Page 35 - Presbyterian Connection, Spring 2024

Connection
REFLECTIONS
A Legacy of Missions
presbyterian.ca
SPRING 2024
PRESBYTERIAN
35
Visiting the Kenneth MacKenzie School in Lampang, Thailand
By Dr. Nam Soon Song, Professor Emerita, Knox College in Toronto, Ont.
“Hana, dool, hana, dool.”
What an odd experience it was to sit back and listen to the chil- dren counting numbers in Korean aloud, “Hana, dool, hana, dool,” which translates to “One, two, one, two,” at a school in the city of Lampang, Thailand. This was a scene from Taekwondo class.
When I entered the Kenneth MacKenzie School, a mission sup- ported by PC(USA), I was met by many students in their Taekwondo uniforms. This school is served by two Korean missionaries, the Rev. Mooil Oh and Eunsook Jin, both of whom were once my students in Korea. While Jin serves as a Taek- wondo teacher, the Rev. Oh teach- es Ethics classes. During my visit, I was able to bear witness to their love for their students; it was hum- bling to see all the efforts they put into embodying the love of Christ to not only their students, but also their fellow teachers.
I also received a warm welcome from the enthusiastic Christian principal, Ongkarm Chomvisarut- kul. His vision for Christian edu- cation and his passionate com- mitment to Christ became evident soon after our first meeting, for which I was deeply touched. I gave
thanks to God for the resilience of this Christian school in Lampang, a mission legacy that has survived for over 130 years in a country where Christians make up just a little over 1% of the population. Throughout Thailand in general and in Lampang specifically, Bud- dhist temples are found on every corner, and even standing as cen- tral landmarks in the city.
Situated in a picturesque setting, the school enjoys a beau- tiful view of Lampang, the capital city of Lampang province in Nor th- ern Thailand. The city of Lampang is located within the valley of the Wang River, which runs through the city to demarcate it into two sections: nor th and south. I was brought to see and cross a bridge that was built in the early days of mission work in the city in order to bring people over from the other side to the church in the north. I was impressed by the impeccable maintenance of the bridge over the years, ensuring a smooth passage for people crossing to the other
side of Lampang.
The Kenneth MacKenzie School
stands as a testament to Christian education. Located in front of the river in Nor th Lampang, it was established by the mission board of The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in 1890. The school was named after a
young boy who passed away in his youth. The Oregon church to which Kenneth belonged collected offerings in his memory, which were directed to Thailand to build a memorial in his name. In due course, these offerings found their way to this school, which was of- ficially named in 1910. Presently, the school belongs to the Founda- tion of the Council of the Churches in Thailand.
Since its establishment, the Kenneth MacKenzie School has flourished, successfully overcom- ing various challenges. By the year 2009, the school had grown to ac- commodate approximately 1,000 students. During the Japanese invasion of Thailand in 1942, the school was temporarily closed, as the premises were used by the Japanese military. After the war in 1946, the school reopened its doors. Subsequently, the school acquired government accredita- tion, encompassing education from kindergar ten to high school. This, in turn, initiated a phase of growth and development for the school.
However, the school was se- verely impacted by the Covid pandemic, closing its doors for two years. In 2022, following the difficult period under Covid, a dedicated principal with a passion for the gospel was appointed to
the school with God’s help. The school reopened under his guid- ance. As a devout Christian, he works to align his vision—and the school’s mission—with God’s will. He has a clear understanding and background to suppor t the school as a Christian school.
This year, Principal Chom- visarutkul anticipates that the school will accommodate around 500 students from kindergar ten to grade 3. The school’s gradual expansion plan will extend to in- clude grade 12 students. As a step toward this plan, the school was renamed the Kenneth MacKenzie International Christian School. The school currently has only two English-speaking teachers and they hope to recruit more. In our discussions, the principal empha- sized a need for more native Eng- lish-speaking Christian teachers, as well as his aspirations for the school to exude a Christian spirit.
This visit held deep personal significance, evoking memories of the Christian Mission School in Korea, where I first embraced Christianity and received a call- ing to become a servant of God. I have witnessed a transformation among many of my former class- mates who, formerly non-Chris- tians, embraced Christianity and have since dedicated themselves to serving Christ both locally and abroad. I came to appreciate once more the great contributions of our faithful Presbyterian predecessors all over the world, whose accom-
Kenneth MacKenzie.
plishments are often overlooked or forgotten.
Above all, I was delighted to wit- ness a living legacy of missions by Presbyterian churches worldwide. God continues to bear fruits of missions all over the world, which were carried out long ago through faithful servants. So, I pray to God: “May the gospel spread through the Kenneth Mackenzie Interna- tional Christian School to the peo- ple of Lampang and Thailand. May the students of KMICS be the first to believe, leading their own fami- lies to Christ, and later spreading the gospel to others in the city.”
In a few cities in Thailand, I was able to visit only legacies of PC(USA). Thus, I began to wonder what Canadian Presbyterian mis- sion legacies are carried out up to today in these countries. Find- ing Canadian Presbyterian mission legacies forgotten in these areas will be my next journey.
Dr. Nam Soon Song with teachers.
Through gifts to Presbyterians Sharing and Presbyterian World Service & Development, The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports the mission and ministries of international partners in Afghanistan, Cuba, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine/Israel, Romania, Philippines, Taiwan and Ukraine. Find out more at presbyterian.ca/im and werespond.ca.