From the field

Stories

Forty-four years in Korea means forty-four years of stories. Some will appear in the book. All of them are true.

The Beginning · Age 13

I Tried Not to Raise My Hand

I was 13 years old at a youth camp when a missionary speaker asked three questions. "How many want to be President?" Hundreds of hands went up — including mine. "How many want to be the richest businessman in the world?" I raised mine even higher. Then came the third question. "How many of you believe God wants you to be a missionary?" I tried not to raise my hand. But I couldn't keep it down. Getting out of my chair to walk to that stage was harder than raising my hand. Seven or eight teenagers stood in a line while he prayed over us. I never looked back. 44 years later I'm still in Seoul, Korea — still telling people about Jesus.

Bill Ray Majors · The moment that changed everything · "The Half Apple"

First Story · June 2, 1982

The Man Called Hama and the Suitcase at Gimpo Airport

I arrived at Gimpo International Airport late in the evening, June 2nd 1982. The man who had promised to meet me was not there yet. I came without any contact information in Seoul and I did not understand the culture engaged in "Korea Time." I was stranded and could not speak Korean. All I could do was sit on one of my suitcases and worry about my unbearable problems.

Bill Ray Majors · June 2, 1982 · First night in Korea

A Week Like No Other · June 1982

Graduated Monday. Ordained Wednesday. Korea on Monday.

During college Bill had been invited to Korea for a summer internship — but he could not go. He was delivering the Chattanooga Times every morning, 365 days a year. So he finished his degree, handed in his paper route, and within one extraordinary week — graduated on Monday, was ordained and sent out by his home church on Wednesday, and boarded a plane out of Los Angeles on June 1st with a one-way ticket.

Bill Ray Majors · The week that changed everything

Ministry Milestone · December 25, 2004

Five Churches, One Christmas Morning

In 2004, I co-founded AIM — the Association of International Ministries — with US Army Chaplain Jim King, the other co-founder. On Christmas Day 2004, five churches gathered for the very first AIM Joint Christmas Worship. Each church had a choir rotating on stage and in between the reading of scripture in a variety of languages of the native speakers in this international Christmas worship.

AIM Joint Christmas Worship · Youngnak Mission Chapel

A Life Moment · October 31, 1987

There Was No Halloween That Day

I arrived in Korea on June 2, 1982 with a one-way ticket — willing to live and die in Korea if that was God's will. Five years later, on October 31, 1987, I married Ja-kyung 'Niki' Lyu. Halloween in the West — but in Korea that day, it was simply a beautiful Saturday afternoon. A one-way ticket had become a life.

Bill & Niki · Seoul, Korea · October 31, 1987

From the Field · May 2016

Korea Was Never the Final Destination

A short-term mission trip to the Philippines in May 2016. For me, Korea has always been a base — not a boundary. The vision was never just Seoul. It was Asia. The Bible did not stop at the Korean border and neither did the mission.

Bill Ray Majors · Philippines Mission 2016

In His Own Words · 2025

November 8, 2025 — A New Chapter Begins

On my 65th birthday, November 8, 2025, I completed my transition from part-time Lead Pastor at SCIC to 100% missionary. It was not a retirement — it was the completion of an eight-year plan. The plan had always been to be fully supported as a missionary by age 65. By God's grace, that day came.

Bill Ray Majors · Seoul · November 8, 2025

In His Own Words · 2025

Still on the Court at 65

Two national championship wins in 2025 — one in Daejeon (June), one in Wonju (October). Promoted to the Gold League. I arrived with a suitcase and no Korean — and now I am a Korean citizen (dual citizenship) competing in national tournaments.

National Senior Tennis Champion · Gold League

A Legacy Moment · 2012

Korean Useful in Houston at MD Anderson

I arrived in 1982 speaking no Korean — and now I was preaching at a Korean immigrant church and speaking fluently in Korean in Houston at MD Anderson Cancer Center, ministering to Korean patients facing the most difficult moments of their lives.

Hospital Chaplain · MD Anderson, Houston

A Life Moment · 1987 · The Question

Have You Ever Thought About Marrying Your Friend?

Bill was 27 years old, single, and living as a resident missionary in a Korean orphanage. One day a visiting American dental missionary, Dr. Dick Nieusma, asked him: "Bill, when are you going to get married?" Bill answered — when I fall head over heels in love. Dr. Nieusma challenged him with a new question: "Have you ever thought about marrying your friend? Don't you have a girl you enjoy talking to about everything?" It was a new perspective and an easy answer. Yes — Bill called her, met her, and spent hours talking through the what, how, and why questions of life. He really enjoyed time with her. So Bill spent two weeks walking to the back of the orphanage and sitting in the rice fields, praying about God's will. After two weeks he proposed to Jakyung — Niki. On October 31, 1987, they were married. Halloween in the West. In Korea that day, it was simply a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Bill & Niki · Seoul, Korea · October 31, 1987

A Life Moment · 1987 · The Proposal

If You Say No, We Say Goodbye Here

I had already made the decision. But how could I let her know our friendship was more than just friends? One rainy day I picked up Niki after work. Since it was raining, I needed a strategy I didn't have yet. I drove for an hour from the bus terminal in Seoul through Euijeongbu toward the west. The rain stopped. I saw a cemetery on the mountain side — somewhere we could be alone — and drove to the top. I had her sit on the hood of the car. Then I proposed. It started like this: 'If you say yes, I will drive you home. If you say no, we will say goodbye here.' She knew I would never do that — we were friends. Her answer was maybe. Not in the choice category. She told me she couldn't answer by herself. I would need to meet her older brother. Her older brother said I would have to meet her father. Her father said: she is my only daughter, the baby of the family — one condition. You have to live in Korea the rest of your life. If it be God's will, I agreed. We were married on October 31, 1987.

Bill & Niki · Seoul, Korea · October 31, 1987

Witness · November 9, 2008

Two Languages, One Worship

A Korean congregation and an International English congregation worshipping together as one. I presided in English with Korean slides, then in Korean with English slides. CrossCulture Community in its truest form.

Joint Thanksgiving Worship · Youngnak Church Seoul 2008

Voices from the past

Letters that came back

A Letter · 18 Years Later

“When I lived in South Korea and attended your church, you once gave a sermon about Mary and Martha that resonated with me. Today, in my Lenten devotional, I was reminded of your sermon. As I journey I wonder if I have changed to be more like Mary and less like Martha. This email is less about that question and more about the gratitude of your ministry to me in 2007. Today He sent you to my heart and to my prayers — and I think sometimes we all need to hear that.”

Cassandra — IWE Young Nak Church, 2007

A sermon preached in 2007 — still speaking 18 years later

A Message from Germany · 2023

“Your "do the best you can with the resources you have... and abandon the outcome" is being greatly quoted in my work field now. I quoted it sometimes and now colleagues picked it up as well — even put your quote in our magazine and prayer journal, both for personal evangelism. May it influence many people as it encouraged me. Just wanted you to know you have a lasting impact and it's bigger than you might think.”

Jerusha — SCIC Congregation, 2023

A quote traveled from a classroom to Seoul to Germany — and keeps going

A Message from Tanzania · 2026

“Praise the Lord, Pastor. I hope you are doing well. I would like to sincerely thank you for the spiritual guidance and care you gave us during my time at Yonsei University from 2021 to 2022. I am from Tanzania, and being far from home, your support, prayers, and teachings meant a great deal to me and truly strengthened my faith while I was in Korea. I am deeply grateful for your dedication and kindness. May God continue to bless you abundantly and use you to touch many more lives.”

Dr. Wily Mushi — Yonsei University, 2021–2022

A Tanzanian scholar, far from home — faith strengthened through a community in Seoul

A Letter from a College Roommate · 2025

“Hi Bill. Read your book. Amazing!!!! I never truly knew or understood all you went through. So many hard times and uncertain futures. You endured it all with grace. You always had a child-like faith in God and a courage that enabled you to set out on a life with no assurance of what was to come. You are very brave. My need for control makes it hard to step out as you did. You always were genuine and real. I noticed that about you. You were never fake, always who you truly were. When I first met you (1980), to me you were confident, outgoing, and you looked just like a movie star — James Garner from the Rockford Files. I wondered why you reached out to me, because people like you never really found me valuable or worth knowing. I was amazed with your kindness. When we met years after college, you were the same Bill — honest, real, focused on God. Korea was one of the best tours as a chaplain in the Army for me. Being with you and your friends in Korea was a great blessing. I'm glad you wrote your book. I pray it will help Christians to trust God by faith as you did, and step out even without knowing the future. "Trust God, do your best, and abandon the outcome." I'll remember that quote.”

Jeff — College Roommate, Tennessee Temple University, 1980–1982

College roommate, Tennessee Temple University · U.S. Army Chaplain in Korea · Reader of The Half Apple

A Letter from a Co-Founder · 2017

“No one else has your special blend of experiences and knowledge. You have been in Korea over half your life — fluent in both English and Korean, a citizen of both the United States and South Korea. You are a place where East meets West, and the two blend in harmony. For over 10 years I have watched you foster ministry, facilitate missions, and further God's Kingdom. Your insightful ability to collaborate in calling with others multiplies the effectiveness of all and produces lasting individual growth, ministry development, and cultural change.”

Chaplain Jim King — US Army Korea, 2002–2006

Co-founder of AIM · Written 2017 · Served in Korea 2002–2006

A Message · May 25, 2026

“I still miss going to this church (IWE@Youngnak Church). That was twenty years ago. There are moments I want to go back in time. Living in Seoul back then was awesome. Yes, people have hardships, but coming to church was a real joy on Sundays.”

Daniel Park — IWE @ Young Nak Church

Twenty years later — the joy of Sunday mornings still remembered

A Message · June 14, 2026

“The JEBS closing festival and closing worship service came to a gracious conclusion. It has already been 23 years since I first met Pastor Bill at the IWE International Worship service, yet the closer I get to him, the more warmth I feel. When I reach that age myself, I hope to live as an embracing, inclusive pastor — just like Pastor Bill.”

Stephen Choi (최성은) — Associate Pastor, Peniel Church, Gunpo · IWE @ Young Nak Church since 2003

JEBS End-of-Term Bilingual Service, Peniel Presbyterian Church, Gunpo · Watch the sermon ↗

A Letter from a Reader · 2026

“My wife bought your book for me, and I just finished it. I couldn't put it down — it's incredible. Thank you. I attended IWE for a little less than a year from 2008–2009. I don't remember us spending a lot of time together or being particularly close. But you somehow revealed our Everlasting Father to me in a way that resonates. That was almost 18 years ago. Outside my immediate family, I can't think of anyone else I have actually stayed in touch with for the past 18 years. I blame the Army and moving, but I know that isn't the whole (or even most) of the truth. Again, you revealed something about God to me through this. And your book filled in more details — somehow I see God a bit clearer now than before I read it. Thank you.”

Joshua Groen — IWE @ Young Nak Church, 2008–2009

A reader of The Half Apple · IWE 2008–2009 · Still in touch 18 years later