Oliver R. Avison was a medical missionary to the region now called Korea. He treated all patients with diligence, without discrimination. According to the worldview dominated by Confucianism and classicism, butchers were considered the lowest and even treated as untouchable. Missionaries preached the gospel to them and embraced them. Sung-Choon Park was healed by the treatment given by Avison. Later, he requested that his son be accepted into medical school and become a doctor. Avison accepted Suh-Yang Park as a student in the first Western Chejungwon Medical school in Korea in 1900. He studied basic sciences and medical sciences, including anatomy and physiology, internal medicine, and surgery. Suh-Yang Park graduated from this medical school in 1908 and became the country’s first medical doctor after receiving a Government Certificate from the Home Office, which granted him the right to practice medicine.
Vision: Avison was a man of vision. He foresaw the need for trained doctors to meet the massive needs of people who were suffering from curable diseases. So, he began a medical school to raise local people as medical professionals.
Equality: Avison not only treated all patients equally, but also his students. It is said that other students withdrew because Avison refused to keep separate seats and dining arrangements. His biblical faith that all humans are created in the image of God, and are descendants of the first couple, Adam and Eve. Some students withdrew but later rejoined. Hence, he was the first student to complete before anyone else.
Transformation: Christian missionaries have transformed many parts of the world by their dedication, hard work, preaching, and demonstrating the gospel. Freedom and equality are core values for human progress. Avison taught the butchers that they are created in the image of God. They have the freedom to choose their professions. Hence, Sung-Choon, the butcher, became a child of God by choosing Christ. (John 1:12). Hence, he wanted his son Su-Yang Park to experience freedom through the truth of the gospel and choose to become a doctor.
Do I demonstrate and teach the transforming gospel that gives dignity, freedom, and equality?