As Christians we hope and desire to make a difference in someone’s life by leading them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. To accomplish this effort is put forth in many ways—through evangelistic efforts, personal outreach, Bible studies, financial support, and sometimes simply through prayer. Often the impact of these efforts remains unseen. However, history reveals stories of missionary work that did, in fact, make a difference.
Just over 120 years ago, the Upper Columbia Conference sent Pastor William R. Smith to Korea as a missionary. In 1904 the first individual in Korea was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As a result, in 1905 Pastor Smith traveled to Korea to spread the Three Angels’ Messages. Fast forward 120 years and the Korean Union Conference recently held a celebration to commemorate 120 years of Adventism in Korea.
Pastor Smith and the Upper Columbia Conference truly made a difference. How much of a difference? There are now over 260,000 Seventh-day Adventist members in Korea. Consider this—a conference with a vision, a missionary with dedication, and one lone baptized member, which ultimately led to 260,000 souls who are now looking forward to the blessed hope. That is certainly something worth celebrating. If one does the math, it means that the Korean Adventist Church has gained an average of over 2,200 new members each year over that 120-year span. Those are astounding numbers.
Another significant detail of this story is a connection to the Dakota Conference. Last October the associate executive secretary of the Korean Union Conference reached out with a discovery made while preparing for their 120-year celebration. They had discovered that the South Dakota Conference provided financial support for Pastor Smith’s missionary efforts to the people of Korea. Think of that—the Dakota Conference played a significant role in the spread of the Three Angels’ Messages in the world church. A difference was made! This just goes to show that one never truly knows what long-term impact outreach, Bible studies, financial support, or prayers will have. In this case it was possible to hear what God has done through these efforts. Praise God!
Recognizing this historical connection, the Korean Union Conference wanted to acknowledge the role the Dakota Conference played in the early history of Korean Adventism. As part of the celebration they requested a message to share during the celebration to encourage their 260,000 members to continue moving forward in spreading the gospel. In response, the Dakota Conference sent two short congratulatory videos for them to play during the event. The Korean Union Conference sent us a commemorative plaque, now displayed in the entryway of the conference office.
Are you making a difference? You might be having a bigger impact for the kingdom of God than you could ever imagine. Two Scripture verses speak to this story. The first is the final statement in 1 Peter 1:2: “…Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” Through God’s grace, seemingly small efforts are multiplied in ways one cannot fully comprehend, just as seen in this story. The second is found in Gal. 6:9: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
May this little story serve as a reminder to continue putting in the effort and leave the results in God’s hands. Who knows what differences have been made—until one day they are revealed on the heavenly shores.
Jason Logan serves as the Dakota Conference vice president of administration and ministerial director.
