By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Some 1,500 people of the Saemmul Community Church mourned the death of Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, who was killed by the Taliban militants in Afghanistan, at a funeral service held at the church in Gyeonggi Province Saturday, 45 days after his death.
Rev. Bae's family members and the 21 former hostages, who had been held captive with him but returned home safely, wept openly. It was the first time since their return that the former hostages left the hospital where they have been receiving treatment.
Rev. Bae's body was transferred to Korea on Aug. 5, but the bereaved family delayed the funeral service, saying they would hold it once all hostages had returned.
At the funeral, the church referred to him as a ``martyr'' for the first time.
``Rev. Bae used to think that death is a call from God. We should thank God for the precious death,'' Rev. Park Eun-jo of the church said. Other church members also said his death would lead to the spread of the gospel.
In the meantime, Rev. Park had reportedly tendered his resignation to the church, but the church turned it down. He will leave the church for two months to have personal prayer time, according to church members.
Some church people said the pastor felt responsible for people's anti-Christian sentiment. However, in a recent interview, Rev. Park said the church would keep sending missionary groups to Afghanistan once the situation improves and the travel ban to the country is lifted.
rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr
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