Page 152 - 영문 이성필성지순례여행

150 Jeolla-do Jeolla-do 151

135 Duam Church 136 Mount Jiri Mission Site

319-5 Boae-gil, Soseong-myeon, Jeongeup-si 42-237 Bangok-gil, Toji-myeon, Gurye-gun

Duam Church was established during the Japanese colonial period, but the exact date of its
establishment is not yet known. Nevertheless, the reason we visit this church is because of In order to adapt to the Korean
the blood of martyrs. Deaconess Yun Im-rye became a Christian through the evangelism of environment, missionaries temporarily
his son, Kim Yong-eun, and she was the main member of Duam Church. escaped to this place from July to
In the beginning, there was no church in Dong-ri, so she walked 6km to attend a church August when waterborne diseases
in a neighboring village, and when Korea was liberated, the believers worked together to occurred, and they took care of their
establish Duam Church in Duam-ri. Due to the dedicated ministry of Deaconess Yun Im- physical health as well as spirituality.
Missionary Building at Nogodan, Mount Jiri
rye, all 31 households in Duam Village became interested in Jesus, and the village turned Location - Jirisan Nogodan.
into a Christian village. The Korean War in 1950 led the communist army to be stationed
in Jeongeup and they denounced Yun's family as a reactionary and banned on worship
There are two mission sites in Mount Jiri. They
blaming Kim Yong-eun for inviting evangelist Lim Dong-seon from Pyeongan Province,
are located on Nogodan and Wangshirubong (very
and holding a revival rally.
high mountain peak) . Although the buildings have
On October 19 of that year, a battle between the Christians trying to protect the church and
been destroyed, these are the places where the
the communist army ended with the martyrdom of 23 people, including Deacon Yoon Im-
breath of missionaries who came to a foreign
rye. The blood of the martyrdom served as a precious foundation for the Duam Church.
country, risking their lives is left behind. A total of
About 20 pastors were produced, including Pastor Kim Yong-eun and pastor Kim Yong-
50 missionary buildings were built here in 1920
chil, the sons of Deaconess Yoon. The site of the old church and the place of martyrdom,
by the missionaries from American Southern
which are traces of martyrdom, turned into a field, but when the burned church was rebuilt
Presbyterian Mission.
in 1966, a 23-member cemetery was built, and a 23-member martyrdom monument was
At that time, missionaries were at risk of endemic
erected to honor the spirit of martyrdom in 1977. Currently, a joint memorial worship
diseases. In Korea, the missionaries suffered from
service for martyrs is held in mid-October every year.
various endemic and waterborne diseases, which
resulted in the death of 34 missionaries. In order
to adapt to the Korean environment, missionaries
temporarily escaped to this place from July to
“The Korean War and Communists exterminated the Church” August when waterborne diseases occurred, and
they took care of their physical health as well as
spirituality. For instance, they translated the Bible
and the lessons while staying. This is also the place
where missionary Reynolds translated the Bible.
However, there is a notice in front of the buildings
on Nogodan, where traces of blood and sweat of
missionaries are embedded, saying these buildings
are destroying the nature. If it is not designated as
a cultural asset, the mission site would disappear
Duam Church Martyrdom Monument 23-member cemetery without trace. Prayers of pilgrims are needed. A missionary building on
Wangshirubong