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Draft:Dong Suk-Kee

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Dong Suk-Kee, also known as D.D. Bell in America (May 5, 1881 - December 26, 1971 (aged 90)), was a Korean American missionary and Gospel minister.[1][2][3] He was one of the very first Koreans to carry on the work of early American missionaries (Henry Appenzeller and Horace Underwood) to introduce Protestant Christianity in Korea.[4]

He was a Methodist minister who worked with L. Haskell Chesshir to establish Christian educational schools, and later founded the first Church of Christ in Korea (1930).[5] Dong was awarded the Presidential Award in 1996 by the Korean government posthumously for his active participation in the March 1st Movement in 1919,[6] a call for independence from Japanese colonialism.[7][8]

Early life and education

Dong was one of the first Koreans to immigrate to Hawaii in 1903.[8][6] Dong studied Methodism at the Department of Law at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He received a diploma with the degree of B.D. from Garrett School of Divinity in 1913 and returned to Korea as a Methodist pastor.[9][10][3][2] Upon returning to the United States in 1927, Dong continued his education.

Conversion

Dong converted to Christianity in 1903 while working on a sugar plantation in Hawaii and was baptized by Waterman via sprinkling late in 1904.[9][2][3][8][5]

Evangelism and Founding of the Church of Christ in Korea

Starting in 1913, Dong preached for the Methodist Church in Korea for fourteen years.[11][3][6] In 1927, he returned to the United States to further his education.[4]

He attended a rally in Pagoda Park and was arrested for participating in a national independence demonstration.[3][8] After his release from prison, Dong resigned from Namyang Church in 1920 and served at Cheongyang Church in Chungcheongnam-do until 1922.[5][11]

Dong traveled to Nashville to learn about the New Testament doctrines through the preaching of H.L. Calhoun and C.R. Brewer, and went back to Korea to begin a restoration movement by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Koreans and establishing the church of Christ in Korea.[1][3][7][6][4] Following his return, he worked with missionaries, including Cf. Allen D. Clark.[10]

On November 29, 1930, Dong founded the Church of Christ in Korea[5] with the help of Song Nak-So and Cunningham of the Japanese Christian Mission.[10][1] Upon returning to his native province of Hamkyung Do (now North Korea), Dong preached the gospel for three weeks and converted 20 people.[5]

By 1940, he established seven churches in northern Korea[10] and five in the southern region.[6] He founded the first congregation in Seoul.[5][3] Dong was known among American churches as D.D. Bell (Ding Dong Bell).[10][1][7][6]

The March 1 Independence Movement

Dong Suk-Kee was conferred the Korean Presidential Award[1][2][3][7] by then-president Kim Young-Sam in 1996 for his contributions to the March 1 Independence Movement.[6][4]

Post-liberation work in Korea and America

Dong returned to the United States in 1949 and evangelized to Korean military officers who were being trained at the Army Infantry School in Port Banning, Georgia, sent missionaries after the armistice, and raised money for missionary expenses.[11][6]

Death

Retired from active duty in 1966, Dong Suk-Kee died in California on December 26, 1971.[11] His grave marker records him as Minister D.D. Bell and below it his name in Korean as the Founder of the Church of Christ in Korea in 1930.[10][3][7][8][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bringing Hope and Healing: The Impact of a Korean American Missionary's Gospel Preaching - List-manage5". list-manage5.net. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dong Suk-Kee revolutionizing education in Korea with his pioneering efforts to establish schools - Fastcredit". fastcredit24.com. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Dong Suk-Kee's Efforts to Bring Christianity to Korea - Marciassilverspoon". marciassilverspoon.net. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  4. ^ a b c d e @martingray_json. "Understanding the rise of Christianity in Korea". Minds. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Things You Need to Know About Christianity in Korea". AtoAllinks. 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Faith Without Borders: The Global Mission of a Korean American Preacher and Missionary - tavernatzanakis". tavernatzanakis.com. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Dong Suk-Kee - A pivotal figure in the Korean Independence Movement - carlosgruezoficial". carlosgruezoficial.com. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  8. ^ a b c d e "A Deep-dive into the March First Movement with Dong Suk-Kee - Vintageharlemws". vintageharlemws.com. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  9. ^ a b Importer, Bulk (2020-08-26). ""Dong Suk Kee: Immigrant Laborer, Methodist Minister, and Restorationist,"". Missio Dei Journal. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "History of the Restoration Movement". www.therestorationmovement.com. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  11. ^ a b c d "동석기". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-18.