Experience the miracle while he bring up adapted children,
"¦ bears the fruit of the unity
There is Zion Lutheran Church at Belleville, IL which has almost 150 years history. The church members of the Zion Lutheran Church who almost reach one-thousand are white. The church has also the school from preschool to middle school. Pastor Gary Byers has served this church as a senior pastor last for 20 years. He has a special story in connection with Korea.
After he got married, Pastor Byers was ordained in 1974 and in January 1975 he was installed as the pastor of a Lutheran mission church in Flint, Michigan. Not long before two month, his wife, Kathy had undergone two major surgeries while pregnant. Following the first surgery they lost their first child and the doctor did not believe they would be able to have children in the future. It made Pastor Byers and Kathy very disappointed.
However, Pastor Byers and Kathy believed that everything is God's hand. So, Kathy began to explore the possibilities of adoption. Back then, it was not easy to adapt the children. This is because there are little agencies and the processing is very long.
But within a few weeks the local social services agency phoned and said that there was a Korean girl age seven available. She had been brought to the U.S. through Minnesota Social Services at age four and placed with a couple where the father was Caucasian and the mother was Japanese. After three years the couple had not finalized the adoption. Pastor Byers and Kathy willingly adapted her and gave her name, Erika.
As Pastor Byers recalled that time, he said: "It was great challenge for us to be the parents for a 7 years old girl, because we did not have the opportunity to grow into parenthood. We would find ourselves as usually the youngest parents at the school parent-teacher conferences."
Pastor Byers and Kathy brought her up with God's love and grace as if she were his own daughter. For Erica, Kathy learnt how to make Korean food: how to make fried rice and learning that her favorite food was octopus. As time goes by, Erica grew up in a loving of Pastor Byers and Kathy. It leads her to overcome her painful past
The Lord gave them the great present as if in answer to their love and devotion. Two months after Erika arrived in their home, Kathy was pregnant with their daughter. First time, it is hard to believe that Kathy was pregnant. But God gave them the unbelievable miracle gift.
With the birth of their second child the doctor rejoiced over their miracle but did not see the possibility of more children. However, Pastor Byers and Kathy still desired to have additional children.
In October 1978 Pastor Byers and Kathy received a phone call from the local agency and were introduced to a Korean baby. Without hesitating, they made a decision to adapt him. On December 14, 1978 in O'Hare International Airport, Gary and Kathy first met his son Nathan. They recalled that day: "It was a long night, too excited to sleep."
After adapting Nathan, Gary moved his ministry to Decatur, Illinois. As welcoming as Michigan had been to Korean adoptees Decatur was the opposite. There was one other Korean child in our congregation and few others in the community. Pastor Byers and Kathy specially concerned their children to grow up in God's love, not hurting by that.
May God was moved by their love? While in Decatur the Byers' would have two more miracle babies, Christina and Holly. Finally, their family would settle at five with four girls and one boy.
God gave them a miracle child after they adapted Erika who had been abandoned by the adaptive parents. Pastor Byers and Kathy also experienced another God's miracle after they adapted Nathan. God made his miracle beyond our mind and reason.
Pastor Byers and Kathy have never been to Korea. However, they love Korea after they experienced God's miracle through the Korean children's adaption. It leads them to love Korea and Korean people.
Pastor Byers shows loving Korea in his ministry as well as his family. 19 years ago, the Korean Bible study group led by Dr Ji Won Young was looking for the worship place. When Pastor Byers hear that, he willingly provided the place and office for them.
Actually, it was not easy decision to accept Korean congregation in America Churches, especially the churches as the white and conservative church. However, Pastor Byers had special concern for Korean congregation. Zion members also accepted the Korean Congregation.
With only one year to go before his retirement, Pastor Byers and Zion Lutheran Church made the important decisions for the Korean congregation. The first decision was that Korean congregation is a body of Zion Lutheran Church. The second decision was that they called a Korean Pastor as an assistant pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church. The last decision was that the Zion Lutheran church provided the financial assistance forthe Korean Congregation.
This case is quite rare in US. Furth more, it may first case in LCMS. Behind that this could be possible, there may be the love and devotion of Pastor Byers and Kathy. They experienced God's miracle through the Korean children's adaption and love Korea.
Korean Pastor, Jeong who accepted the call to serve an assistant pastor said: "Even though there are many challenges to serve an assistant pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church as Korean, I believe that Holy Spirit may unite us who have different languages and colors"
Pastor Gary Byers who is set to retire in January, 2014 said: In looking back the journey has been challenging, filled with unexpected twists and turns as well as many joyous surprises. One of those unexpected surprises has been the international flavor to his family and ministry."
Brief Profile
Rev Gary Byers : He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary. He was ordained as LCMS Pastor. From 1992, he is Senior Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church at Belleville, IL.
Rev Jeong JinO : He graduated Luther University and Yonsei University. Now, he is an assistant pastor for Korean congregation at Zion Lutheran Church.
