What does a foreign missionary whose work is, say, bible studies with college students, do when the state begins systemic violence against opposing voices?  I thought about this listening to NPR radio’s “The Story” with Dick Gordon last night.  I was surprised to hear former missionary to Korea Gene Matthews interviewed.  Gene, my parents, and others collaborated on a book More Than Witnesses about their journey from “harmless” missionaries (Gene grew up on an Iowa farm) to supporting Koreans who suffered for their witness against the military dictatorship in the 1970’s.  The story about being tailed by a Korean CIA agent for three years and their near-daily “tea” meetings is hilarious and tragic.  Gene’s story raises crucial questions about the skills needed to faithfully bear witness to Christ amid social turmoil.  And he’s a very funny man.

Listen to “The Story: Korean Democracy“