Some thoughts on stewardship

I cannot think of stewardship without considering my father‘s life. Bong Ook Roh is the name of my father who I respect and love most in the world. His entire life has been dedicated to God and children. He established Eden Home to take care of orphans after the Korean Civil War. He founded a new Christian Church to nurture them. He taught them to live by the faith and vision God provided for them. All of the staff and children at Eden Home have attended early prayer meeting at the church every morning continuously for more than 50 years. His favorite Scripture, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) became the motto of Eden Home, which was framed and then displayed on the wall in entrance hall.

He is the founder of many big projects: an orphanage, a church, a preschool, a high school, the Choongnam College for Preschool Teachers, The Christian Mission to Korea, a YMCA, and The Love Our Children Foundation. He truly is a man of vision. While he is now elderly, at 83, his passion and vision for the people, especially poor children, remains. He dedicated his life to God through serving the children as Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18:5). Throughout his life, his bank account and his pockets were empty. However, God has poured him abundant blessings over his life and ministry.

Thanks to God's grace, and my father‘s faith in God's Word, $100 million projects were made possible through the people who embraced that vision and faith. This is the vivid example of the wisdom, "where there is a vision, people and money follow."

He is also a man of courage. Whenever he faced challenges, he was not afraid of them. He rather took it with gratitude as the opportunity to do new things. For example, he was too short to go to public school. So he had to go to a small private school. But he was thankful for his shortness because he met Jesus Christ there through a principal who loved God and children.

That man of faith became a model for my father. When two orphans passed the high school entrance exams, my father asked the supervisor of the school to give scholarships for them and his request was rejected. My father told him, "I will start a high school for the students like these poor orphans." He had no money, no building, no teachers, no resources, but he had a faith and vision. God provided all and an excellent high school was established. A challenge became a turning point for new things.

My wife and I used to pray to God, "We want to be the highest giver to God and church. At that time we were among the lowest income members. Thanks to God‘s Grace and vision on stewardship, we have become the largest giver. With the gifts from God, we have been able to serve more people. We want to be the blessings to the people in need.

We believe that when we take care of little things very well, God will give us greater projects. "The more you give, the more you get." This is the paradoxical truth as Jesus said, "whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant," (Matthew 20:26).

The Rev. John Dongook Roh serves as a Korean Congregational Service Consultant for Church Extension. He attends Chicago Christian Church, Arlington Heights, Ill.