“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NRSV)   Let us welcome the year 2015. I pray that the peace of the Lord will be with people who live in this generation in this world.   I hope this new year will be a year when all people can welcome hope.  Jesus Christ became the hope for people in the lowest places on earth so that those who are weeping may be lifted up. In this moment I pray that this year becomes the year when the light of hope shines to those people in the lowest places who are now weeping.   Still the pain of the SEWOL ferry disaster has not healed.  Investigation and identification, apology and penalty, and appropriate compensation must be fully achieved. I hope the families of the victims may begin to dry their tears. Founded on that reform, I hope that this society centered on profit will be transformed into a society centered on life.   This year must become the one when workers can begin with hope. I hope that all dismissed workers can return to work. I hope the anxiety of temporary workers is relieved.  All workers must have self-esteem and pride, and we must create a social base where they can contribute to society.   Jesus said that the Sabbath was for the people, so declaring the world to be people-centered.  I hope our society in 2015 becomes, not a society of ideological differences, but a world that sees people. Before the difference in our skin color, thoughts, and preference, I hope we all see people first. I hope that all minorities including sexual minorities can have opportunities to contribute to the society as dignified members of the community.     2015 is the 70th anniversary since liberation of the nation. We cannot defer the peace of the Korean peninsula any more. I hope that this year becomes the year to welcome a new turning point for reconciliation and peace of the nation. I hope that the conflict becomes reconciliation, hostility becomes harmony, and hatred becomes understanding.   I meditate on the words of the Micah, the prophet of God, from 3,000 years ago.  “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NRSV)   I would like to ask Christians, Let us make this a year to prioritize the practice of justice, return the grace, and carefully live with God. We as Christians have a calling to protect all the living things that are loved and cared for by God with our whole body, our mind and heart. May God’s grace be with all of those who will work toward this effort.     January, 2015 NCCK General Secretary, Kim Young JU