When we went to Shymkent , Kazakhstan a few years ago, the Korean church was active in that Muslim nation. We took Lily (our exchange student daughter) and her sister Regina there, and we were impressed with the fervency of their prayers. In Poprad, Slovakia the ministry of Pastor Gabrielle Minarik was heavily supported by a Korean pastor working in the Czech Republic. (Pastor Minarik is the man who prayed for Art, and the knee injury that had caused pain for thirty years was instantly healed  watch). Seems like they’re everywhere. These people really take the Great Commission seriously.

They’re here in Jerusalem too. As we entered Succat Hallel one afternoon this week, we heard loud, intense praying that sounded quick with a quality of urgency. We had arrived at the end of the Korean watch. A group of Korean Christians has started a house of prayer on the north side of the old city, which means that there are now houses of prayer on all four sides, as was prophecied a few years ago. The Koreans man one of the watches at Succat Hallel.

We sat down to begin praying and noticed that there were about a dozen Koreans. A man, who seemed to be the pastor, was praying gently from the microphone. At intervals, they all said “amen.” Near the end of the watch, they gathered at the front to pray for a young man, his wife, and their child sleeping in a stroller. The pastor prayed for a fairly long time. Then, there must have been some kind of signal because they burst, all at once, into an explosion of prayer. The sound of their voices was bold and stacatto with a definite unified rising and falling rhythm. Then, without any noticeable signal, they all stopped—instantaneously, simultaneously—and the pastor continued on in his sweet voice. It was remarkable.

These people know how to “keep rank.” It was a blessing to be in the same room with them and to join in their prayer. This quality is part of the explanation of how South Korea has undergone so radical a transformation from a desolate, impoverished nation to a modern and prosperous nation–such a radical contrast to their northern neighbor. They remind me of the mighty men described in the Chronicles whose hearts have a special quality, which we would do well to develop:

All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. (1 Chronicles 12:38, King James Bible)

Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart. (1 Chronicles 12:33)

These mighty ones who could keep rank did so because of their hearts. Other translations describe their hearts in these ways:

  • Undivided loyalty
  • Singleness of purpose
  • Undivided heart
  • Unquestioned loyalty
  • True-hearted

John Wesley’s notes say that they were able to set aside their own interests for the good of others. Lord, bless the Korean Christians and help us become more like them.