference, may the Holy Spirit’s latter rain fall upon this barren land and rekindle the fire of revival.”