Work in Korea by Mimi Schaffenberg

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 16, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 36.

Work in Korea

By Mimi Schaffenberg

THROUGH the faithful efforts of one of our lay members in the Seoul church, a family of twelve members gave up spirit-worship, and accepted Jesus as their Saviour. This sister had an experience that helped her to work for others. Her husband was possessed of demons, but through her earnest prayers he was healed and converted, and now five members of that family have been baptized and taken into the church. The sister next went to her friends, with whom she used to go to the devil-worship dances. For three years she begged them to believe, but in vain. These friends were wealthy, and did all they knew to please the spirits. Finally their money was all gone,—the spirits had eaten up all; but still they had no peace. The faithful sister called once more, and found them all in trouble. Again she told them about the true God, and what He had done for her family, and finally they decided to give up spirit-worship.

The next day, all the church members were called together to go and help put away the idols. They found ancestor tablets, idols of paper, wood, and cloth, dishes with rice offered to one spirit, dishes with water to another spirit, clothes offered to another, etc., everything gathered together into one heap, making a load as large as one man could carry. Between the decision to believe and the putting away of everything that pertained to devil-worship, just a day and a half intervened. During that time the whole family could neither eat nor sleep, so great was their fear; but when everything was taken out of the house and burned, they all felt relieved.

Altho their house was now cleared of everything that belonged to spirit-worship, this was not all. In two other places a long distance from home, were articles which they had dedicated to the devil. These articles were in a special place, locked up, and the key was in the care of a necromancer, who was unwilling to give up either the key or the articles. She and her helpers tried their best to persuade this family to come back to devil-worship. Finally this new believer asked me to come with her to the necromancer's home, and help her. We went the next day, and had to spend much time arguing. Her main objection was that to lose so faithful a spirit-worshiper meant loss of food and clothing for herself. But at last she decided to go with us, and give up the things called for. As it was a long journey, we had a good opportunity to talk; and before we reached the house, she promised to study and get acquainted with the true God. She made no more objections, and gave up all the things, which were also burned. To hear the words of relief spoken by this family, really convinced me that they were in earnest, and that they had begun to enjoy the peace of God.

MIMI SCHAFFENBERG.