Daesung‘s church (Champyungan) recently approached him for an interview, it was quite difficult for them to approach him for an interview. It had been months since the world was shocked by his accident, but yet he was still not active with his fellow members. He had not conducted any interviews with the press. Champyungan told him, “We don’t think interviews happen because people want them to happen. They will happen when God decides the timing is right.” And just a few days later, Daesung responded. “I’ll do it“.
On Sunday October 2nd, 2011. After the 2nd service had ended, Champyungan met with church member Kang Daesung and interviewed him, check out the interview below.It has been about a year since we last interviewed you. So many things have happened in that time; how are you holding up?
I spent most of my time at church. I come when there is work to be done on the weekdays, and I come when I meet with our Young Adult (Hepzibah) Group
I spent most of my time at church. I come when there is work to be done on the weekdays, and I come when I meet with our Young Adult (Hepzibah) Group
It’s probably been awhile since you’ve spent so much time at church; how does it feel?
Things were really hard after the accident. I thought to myself, ‘If it weren’t for my faith, I may have committed something truly horrible’. After the hardest 3-4 days of my life, I decided I wanted to come see our head pastor. I asked the youth leader if that would be okay, and he invited me to come. And when he saw me, he encouraged and comforted me. I felt a sense of peace in my heart, and after that I started spending all my time at church. This was the only place that offered me comfort.
Things were really hard after the accident. I thought to myself, ‘If it weren’t for my faith, I may have committed something truly horrible’. After the hardest 3-4 days of my life, I decided I wanted to come see our head pastor. I asked the youth leader if that would be okay, and he invited me to come. And when he saw me, he encouraged and comforted me. I felt a sense of peace in my heart, and after that I started spending all my time at church. This was the only place that offered me comfort.
What do you mean you might have committed something horrible if it wasn’t for your faith?
A lot of entertainers commit suicide. And I now completely understand why. I’m not saying I was thinking about it, but if it weren’t for my faith, I could possibly have gone down that road. So I was so thankful. I thanked the Lord that he had given me this faith. Every single comment I read online pierced my heart. What was most heartbreaking was that people were calling me a murderer. Every time I walked outside, I felt like people were looking at me like I was a murderer.
A lot of entertainers commit suicide. And I now completely understand why. I’m not saying I was thinking about it, but if it weren’t for my faith, I could possibly have gone down that road. So I was so thankful. I thanked the Lord that he had given me this faith. Every single comment I read online pierced my heart. What was most heartbreaking was that people were calling me a murderer. Every time I walked outside, I felt like people were looking at me like I was a murderer.
Did you feel safe within the church walls?
Honestly, yes. I wasn’t really in a situation to be meeting and socializing with other people, but I felt comforted when I came here. When I stayed at the dormitory, I felt such anxiety and I wasn’t able to eat anything. So I stayed at church. Every time I needed to work, I came here. The thoughts I would usually have working elsewhere did not torment me when I was at church.
Honestly, yes. I wasn’t really in a situation to be meeting and socializing with other people, but I felt comforted when I came here. When I stayed at the dormitory, I felt such anxiety and I wasn’t able to eat anything. So I stayed at church. Every time I needed to work, I came here. The thoughts I would usually have working elsewhere did not torment me when I was at church.
Even those who don’t believe in God say that they feel a sense of peace come over them when they come to church. Why do you think that is?
If you’re a member of our church, you would understand why. In some ways, I’m more comfortable at church then I am at home. I read online that even non-Christians were supportive of me re-gaining my confidence as well as my life by spending time at church, and it was really encouraging.
If you’re a member of our church, you would understand why. In some ways, I’m more comfortable at church then I am at home. I read online that even non-Christians were supportive of me re-gaining my confidence as well as my life by spending time at church, and it was really encouraging.
How did you feel, those first 3-4 days?
I couldn’t go outside. I was so sorrowful, and I kept remembering what happened. My head was full of thoughts and the days just flew by.
I couldn’t go outside. I was so sorrowful, and I kept remembering what happened. My head was full of thoughts and the days just flew by.
What kind of thoughts did you have?
I was partially at fault so I was so sincerely apologetic towards the individual. I prayed a lot. But even in my prayers, I would have reminders of that moment and I couldn’t continue. My prayers weren’t really prayers. I would just simply repeat ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry…’ for twenty minutes, and then cry again…
I was partially at fault so I was so sincerely apologetic towards the individual. I prayed a lot. But even in my prayers, I would have reminders of that moment and I couldn’t continue. My prayers weren’t really prayers. I would just simply repeat ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry…’ for twenty minutes, and then cry again…
What were you sorry about?
I was sorry about what had happened to him, I was apologetic towards our agency and the members, and I was afraid of how my actions would impact the church. Instead of our church being uplifted by my actions, it was about to face harsh criticisms because of what I did. I was just so completely sorry. I was sorry to my parents, as well as to his parents…
I was sorry about what had happened to him, I was apologetic towards our agency and the members, and I was afraid of how my actions would impact the church. Instead of our church being uplifted by my actions, it was about to face harsh criticisms because of what I did. I was just so completely sorry. I was sorry to my parents, as well as to his parents…
Didn’t you attend his funeral a few days after the accident? Must not have been easy for you.
It was hard. But I felt responsible, and I knew I needed to pay my respects. I was involved in what had happened, and it was something that had to be done. It was really hard to walk in, and I could not even look up at the faces of his family members. But the family members were kind enough to actually encourage and comfort me.
It was hard. But I felt responsible, and I knew I needed to pay my respects. I was involved in what had happened, and it was something that had to be done. It was really hard to walk in, and I could not even look up at the faces of his family members. But the family members were kind enough to actually encourage and comfort me.
What did they say?
They were rightfully angry at first. But after we had a few conversations, they said that what’s happened has already come to past and since there’s nothing we can do about it now, they told me to work hard and they would like to see me get back on my feet. The individual’s parents are ill, and so his aunt had spoken to me on their behalf. She was a Christian, she saw that I had a Bible in the back of my car, and she told me she wanted to pray and forgive.
They were rightfully angry at first. But after we had a few conversations, they said that what’s happened has already come to past and since there’s nothing we can do about it now, they told me to work hard and they would like to see me get back on my feet. The individual’s parents are ill, and so his aunt had spoken to me on their behalf. She was a Christian, she saw that I had a Bible in the back of my car, and she told me she wanted to pray and forgive.
When people go through something tragic, they usually wonder why bad things happen to them.
At the time, I was so bewildered that I could not find room to search for answers to my many questions. After some time had passed, and things got more settled, the thought did cross my mind. Ironically enough, at the time our main chapel and the Hepzibah chapel were under reconstruction, it was also a chance for me to rebuild my own faith as well. I was thankful to God as I realized he was giving me time to look over my faith.
At the time, I was so bewildered that I could not find room to search for answers to my many questions. After some time had passed, and things got more settled, the thought did cross my mind. Ironically enough, at the time our main chapel and the Hepzibah chapel were under reconstruction, it was also a chance for me to rebuild my own faith as well. I was thankful to God as I realized he was giving me time to look over my faith.
What kinds of things did you think about as you about as you helped repair the church building?
This is the first time I ever did this sort of work in the church. I became really attached to our church as I worked. And after it was all said and done, I was so thankful to be able to worship God in such a beautiful building. Honestly though, when they announced that the church would be undergoing repairs, I thought they would call in professionals. But they did
This is the first time I ever did this sort of work in the church. I became really attached to our church as I worked. And after it was all said and done, I was so thankful to be able to worship God in such a beautiful building. Honestly though, when they announced that the church would be undergoing repairs, I thought they would call in professionals. But they did
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