Missionary Introduction

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  • Lorene Jones Lyon

  • ◾ Korean name : Na No-Rin
  • ◾ Background and affiliation : Northern Presbyterian U.S.A.(NP)
  • ◾ Period of mission work in Korea : September 16, 1923 - 1940, 1948 – May, 1953.
  • ◾ Period of mission work at Dongsan Hospital : September 16, 1923 - 1940, 1948 – May, 1953.
  • ◾ Family details : William B. Lyon(husband)
  • Mary Margaret(daughter)
1. After liberation, Lorene Jones Lyon worked at Dongsan Christian Hospital

Lorene Jones Lyon, who was called Na Norin, visited Korea in 1923 with her husband as an American Presbyterian missionary. At that time, Joseon was colonized by Japan, and it was not easy to preach the gospel because of Japan's interference in exterminating Christianity. Therefore, she was forced to leave the country in 1940 due to Christian persecution, took charge of missionary work in Chile, South America, and returned to Korea in 1948 after liberation.

According to Director Moffett's report on Dongsan Christian Hospital in 1948, she was in charge of supervising the material supply room, including laundry room, bed clothes, and facility payments. Also, she taught how to play the piano and English as a teacher in a nursing school to train nurses.

Lorene Lyon with young female Bible Study class students in Daegu(5th row, 3rd right)

2. Lorene Jones Lyon did missionary work at Pohang Sunrin Hospital

Pohang, a fierce battleground of the Korean War, became a ruin and turned numerous people into war orphans and victims. Lorene opened the U.S. Marine Memorial Children's Clinic in Pohang on June 5, 1953 with the cooperation of her husband Ryan and Dongsan Christian Hospital, special assistance from famous American a revival paster Pien's, and donations of medical equipment to the Japanese Missionary Society.

The clinic, which was established with the permission of Japanese houses for free treatment of orphans, health care of pregnant women, and actual treatment of general pediatric patients, was worked by a total of four employees, doctors, midwives, evangelists, and miscellaneous workers.

For three years from 1956 to 1958, the clinic was maintained with the aid of 60,000 won per month from Dongsan Christian Hospital, and in June 1960, it became completely independent and opened under the name of Sunrin Clinic Hospital. In 1999, Sunrin Hospital affiliated with Handong University with 21 medical departments and 510 beds. Lorene returned a one’s country in May 1953 for the sabbatical.

US Marine Memorial Children's Clinic supported by Dongsan Christian Hospital, June 5, 1953