Chosen for Choson

Chosen for Choson is a biography of a young
Welshman, Robert Jermain Thomas, who left his
homeland in 1863 with his new bride, Caroline, to
share the Gospel of Christ in the Far East.

Thomas was feisty, strong-willed, and charismatic -
not unusual characteristics for a Welshman. But this
distinctiveness of character led this young man to
serve the ordinary people of China and Korea in an
extraordinary manner. But, regrettably, his determined,
passionate attitude also led to a life that was cut off,
unexpectedly and tragically.

Scholar, writer, and long time missionary to Korea,
Samuel Hugh Moffett, says of Thomas: "A man with
such a dramatic, intense commitment that led to
martyrdom is worthy of growing into a legend."

Mystery and intrigue surrounds the boat, SS General
Sherman, on which Thomas travels to Korea.
Thomas, himself, refused to inform his friend,
Madame Morache, of its import.

Thomas' colleagues were sometimes ambiguous
about his attitude, yet Anson Burlinghame, the
American Charge d'Affaires to China, 1867, wrote
these encouraging words to Thomas' father following
Robert's death: "Your son was most favourably known
at the Legations and by the Missionaries of the East.
He was a remarkable scholar, and when he died a
great light went out."

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Trip to South Korea and China    Sept/ Oct 2007

This autumn has been a busy time of travelling and ministry, but what an exciting time!
September / October saw Huw and Dr Steve Price head off to South Korea and China for a three week mission. They went out expressly to tell the story of how a Welsh missionary, Robert Jermaine Thomas took the gospel to Korea and China back in 1866. It’s a fascinating story. You can find out more if you click onto ……. Steve and Huw visited a number of churches and bible seminaries in and around the Capital Seoul, including Sarang church and Yoido Church where they ministered to over 2 million people live via satellite links. They also visited a leprosarium in the south of the country where they spent three days with these precious folk, sharing fellowship and enjoying the presence of the Lord together. It was a very memorable experience to witness old leprosy sufferers in their 80’s and 90’s worshiping God in such humble surroundings. There was very little of this world’s wealth in evidence but they had a richness of faith that is rarely seen or witnessed in today’s westernised Christendom.
Huw was also asked to sing at the Congress Prayer Breakfast (their national government)) where a large number of Christian leaders and politicians gathered for prayer and intersession for the re-unification of North and South Korea. On their final weekend of the trip Huw and Steve flew to Yangi in China and visited Yust University where they met Dr. James Chin-Kyung Kim, President of YUST and the faculty, all of whom are committed Christian men and women serving God through the excellence of their knowledge and intellect. Yust is now considered THE centre of excellence in the whole of China for the study of science and technology.
Huw has been invited to sing at the opening of its sister university, Pust, in Pyongyang, North Korea next April when the nation’s President, Kim Jong Il will attend the opening ceremony.
Exciting times! 

 

 

Colorado Springs; MEF Conference. June 2007

America has for a long time held a fascination for me. From an early age I longed to travel to ‘cowboy country’ and see first hand the frontier towns and prairies where Cowboys and Indians battled it out and many a saloon ‘shoot-out’ took place. In July 2007 my dream came true when I was invited to take part in the Music Evangelism Foundation (MEF) conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I travelled from Wales with my colleague Paul Griffiths. Although we had very little time to explore the region, we did experience a week of outstanding ministry. MIF was birthed out of the vision of one man, Jamal Badry, over 26 years ago. Since its conception, Jamal has stayed very much in the driving seat, each year bringing a rich and diverse ministryexperience to the region of Colorado Springs.

This was without doubt, the finest conference I have attended in my years of ministry (and there have been some outstanding ones)! The banner over the whole event for me was EXCELLENCE. This reflects the heart of Jamal Badry, a man who has selflessly sought to obey God’s call on his life and has been obedient to his calling and remained true to the vision God gave him. Jamal Badry has spent a lifetime in music ministry, on the road, serving his Lord. He has brought this experience to bear in his organising of this event.

The MEF Conference continues, every year, to attract some of the most outstanding speakers and musicians from around the world. This year’s speakers included two Scotsman,  Ian Leach Evangelist, author and Bible teacher from Edinburgh, Colin Smith, pastor,  author and radio broadcaster from Arlington Heights, Chicago. Pastor James Ford from Christ Bible Church Chicago, Jerry Rankin President of the International Mission Board, missionary and author. Judy Reamer, author and conference speaker, Thomas Elliff, Senior Vice President of Spiritual Nurture and Church Growth for the International Mission Board, pastor and author of 10 books. Each one of these men and women of God communicated the essence of the gospel with great skill, intellect, humour, and all without exception, great humility. Like wise the musicians. A great diversity of talent was experienced on the platform, ranging from the traditional American vocalists, John Hall, (Dove Award nominee), Carolyn Reed and Scot R Cameron. all exceptional in their genre. Instrumentalists included a wonderfully unconventional and gifted harpist, Greg Buchanan, (guaranteed to touch the heartstrings of any Welshman)!! Two very fine instrumentalists, The Burchfield Brothers (recently nominated for the prestigious Dove Award for Best Instrumental CD, and without doubt one of the finest pianists I have ever encountered anywhere in the world, Joseph Martin (again, a nominee for the Dove Award) He is also a renowned composer. I was grateful for the opportunity to share my music with this generous American audience, bringing something of the essence of a Welsh classical tenor to the proceedings. It was certainly a different style of music to that which they are normally used to, but their response was encouraging. I came away from the event having been enriched in many ways but the over-riding sense was that God had been amongst us and had ministered to and through us. For that we remain humbled and so very, very grateful. What a great time we had with Jamal Badry. He and his team worked tirelessly to bring this event into being. We owe them a great debt of gratitude. But even that pales into insignificance with that great debt of gratitude we owe to our Heavenly Father for sending His Son Jesus into this world to die for the redemption of humanity.  What an awesome God we serve! Oh, by the way, if you’re looking for somewhere to holiday next year, think about Colorado Springs in June and pop along to MEF. We’ll be there, that’s for sure.       

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	Arriving at Colorado Springs airport we were met by the ever smiling Jamall Badry. He’s one of those guys you just click with straight away. His enthusiasm for the Lord is infectious and just from our first encounter with him we knew this was going to be a special week.

Our first day was spent sightseeing as we took the hour drive to the top of Pike’s Peek at 14,100 feet, and Yes! Unbelievable there was a road all the way to the top and it was wider that most of the roads we use everyday in Wales.

From the viewpoint at the top of the mountain looking over the vast plains to the east of Colorado Springs it couldn’t but strike you of the majesty and awesomeness of our God, just like Judy Reamer said in one of the seminars “How big is God”.

On the Sunday we had an early start at Friendship Assemblies of God Church where Huw took part in both services. We had a great time this church they had definitely got their name right “Friendship” as we had a very warm welcome and made some new friends.

Monday the conference stared with some great bible teachers, soloists and musicians. What a blend! Worship that brought you right into the presence of God and preaching that spoke His word right into your life. Jamall has the mix just right this is a gem of a conference, but when you get to know Jamall you know why. It’s not about ego or self indulgence but all about our Lord, Jesus Christ. From that first meeting with Jamall, seeing his smiling face you could see that nothing brings more joy into his life than sharing about his Lord.

Huw was very well received and it was great to see his style of ministry just dovetailing in with all the other artists and preachers. Time and time again the Lord spoke right into our lives through some anointed preaching; it was just so special to be there!

In October Huw has been invited to again by MEF to the “Down from His Glory” event in Branson and watch this space there may be and opportunity for us in the UK to experience some of these soloists and musicians in the 2008, let’s see what God will do!

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My Trip to Charlotte, NC

In February this year I flew to the U.S. on what I believe was one of the most significant transcontinental trips I have made since our ministry began.  The itinerary was to take me firstly to New York for two performances of the Oratorio Terezin and then onto Charlotte, North Carolina for a weekend of ministry. I was excited about the Terezin performances in New York. We have performed this great work many times  and in various parts of the globe since the world premier in Toronto back in 2003 and have witnessed on each occasion how God has used this piece to touch the hearts of many people.  Each performance has been special in different ways, but this time we were performing at the famous Carnegie Hall. 

The performance was very well attended (much to the relief of the organisers!) and many in the Trerezin organisation considered it to be the best performance we have given.  .  Six friends from Arkansas and eight from Boston MA, including my dear friends Ron and Patricia Owens and Dr Steve Price and his wife Stella, travelled to support me at Carnegie Hall. There was a great ‘buzz’ immediately following the concert and people were overwhelmed with what they heard. This is the response we have witnessed after every performance. It is a work of such great significance and integrity that I believe will now filter into the main stream choral circuit around the world. It is worthy of international audiences if for no other reason than because it speaks of God’s love to His creation and what greater message does our world need to hear right now?!

One might ask at this juncture, ‘how can you possibly surpass the Carnegie Hall experience’? Well, the answer to that is quite simple; jump on a plane to Charlotte, North Carolina and meet up with Cliff Barrows! Not just meet with him but also meet with his lovely wife Ann and then stay at their home for the weekend. What a precious time of fellowship we had together and what a beautiful, Godly couple they are. I had gone to Charlotte to minister but God ministered to me through these dear people.  I had the joy of sitting in Cliff’s study, and listening to the most amazing stories that encompassed over 60 years of ministry with Billy Graham and George Beverly Shea.   I was thrilled to hear about how the Billy Graham ministry was strongly influenced by the Welsh revival of 1904 and how Cliff, Billy and George came to Loughour, South Wales in 1946 to witness the very place where the out break of the revival happened. I also had the privilege of listening to Ann share scriptures and her testimony with me. Precious fellowship! On Sunday I sang at two morning services at Calvary Church Charlotte where the Pastor Dr John Monroe was preaching and then sang again at the evening service where I was able to share my testimony in word and song.  I had the joy of singing a duet with Cliff Barrows, who’s beautiful and sonorous voice belies his 84 years! That was a great moment for me. On the Monday morning we left Cliff and Ann’s home at 6.45 am to travel to the Billy Graham Foundation Head quarters. I was asked to take the chapel service at 8 o’clock and again shared with the staff at the office some of the songs and stories from the Welsh revival in 1904.  Following chapel I was given a comprehensive guided tour of the whole facility by Dell Moore, Cliff Barrow’s PA. Up until that weekend I hadn’t fully appreciated the magnitude of the Billy Graham ministry.  Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea have ministered to over 200 million people during the last 60 years. They have build their ministry on I firm biblical principles and carried out their calling with such dedication, grace and humility. It is a ministry so clearly marked out by love and integrity. What a great example to us all. What a privilege God afforded me that weekend.  I shall never forget my trip to Charlotte.