Shalom, may the peace of God be with you.
Today, we live in a society increasingly polarized and filled with rising tensions. The recently intensified immigration raids, arrests, and deportation processes nationwide have brought unexpected despair and sorrow to countless families. Because of this, even young children experience the pain of sudden separation from their parents without understanding the reason.
In this reality, what can we truly call “hope”? What voice should the faith community raise, and how can we stand together with our wounded neighbors?
The structural threats and challenges to ethnic identity faced by immigrant communities and socially marginalized groups are not merely social or political issues; they are deeply connected to the dignity of every person created in the image of God. The Scriptures repeatedly remind us of God’s heart to love and welcome the stranger, saying, “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19). Christ himself stood with the oppressed and the marginalized. Therefore, the pain experienced by immigrants and excluded communities is also the pain of our church family. At the same time, it is an opportunity to embody the peace and justice of God’s kingdom in our daily lives. This is precisely the path of faith that the church must walk together, united in heart.
Even amidst realities of oppression and domination, we witness those who peacefully gather in the streets, proclaiming freedom, equality, respect, and love, embodying true solidarity. This image reminds us of Christ, who confronted oppressive powers through nonviolence, calling us to remember the path of Christ. It is precisely in that place that we discover the light of “Unbreakable Hope.”
The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, describes the life of a suffering minister as “a treasure in clay jar,” bearing witness to God’s paradoxical power revealed even amid pain:
13 But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture – “I believed, and so I spoke” – we also believe, and therefore we also speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us with you in this presence.
God’s power does not lie in avoiding or eliminating suffering. Rather, astonishingly, life blossoms amid the brokenness and weakness encountered by those who follow the way of the cross. Paul experienced the grace of life being awakened within the community through his own suffering, and he confessed that this is the journey of faith to which God calls us all. However, this does not mean passively accepting or justifying suffering itself. On the contrary, it is through the lives of those who stand alongside one another in solidarity amid suffering that we gain the strength to endure together. When our lives become supports for one another, we regain the hope to look forward to new life. It is not about passively bearing suffering, but about experiencing God at work through those who walk together in love and action, and in that grace, embracing an “Unbreakable Hope.”
Building on this faith, our PSWR is preparing a gathering under the theme “Unbreakable Hope.” Through dedicated time and worship, this gathering will offer a precious opportunity to reflect on Christ’s hope together with those who are facing various hardships. Moreover, it will be a chance to weep and laugh alongside one another, practicing true solidarity in everyday life. We will come together to share our life stories, join in tears and laughter, and firmly hold on to “Unbreakable Hope” through a life of active prayer.
2 Corinthians 4:15 says, “Indeed, everything is for your sake, so that grace, when it has extended to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”
Although we face various hardships, the power of Christ that brings forth new life is revealed in hearts united in solidarity, sharing laughter and tears, and in acts of practical love. It is precisely through these expressions that an unbreakable seed of hope takes root deep within our hearts.
As the Regional Gathering Planning Team and I warmly invite you to join the upcoming Gathering, we also pray that together we may share hope, gently embrace one another’s wounds and joys, and find true restoration in Christ.
Rev. Dr. Miseon Choi