Doo Hyong Lee is a living legend. Almost a mythical figure, at times I wondered if he really existed at all. I’ve waited years to meet him. And today, face to face, I do.
Doo Hyong is the little Korean boy that Neville first sponsored through World Vision – the little deaf orphan boy who unknowingly sat at the beginning of a very long journey that grew to become a global ministry to the Deaf, reaching tens of thousands, in over 20 countries, over more than 40 years.
He is an unassuming man; quiet, humble and uncomfortable with any thought of ‘fame’ that might be associated with his role in DMI’s beginning. I ask him about this beginning and he looks even more uncomfortable, even embarrassed.
“I wasn’t an orphan,” he signs timidly. “It was a misunderstanding.” The surprised look on my face doesn’t help him share his story. “Somewhere between the school, World Vision and Neville, there was a mix up and it was reported that I was an orphan, but I wasn’t. When I was 18, Neville visited me, not for the first time, and I introduced him to my mother. That was awkward! Neville was quite shocked. Then I was shocked! But it never changed Neville’s attitude toward me. He was always such a warm person. I’d never met anyone so loving and kind. Everyone else ignored me and treated me badly, but Neville never treated me like that. He was always interested in me and how I was doing. I never forgot that.”
Doo Hyong’s entry into Christian ministry was miraculous.
Though she could barely communicate with him, his mother loved him. A Christian woman, she took him off, aged 17, to a famous prayer mountain, where they sat with other believers for three days to fast and pray. She was praying that Doo Hyong’s ears would be opened. He didn’t know what he was praying for. All he knew was that he was very hungry and his mother wouldn’t let him consume anything more than water.
The pastor came and laid hands on his head and prayed for him. When it came time for him to go home, his mother began to cry so hard, on and on she wept, and Doo Hyong didn’t know why.
Then it happened.
He heard the voice of God. As in, audibly heard the voice of God. It was such a loud voice! “Live with all your strength. Work hard. Don’t ever be discouraged.”
“I heard this so clearly,” Doo Hyong says. “I was so full of joy. This was the Holy Spirit my mother had been telling me about. She could see on my face that God had spoken to me.” I replied to Him ‘Yes, I will live like this’. I wondered if he ever heard the voice of God (or anything) again.
Mary prodded Jesus into action at the start of his ministry. In much the same way, it was Doo Hyong’s mother who set him on course in his ministry. Two years after his mountain experience, she told him that he needed to start a church for the deaf. “Anyone can start an orphanage,” she said. “But not anyone can start a church. You’ve been called to this.”
He worked as a carpenter before studying for two years in a seminary. After graduating, Neville led him to start a church on Gangwha island, right near the North Korean border, and asked a young Japanese hearing woman named Kumiko to help him set it up. It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement as she needed to study Korean. It also became a mutually beneficial arrangement because they ended up getting married!
The deaf church grew.
They met in the Methodist church on Gangwha island for 17 years until they were suddenly kicked out. This devastated them. The church continued to meet in a green house – literally a green house for growing plants (I was taken there later to see it) – for 14 months at which point the whole church decided to fast and pray for 40 days to seek direction.
A miracle resulted.
People started giving money for the church. People from all over the world heard about the deaf Korean church meeting in a farmer’s greenhouse, and began to give. They bought land and built a modest church, the same church I spoke in before interviewing Doo Hyong. And it’s a beautiful church. Yes, the windows are pretty and the pulpit is fine but the church – the people who gather there – are the most beautiful people.
I ask Doo Hyong if he ever heard the voice of God again. When he was seeking God about building the church, God showed him Matthew 6:33: Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “I believed this,” he said, “and it proved to be true. Yes, I hear the voice of God everyday ringing loud and clear from the pages of scripture.”
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Good to read Doo Hyong’s full story. I remember reading about them meeting in the Greenhouse so many years ago. How the church in Australia needs to hear the voice of God.
Dear Kumiko and Doo Hyong, what a joy to see you again and read of how the Lord revealed Himself to you! I remember with joy when you visited us dear Kumiko and we had such a blessed time of sharing together – so many years ago now. I have in my heart a very blessed memory of the time when Johannes and I visited you in your home and church in South Korea – also a long time ago! I do thank the Lord for the gift of memory!
Johannes went to be with the Lord 29th Decr. 2019. I still live in the same flat and am thankful for loving friends – deaf and hearing – who help me when I need it. As Johannes often said: HE is so good.
His blessings be yours in abundance. With love in Him, Joy
Praise God, such an inspiring story! Thank you. Thank God for the mother who prayed so hard for her son, and thank you, God, for speaking to Doo Hyong!