Declaration of the Freedom of People with Disabilities

Hello friends,

On July 4 (Korean time), King's Table Asia held its inaugural worship service at Hesung Church. Because this was our very first service, we invited our board members, several close friends, ministry partners, and fellow graduates of Denver Seminary to join us for this special occasion.

I am deeply grateful to God for faithfully leading my family to South Korea and entrusting us with the privilege of serving people with disabilities and others who are often marginalized in society. This worship service marked the beginning of a new chapter in the ministry, and we praise God for His faithfulness and guidance every step of the way.

In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to sharing more updates as we continue preparing for the official launch and expansion of King's Table Asia. Your prayers and partnership are deeply appreciated as we seek to proclaim the gospel, equip the church, and cultivate communities where people of all abilities are welcomed, valued, and empowered to serve together in Christ.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and encouragement. Praise the Lord! Below is the message I shared following the worship service.

Grace and peace to you.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who joined us for the inaugural worship service of King's Table Asia despite the summer heat and the long distance many traveled. I am especially grateful to all who supported this service through prayer and faithful service. My heartfelt thanks also go to Rev. Myungho Jung and the members of Hyesung Church for graciously providing the worship venue and serving us through their special music and generous hospitality. Above all, I give all thanks, praise, and glory to the Triune God, who faithfully guided my family and me throughout the past thirty years in the United States and has now called us to a new vision and mission in South Korea.

At this inaugural service, I also had the privilege of introducing the Board of Directors of King's Table Asia: Dr. Sung Wook Chung, Chairman of the Board; Dr. Soon Gil Hong; Dr. Seung Tae Kim; Rev. Myungho Jung; Rev. Jae Heung Son; Mr. Hwa Seok Oh, Secretary General; and, though unable to attend that day, Dr. Dae Hyuk Kang and Rev. Joo Ho Jung. I remain deeply grateful for their wisdom, prayers, leadership, and commitment as we establish this ministry together.

On this historic occasion, I would like to explain why King's Table Asia exists and what gospel vision compels us to begin this ministry. Providentially, our first worship service was held on July 4, the Independence Day of the United States. At the heart of that national celebration stands the Declaration of Independence, a document that proclaimed freedom from British rule and affirmed that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.

Whenever I reflect on that declaration, however, I am reminded of another declaration that is infinitely greater—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection is far more than a historical event. It is God's declaration that the reign of sin and death has been decisively defeated. It proclaims that a new creation has begun in Christ. Through His death and resurrection, humanity has been set free from the bondage of sin, liberated from condemnation, and granted eternal life. In Christ, we are also being restored into the image of God for which we were originally created. The resurrection, therefore, is God's greatest declaration of freedom to the world.

This gospel is truly good news for all people.

Yet many people with disabilities and their families continue to live under the heavy burdens of shame, isolation, discrimination, and despair. In society—and, at times, even within the church—they often struggle to experience genuine belonging, meaningful participation, and opportunities to serve alongside others.

Since returning to South Korea, I have frequently heard people say, "Pastor, Korea has made remarkable progress in disability welfare." Having experienced the system firsthand, I wholeheartedly agree. Significant progress has indeed been made. Yet there is another statement I have rarely heard: "The Korean church is the warmest and most welcoming community for people with disabilities and their families."

It is my earnest prayer that one day this testimony will be true of every church throughout Korea. That hope lies at the very heart of why King's Table Asia exists. We did not establish this ministry to criticize the church. Rather, we founded it because we deeply love the church. The church is God's ordained community through which the beauty of the gospel is meant to be displayed to the world.

When Jesus spoke about hosting a great banquet, He instructed His followers to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. From the very beginning, the King's table was intended for everyone. It symbolizes far more than a shared meal; it embodies the kingdom of God, where no one is excluded and every person is welcomed through the grace of Christ.

King's Table Asia is not seeking to create a new table. Instead, we seek to invite people back to the King's table that God has already prepared. Our calling is to help cultivate churches where people with and without disabilities worship together, fellowship together, serve together, and participate together in God's mission, recognizing that they need one another as indispensable members of the body of Christ. We are not inviting people with disabilities into our table; rather, we are recovering the table that Christ has already prepared for them.

For this reason, today we proclaim the freedom announced by the gospel.

We declare freedom from the shame that so many people with disabilities experience each day.

We declare freedom from exclusion in worship, in Christian community, in schools, in workplaces, and throughout everyday life.

We declare freedom from the fear of the future, from the fear of public judgment, and from the fear of being abandoned or left alone.

We declare freedom from the false labels that describe people with disabilities as cursed, deficient, useless, or merely objects of care.

These declarations are possible because God never views people with disabilities as incomplete human beings. They are created in the image of God and therefore possess immeasurable dignity and worth. In Christ they have been redeemed by His precious blood and belong to God's covenant people. They have received spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit and are indispensable members of Christ's body. Furthermore, Scripture declares that all believers are "a royal priesthood." Every follower of Christ has been called not only to receive ministry but also to participate in God's mission.

Therefore, today we once again invite everyone to the King's table. At this table there is no division between disabled and non-disabled people. No one remains merely a guest or a passive recipient. Instead, everyone is invited to serve together, rejoice together, weep together, and participate together in the life and mission of Christ's body.

This is the vision of the church that King's Table Asia longs to see. Yet this vision does not belong to King's Table Asia alone. It is God's vision for His church. Our deepest desire is simply to see the church become more fully what Christ has already called her to be.

Therefore, today we invite one another into God's mission.

Pray with us. Become friends to people with disabilities and their families. Help build churches where every person is genuinely welcomed and belongs. Join us in extending the King's table so that no one is left outside the fellowship of God's kingdom. I look forward to the day when every church throughout Korea will be able to declare with confidence: "Our church is the warmest community for people with disabilities and their families."

Until that day, may we walk together in faith, hope, and love, giving all glory to God alone.