Pastor Lee Bok-soo, Pastor of BUFS
Managing Editor Seo Yun-chan
danseo123@naver.com
Every year, a lot of freshmen come to Busan University of Foreign Studies. They take classes from their majors, as well as electives. However, there is one class that is a prerequisite for all freshmen of BUFS. The class is “Chapel”. BUFS was founded on a Christian background, and holds the Bible as the word of wisdom. Therefore, all freshmen must take Chapel for their first year of college. Pastor Lee Bok-soo is in charge of this class. He is also the director pastor of BUFS.
Q1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself
A. Hello, I am Pastor Lee Bok-soo. I was born in 1947 and was raised in Pohang. I majored in the Department of Theology at Kosin University, achieving the position of Master of Ministry, and was anointed as a pastor in The Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea. I served as a pastor at the Peniel Church, which is located at Peniel Middle & High School. While serving my ministry there, I got a chance to study in Scotland, and studied at the Free Church College of Scotland, and Aberdeen University. There, I achieved my Master’s of Theology. Then I came back to Kosin University and was hired as a professor. I finished my career as a professor on August 31, 2012. During my lecturing period, I was nominated as President of the Graduate School of Mission and Ministry, Vice President of Kosin University. I also was President of the Korea Evangelical Missiological Society. Now, I am serving as President of the Global Professionals Mission. I also have a lovely wife and three children, and they are all married and live in Germany and Korea.
Q2. How did you become a Christian?
A. I was born in a non-Christian family. Our family was a typical Korean family where we serve our ancestors. When I was 14 years old, I felt the futility of life when I thought of one’s death. The only fields that were adequate to run around and play in were cemeteries. Whenever I played in those fields, I thought that when someone dies and gets buried into a tomb, they become nothing but a handful of dirt. Sometimes those thoughts made me cry. Back in those times, I was so bothered at such thoughts, and even had trouble sleeping at night. While such meaningless times flew by, I wondered if I could get answers to my life’s questions if I went to church. And so, I decided to go to church on my own. There, when I learned about death and resurrection, I knew that resurrection and Jesus were the key to all of my questions. From that moment, I decided to become a Christian.
Pastor Lee Bok-soo was born in a non-Christian family. But now he lives with three children who have grown up as a Christian.
Provided by Pastor Lee Bok-soo
Q3. How did you become a pastor?
A. Even when I decided to become a Christian, I have never thought of being a pastor because, in a family that serves our ancestors, like typical Korean families, it was impossible to be a pastor. Also, since I was a firstborn, it was considered impossible. I also could not go to Ministry College to become a pastor. My father operated a small foundry, and he wanted me to take over his position. However, when I was getting ready to graduate high school, I thought to myself that I need to spread this faith, the values of Christianity, to everyone so that those who had the same questions about their life, just like me, could find answers. But the circumstances that our family was facing were rough, so I could not tell my family that I wanted to be a pastor. Like so, I graduated high school, and I could not even imagine going to college. I had to take over my father’s position, and moved over to a neighboring city to learn about the job. I spent four years in that area. As time went by, it hit me hard that the question that I was facing in my life was not only mine. Everyone else was facing the same problem too. It also hit me that I have to be the one who can spread the truth, the answer to all such questions. That is when I realized that this is God’s calling upon me. My father opposed my decision, but I signed up for Ministry College, and became a pastor.
Q4. Why did you decide to come to BUFS?
A. After I finished my career as Vice President in Kosin University, I had about six months before I finished my career as a professor. As I said earlier, I finished in August in 2012. In the last week of May, 2012, I was invited to deliver a speech at BUFS church. After my first sermon, I was invited every week, and eventually became the senior pastor of BUFS church in 2013. I give all glory to God for leading me into a place that I had no relations with before.
Q5. What do you do at BUFS?
A. When I first became the senior pastor of BUFS church, my role was simply a preacher. However, after the director of the chapel office left BUFS, I had to take both roles. I then was nominated as a foundation director of our college’s foundation. I stopped working as a director of the chapel office then. Now I am only a senior pastor of BUFS church and the foundation director. I also help out in classes like chapel, or pray in BUFS’ events.
Q6. Tell us a little bit about the class “Chapel”
A. Our campus was founded on a founding philosophy of Christianity, and therefore we hold a prerequisite class, “Chapel”. Chapel is divided into two classes: required and selective courses. Required classes are freshmen classes, and all freshmen must take the class in both their first and second semester. They must take these required classes in order to graduate. The selective class is called “Faith and Humanity”, and those who have already taken “Chapel” can freely sign up for this class. “Chapel” is held in the main auditorium, and the “Faith and Humanity” class is held in the church building. In “Chapel”, we invite lecturers to deliver a wonderful speech. I think through the “Chapel” class, students can learn about both knowledge and the humanity they need in their life.
Pastor Lee Bok-soo was a professor and he also served as a vice president at Kosin University.
Provided by Pastor Lee Bok-soo
Q7. Last words to the freshmen and students of BUFS
A. To the class of 2020, farewell. You have done fantastic work as students here in BUFS. Freshmen of 2021, we welcome you! All I want to say to those who graduate, to those who have just joined our school, and to those who are still attending, is this: always find your dreams in the faith of God. Dreams that people desire can fade away easily, and they will fall apart when they hit their limit. However, when you have faith, you can find your way, the right way. Also, you can find help from God, and therefore, even if you hit the limit, you can still carry on. I was born and raised in a poor condition, grew up in a harsh life, but still became a pastor and a professor. I know that this is all because I kept my dreams in faith. I wish all of you the grace of God. Thank you.
As he became a Christian, he knew that it was his mission to spread the word of truth to others.
Provided by Pastor Lee Bok-soo