From time to time an individual lives a quiet, mostly private life and his work becomes well known only after his death. Dwight Linton was such an individual. A Memorial Service for Dwight Linton was held on Monday, January 18th in the sanctuary of Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church near Atlanta.

Dwight, and his widow Marjory had been members there for nearly 20 years before moving to a retirement center in Rock Hill, SC. Attendance – estimated at 300 – which included at least 1/3 (perhaps 40%) of the total being Korean; some from Korea; some first generation Korean-Americans and a large number of second generation, younger Korean-Americans. In addition to the expected hymns, readings, prayers and message, there were a number of very special testimonies given – both from friends in the ministry and 3 generations of family. In order to appreciate and understand the connections of these speakers, one must know a little of Dwight’s own history.

Dwight was a third generation missionary to Korea and tracing those lines tells us much about him. His great-grandfather and namesake was the Rev. Thomas Dwight Witherspoon. Dr. Witherspoon was one of the leading voices in the old Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS), serving first as a chaplain during the Civil War, then as pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, the Tabb Street Church in Petersburg, VA, and First Presbyterian in Louisville, KY. He was among the founding faculty at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and helped to draft the Directory for Worship which, with few changes, we still use in the PCA today.

One of Dr. Witherspoon’s children, daughter Lottie, married a career Presbyterian missionary in Korea, Eugene Bell [1868-1925]. He served in Korea from 1895 until his death in 1925. His grandson, Stephen Linton, one of the five children of Hugh and Betty Linton, is founder and Chairman of the Eugene Bell Foundation which is extremely influential in U.S. relations with North Korea. http://www.eugenebell.org/eng/about/about_01.html

The Bell’s youngest child, a daughter named Charlotte Witherspoon Bell, married Hugh William Linton. Linton [1891-1960] served in Korea first as a lay missionary, 1912-1930 (with time away for education), and then as a full-time missionary from 1930-1940. From 1940-46, he was engaged in special work for the Executive Committee on Foreign Missions of the PCUS, and following WWII, he returned to Korea, serving there from 1946 until his death in 1960. The Linton’s lived and worked in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula where they served in missionary education in Kunsan, Jeonju, Mokpyo, Gwangju, and Daejeon. In his later years, Dr. Linton founded Daejeon University (currently Hannam University).

William and Charlotte had four boys – William, Eugene, Hugh, and Thomas Dwight (who went by his middle name, Dwight). All four boys were born and, for the most part, raised in Korea and Hugh and Dwight both returned to Korea as career missionaries.

Dwight came home from Korea in 1978 and joined the PCA shortly thereafter, first working with Mission to North America were he was the first Coordinator of Korean Ministries during a period when literally hundreds of Koreans were becoming part of the PCA. He later worked on the staff of the Christian Education committee of the PCA. (At the end of this article are tributes for his work on those two committees from long-time staff members and close friends).

In Korea Dwight was involved in preparing young men for the ministry in the days when the Presbyterian Church in Korea was growing and expanding at an unprecedented rate. Dwight was a great mentor to the Korean pastors in Korea and in America after he went to work for MNA.

Dwight and his brother Hugh, who was killed in an auto accident in Korea in 1984, both drove Land Rovers, and were the best Land Rover mechanics in Korea. They knew every missionary’s Land Rover and where every part had been pirated from.

When Evangelist Billy Graham was invited to conduct evangelistic services in North Korea a few years ago it was to Dwight Linton he turned to be his interpreter, not only in the preaching times but also in the informal discussions with the North Korean leaders.

And then a few years after that Dwight helped his nephew Jim Linton, a Ruling Elder in a PCA church in Black Mountain, NC, establish a ministry taking supplies of food, medicines and medical devices into North Korea. Another nephew active in ministry to North Korea is Andy, whose wife, Heidi, serves as the Executive Director of the board of Christian Friends of Korea.

In 1991, Open Door Community Church gathered at the Perimeter East Presbyterian Church in Tucker, Georgia, for their inaugural service. Open Door began under the leadership of Dwight Linton with a small group of dedicated Korean-American post-college singles, mostly from a bible study Dwight taught at Georgia Tech among grad students.

With that background, you’ll be able to see how those giving testimonies fit in to Dwight’s life.

In a group involved with Korean ministry, speaking before the sermon, Heidi Linton – wife of nephew Andy – spoke on behalf of Christian Friends of Korea. She made a clear point of the value of his work with North Koreans, in that Dwight was often the ‘face of Christ’ to many who were hostile to the Christian faith, and as such, he was able to bridge gaps of mistrust and earn a hearing. Speaking also as a family member, she spoke of Dwight’s’ gentle, thoughtful and wise nature and the fact that he was always ‘unselfconsciously real.’

The next speaker was the Reverend Henry Koh, the current Coordinator of Korean Ministries for the PCA who came to that position in 1998 after serving pastoral roles in three different Korean congregations in the Philadelphia area. Pastor Koh explained that today there are over 240 Korean churches, 400 Korean ministers, and seven Korean-language Presbyteries in the PCA – accounting for at least 10% of the PCA. Asking the question, “How did that happen,” he answered it by saying it was the result of Dwight’s love for Korean people, and especially in knowledge not just of the language, but of the culture and thinking of the people.

Following Pastor Koh was his predecessor as Coordinator Korean Ministries for the PCA, The Reverend Dan (Dae Gee) Kim (middle names are need since there are currently 8 Dan Kim’s in the PCA). Dan spoke of working together on MNA staff for many years, explaining that at times he would be as a father, or an elder brother, or just a friend to encourage him, and what a great loss it was to him (as others) to learn of Dwight’s death.

Next came two young, second generation Korean ministers who first met Dwight through his graduate student Bible studies at Georgia Tech and his work in organizing Open Door Community Church. First was Andy Kim, currently serving in an urban mission church made up primarily of African Americans and Hispanics, and made the point that Dwight’s influence was not just towards the Korean culture, but was also to help others understand fully the meaning of cross cultural ministries.

Final speaker in this group was Steve Na, formerly on the staff at Open Door Community and now planting the Cornerstone Community Church in the Philadelphia suburbs. Steve described himself as a ‘punk kid’ who had trouble understanding why his kind, patient, humble man would be so willing to put time into his life through one—on-one discipling. After recounting many other young disciples by name, he openly described Dwight as a true ‘hero’ of the faith.

Following these testimonies, seven young Korean women, who also had been discipled by Dwight, sang “The Old Rugged Cross”

After the memorial message, a few family members gave testimony. First was Dwight’s youngest son, Sam, read a compilation of memories shared together at a family gathering and recording by older brother, Tom. The list included Dwight’s love of old cars, theology, sailing, and raising bees, He closed by describing his Dad’s characteristics of a servant as described in Matthew 25. He was followed by a few brief comments from one of the grandsons.

Next to speak was Dwight’s nephew, Gene, who is pastor of the Walnut Presbyterian (PCUSA) in Marshall, NC. After some personal remembrances of Dwight’s ability to understand other people’s views and how he made each of his nieces and nephews feel as if they were his favorite, he read a note written by his father, Eugene, the second oldest of the four Linton brothers, thus Dwight’s older brothers. The statement was filled with poignant and humorous details from their childhood in Korea.

Finally, Hugh Linton’s widow, Betty, and two of her children, spoke. Betty shared her memories of her first meeting of both Hugh and Dwight as they roared into Due West, South Carolina (home of alma mater Erskine College) on motorcycles. Daughter Mary Charlotte likened her memories of her dad and Uncle Dwight to the two heroes of the movie, Second Hand Lions, particularly to the final line of the movie – ‘The Really Lived!’ Finally, nephew Andy gave memories of living with Dwight and Marjory during a year of school in Korea, and how much his uncle became a source of strength to him and his siblings after the sudden death of their father, Hugh.

Obviously there was not sufficient time in the memorial service for everyone to speak. Two long-time associates of Dwight’s who worked with him at the denominational headquarters, shared their memories of him with The Aquila Report in writing.

First, the Associate Coordinator of Mission to North America, Fred Marsh: “The actions he took flowed out of his commitment to His Lord and Savior, reflecting a heart deeply devoted to God, to His people and to those who were yet to be reached with the Good News of Christ’s mercies. Dwight loved the Korean people, with whom he grew up and among whom he served throughout his life of ministry, and he was deeply committed to the advancement of the Gospel among them. His genuine love, gentle spirit and patience were good gifts of God for advancement of ministry in his Korean homeland. From 1980 to 1989, these qualities were of immeasurable value as he served with Mission to North America (MNA). While he worked with MNA in outreach among other people groups in North America in addition to Koreans, God provided his leadership at MNA during the time when first generation Koreans were joining the Presbyterian Church in America in large numbers, and God worked through him regularly to bridge the gap between the Korean and mainstream American cultures. Dwight served at a time when anyone involved in PCA ministry development across cultural and ethnic lines was truly pioneering. His persistent but gentle spirit brought people together who otherwise might not have found common ground with one another.”

And finally, from long-time Coordinator of Christian Education, Charles Dunahoo: Dwight came on staff with MNA to focus primarily on cross-cultural and diaconal ministries. In that capacity, he began to assist CEP in its t raining and consulting ministries. He participated in training seminars, assisting CEP cross-cultural ministry and diaconal training. After serving on both staff’s for a time, in the late 1980’s Dwight joined the CEP staff fulltime and served for more than eleven years. After his retirement in 1998, he continued to serve as a consultant with CEP. With his kingdom perspective, cultural awareness, love for people, and desired to see the PCA grow and develop multiculturally, Dwight was always available to do what he could. In many ways we complimented each other as we discussed theology, anthropology, sociology, and apologetics. As he was completing his doctoral work at Fuller Theological Seminary he asked me to read and respond to his dissertation. His insights have been a tremendous help to me personally, our CEP ministry particularly, and the PCA as a whole. Dwight Linton was my friend and brother. He was a Godly, gifted, humble, and caring person, as well as an effective teacher and mentor. He enriched our lives and ministry in many ways.

(Editor’s note: Our thanks to Kennedy Smartt for his input to this story)