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November 20, 2008
Dear Friends,Thank you for sharing with us your reflections on the historic meeting which took place at Bongsoo Church in Pyungyang, and the statement adopted at the same meeting.
We join you in praising God for making it possible for you to meet and pray together.We wish to assure you of our prayers as you continue together, churches in South and North Korea, on this journey of discernment through prayer. It is our firm belief that prayers have great power and we are confident that your prayers, to which we add ours, will be answered. There will be peace, reconciliation and unification of the Korean people in the whole of the Korean Peninsula. Prayers contain in themselves the hope and promise of peace. Your joint statement is powerful and empowering.
We affirm you in your commitment to implement the June 15 Statement. We shall uphold you in prayer as you work tirelessly towards that noble goal. What makes your statement special is that it is grounded in spirituality. You see your work for peace as God"s mission to the churches of South and North Korea alike. A God-given mission - "missio Dei" - cannot and will not fail. And remember, in your mission you are not alone. The global fellowship of churches is with you.
The diaconal aspect of your mission is also well articulated in your statement. There are many within the wider ecumenical family who will be prepared to express solidarity with you in your humanitarian assistance project. Should you need us in establishing contacts with Specialized Ministries engaged in this area of your mission, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Allow me to conclude by reiterating the solid commitment of the World Council of Churches in companying you on the journey of hope for peace, reconciliation and unification of the Korean Peninsula. Since the experience of Glion in 1986 to which you have referred in your letter, the WCC has continued with its accompaniment, and that is how it will remain even in future. We look forward to deepening our relationship in the coming months and years. The 25th anniversary of Tozanso will be an occasion to look back with praise to God, and to look forward with joyful anticipation of a unified, reconciled and healed Korea. May God fulfil this prayer sooner rather than later.
With best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
Sam Kobia
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WCC 사무엘 코비아 총무는 11월 20일 지난 11월 3일부터 3박 4일 동안 평양에서 개최된 남북 교회 평화통일기도회와 대회 기간 중 채택된 성명서에 대한 환영의 뜻을 전했다.
