The Goodnews - August, 2015

AUGUST 2015

DELIVERING THE GOSPEL & THE TESTIMONIES OF GRACE

monthly sermon

The Pentecost Comes After The Passover and The Feast Of First Fruits

Salvation Testimony

Gospel Lesson

I Tried To Be Good, But I Failed

Forsake Your Thoughts and Return

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SPECIAL ARTICLE IYF First Nation Youth Camp

About the Cover The volunteers worked diligently under the hot sun to greet the local community, but we see their hearts are filled with hope. It was the first time for the volunteers to meet new people, new environment, and new experiences. They planted the seeds of the Gospel everywhere they went.

(Picture: Volunteers visit homes to hand deliver good news to the local community.

By photographer Eun Taek Park)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Monthly Sermon

The Pentecost Comes After The Passover

And The Feast Of First Fruits

Salvation Testimony

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Special Article

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God Who Fulfills His Promise

Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

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The Path to Salvation Prepared by God

Gospel Lesson

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Partaking in the Work of God

New York Times

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First Nation Youth Camp

Memoirs of a Missionary

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I Tried To Be Good, But I Failed

God Protects Even the Fish

Church Directory

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This Month's Sermon

The Pentecost Comes After The Passover And The Feast Of First Fruits Pastor Ock Soo Park | Good News Gangnam Church

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?�

(Acts 2:1-8)

5 GREAT FEASTS OF ISRAEL

Reading the Old Testament, there are 5 great feasts. They are: The Passover, Feast of First Fruits, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The Passover represents the day of being freed from destruction through the death of the lamb, which teaches us that through the death of Jesus Christ we are freed from destruction. Just 4

as the people were not destroyed by covering the doorpost with blood during the Passover, when we look upon the blood of Jesus who was crucified in our place, we can declare, “Our sin has been resolved!” We cover our hearts with the blood of Jesus and become free from curse and destruction. The Feast of First Fruits is a feast where the first fruits of the harvest are offered to God and it represents the resurrection of Jesus. Beginning with the Feast of First Fruits, after the 7th week, 49 days, the 50th day is called the Pentecost. The Pentecost represents the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The Feast of Trumpets represents the second coming of Jesus where the angels will arrive with him from heaven with the sound of trumpets. The Feast of Tabernacles represents how we will live together with the Lord in eternity.

THE REASON WHY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THE PENTECOST AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

After Jesus resurrected, 7 weeks passed and on the 50th day, the Holy Spirit arrived. In the Bible, the number "5" refers to grace. Acts chapter two strongly emphasizes the fact that the Holy Spirit came on the Pentecost. The great and amazing work of God did not only arise in the disciples’ hearts, but great works of God were manifested so that it was visible to everyone. After Jesus was crucified on the cross, He defeated death and resurrected because He desired to make us righteous. After Jesus resurrected, the Holy Spirit came on the Pentecost, and because the Holy Spirit is a “holy spirit," it could never enter a person’s heart that has dirty sin. Jesus as the Passover lamb shed His blood to die and through His resurrection our sins were washed and after being justified, the Holy Spirit came.

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This Month's Sermon

ONLY WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU

In Acts chapter two, the Holy Spirit did not come because the disciples of Jesus prayed or did anything. Of course the apostles gathered in Mark’s upper room and prayed, but the coming of the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus. In Chapter one when the disciples asked Jesus, “Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?” Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Prior to saying this, Jesus also said: “... commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence...” (Acts 1:4-5) The last word spoken by Jesus to the disciples was to wait to receive the Holy Spirit. He said when the Holy Spirit comes, they will receive power, and that they will be witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

When the Holy Spirit arrives on the day of the Pentecost it leads us to preach the Gospel and fulfill the will of God. The reason the Holy Spirit comes and we receive power is not because we have performed some good deeds, said many prayers, or because of our efforts. As Jesus was crucified on the cross, He shed his blood and died which washed our sins perfectly clean. In order to make us righteous He came back to life. In God’s view there is not even a tittle of sin left, because we were washed white like snow and we became righteous.

Therefore God sent the Holy Spirit.

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First The Passover, Then The Feast Of First Fruits, Followed By The Pentecost. When These Happen In Our Hearts We Can Then Preach The Gospel Through The Power Of God

GOD RECEIVES US ONLY WITHIN THE WORK JESUS HAS DONE

The Holy Spirit could never enter into a dirty heart. In the Book of Isaiah 59, verse 1-2, the scriptures states, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” When people do not have the faith in God, they say they must do well and try hard, but no matter what we do, God does not gladly accept it. God only gladly accepts the work that Jesus has done.

Through the precious blood of Jesus, our sins are perfectly washed and through the resurrection of Jesus, we gained righteousness.

More than anything, Jesus perfectly washed us and made us without any shortcoming for the Holy Spirit to enter us.

BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US

The Passover must come into our hearts; next the Feast of First Fruits, followed by the Passover. From that moment on, we can preach of preaching the Gospel through God’s power. The truth that the crucifixion and death of Jesus has washed all our sins must first enter their hearts. Although Jesus was crucified and died on the cross, but for those who say that sin remains in their hearts means the Passover has not come upon them. The Passover has come upon their hearts when all sins are resolved through the blood of the lamb and no judgment or curse can be upon them. The curse and destruction could not come upon the people who placed the blood of the lamb on the doorposts regardless of how many sins they committed. Judgment passed over them. Secondly, the Feast of the First Fruits as a burnt

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This Month's Sermon

offering needs to come upon our hearts. The Feast of First Fruits shows that Jesus is the first fruit of the resurrection. In Romans chapter four, it is written: “Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” If Jesus enters our hearts, we can say, “I am righteous! I am holy!” Not because of our good deeds or we did well. We did nothing, and everything was achieved through the resurrection of Jesus. The Feast of First Fruits comes upon the heart when we can say, “I am righteous! I am holy! I am clean!” After the Feast of First Fruits and the passing of 7 weeks, it naturally becomes the Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit comes upon our hearts, we do not live by our efforts or goodness, but the Holy Spirit captivates us. In the past when we were under sin, Satan led us and planted all kinds of covetousness, lust, and lies. This explains why we were led by covetousness even though we did not want to.

We were led by the desires of the flesh. But as the Passover and the Feast of First Fruits passes, the power of sin departs and judgment ends. The Pentecost is realized in our hearts when the holiness and righteousness of Jesus comes upon our hearts, apart from our works.

When the Holy Spirit enters the heart, we are no longer dragged by the ambitions and pleasures that used to drag us, but now the Holy Spirit leads us to live a bright and holy life.

FOR ME TO BE RIGHTEOUS, DON’T LOOK INTO YOUR HEART, BUT INTO THE WORD

There are many works that God has fulfilled for us. But, rather than the work God has done, we have greater interest in the work we have done. I gave many offerings, I did many good deeds, I was faithful... this is where we focus our hearts. We cannot fulfill the good works of God through our own works. He sent Jesus Christ 8

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When The Holy Spirit Enters The Heart, We Are No Longer Dragged By The Ambitions And Pleasures That Used To Drag Us, But Because The Holy Spirit Leads Us, We Can Live A Bright And Holy Life.

to this world. As Jesus was crucified on the cross and died, He gave us the Passover in our hearts, and through his resurrection He gave us the Feast of First Fruits. As we go through this process, our sins are washed and we become righteous, holy, and clean. We should not look into our hearts with our own views asking, “Am I righteous and clean?” We should focus on the words of the Bible. The Bible does not speak about our conditions. It states that through Jesus’s crucifixion and death on the cross, our sins are forgiven and through His resurrection we are made righteous. The Holy Spirit enters the person who believes in this and by grace this person can preach the Gospel and serve God. Spiritual life is not done by our strength, but by accepting the works Jesus fulfilled. When we serve God through the Holy Spirit, God works inside us and bestows His grace and power. We should not be interested in, “Did I do good or evil?” One who is interested in how they lived, is one who believes in themselves.

No matter what my image may be like, when I believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, my sins are forgiven. I am justified and the Holy Spirit works in me.

Pastor Ock Soo Park Pastor Park is currently the senior pastor of the Good News Gangnam Church. He is the founder of the Mahanaim Cyber Theology School and International Youth Fellowship.

Annually he is the guest speaker for Bible Crusades domestically and internationally and serves as a guest lecturer to university students. He is the author of several titles such as: The Secret of Forgiveness of Sin and Being Born Again, Repentance and Faith, Navigating the Heart. These books have been translated in 17 different languages, and in addition he is the author of 40 other books on spiritual life.

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Salvation Testimony

I Tried To Be Good, But I Failed Snidwing Pierre | Good News Miami Church

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I grew up in a family where some of us were Seventh Day Adventist and some of us were Catholic. I was so confused about God and church, because I was going back and forth between churches and not knowing what the truth was.

My family didn’t go to church regularly either. When I was 12 years old, I heard if you want to be good you will have to go to church and do good things. Some examples are love your neighbors like yourself, and if someone slaps you on one cheek you will have to turn the other one. In general it was about keeping the laws of God. All these were unclear and I didn’t know if I could be like that.

So in my mind I tried to be good but I was not good at all. This is what led me to start going to church on my own. I tried to read the Bible every night and pray to God to forgive my sins. I still couldn’t see myself being good and was still confused about God and church. I would hear people around me saying how certain religions are good and that drove me to deeper confusion.

At 15 years old I moved to the United States were I started attending a Baptist church. However, every time I went to church I had a headache and I couldn’t understand the sermon. It was then I started praying to God to send me to a church where He knows that I belong and will be saved.

One day I was in a math class at my college and a pastor’s wife came in to promote the IYF Mexico English Camp. Immediately I wanted to go since it sounded like a vacation. I went home the same day and told my father there’s a volunteer program the school is doing so if I go I will receive a scholarship.

God moved my father to give me the money to attend the camp. At the end of the year the volunteers departed for Dallas, and then to Mexico. The night we were leaving for Mexico a short-term missionary came to me and showed

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Salvation Testimony

me Romans 8:32. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Additionally, Hebrews 10: 17-18. “Then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” At that moment I finally realized why Jesus Christ died on the cross. I felt like all the churches I was going to were lying to me and not giving me the right Gospel. I realized I don’t have to pray every night for forgiveness of my sins, because He already sacrificed His own son for all of my sins.

My old church pastor always said, “We had to ask for forgiveness for our sins.” Coming to the Good News Church I could understand that it wasn’t necessary. Repentance is to realize God’s heart and accept that our hearts are completely different.

I don’t know why but for some reason when the short-term missionary showed me these verses I accepted them right away. I was happy that someone could tell me something and support it with the Bible. On the way back I asked for the Miami church address. On Sunday I went to the church but pastor Phillip Song was not there, but his wife and other sisters were watching an online sermon. I didn’t understand the sermon but for some reason I went again. During that time I was able to fellowship with the pastor and another sister. Since then I was happy to listen to the Word of God. Three years after receiving salvation I fell into trial and I left church for around 8 to 9 months. My cousin texted me to come to church and I felt like he was bossing me. Then the next Sunday I decided to go back one more time. During the pastor’s sermon I realized that there was no other place for me to be but in church. Sometime later a new

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With a volunteer in Haiti English Camp 2015

pastor (Ban Seok Kim) came to lead the church. God gave me the heart to listen to his sermon more carefully and learn more about the Gospel.

I could see how the change was good for my life and how God wanted me to be in His Word. God was breaking and changing my heart day by day. I was the type of person that would go to church only on Sunday but since the new pastor came I was going to every service. I know deep inside that it is God’s heart and not my own.

God explains how he sees us in Genesis 6:5, “Then the Lord saw how the wickedness of man was great on earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”. He doesn’t require any good from me because I am not capable of any good. I realized that we are no longer under the law but living under the grace of God. I could really see how God kept on pouring grace. I don’t see how I deserve any grace from God, but he gave it to me by sacrificing His only son for me and for the world.

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Special Article 2015 IYF First Nation Youth Camp

From June 29th to July 8th, the First Nation Youth Camp was held for the youths living in Native American reservations in Manitoba. It took over 50 hours to drive to the reservation from New York. The grace of God allowed us to overcome the many difficulties we faced on the way. Here is news from the beautiful and joyful camp that was fulfilled through the promise of the servant.

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2015 iyf FIRST NATION

YOUTH camp

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irst Nation, where the warmth of the countryside fills the air, is home to several thousand Native Americans. The Chief, along with the Band Council, oversee the day-to-day events that keep the village in an orderly fashion. The unpaved roads are lined up with houses dispersed here and there, and a convenience store is situated in the center of it all. People stroll down the empty streets or gather two-by-two at the nearby lake.

This is the picture that makes up this supposedly peaceful village called First Nation. But, when you look closer into the lives of the people living here, it tells a different story.

They live in agony, far from any description of happiness whatsoever. The older folk spend the morning in a drunken stupor, while neglected children, who are left to their own device, gather in groups, roaming the empty street with no purpose. No sign of peace can be found in the reality that is veiled behind the image of a peaceful reservation. Relying on hefty government assistance their whole lives, many Native Americans have fallen into drinking and drugs. Teenage pregnancies are pervasive, and some sadly choose to exit their lives through suicide to avoid the pain. For a long time, God had planned to bring joy and hope to these people where none can be found.

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Special Article 2015 IYF First Nation Youth Camp

Native Americans met IYF for the first time at the New York World Camp, and in 2014, Grand Chief David Harper experienced firsthand the change that is brought about the youths at the World Camp and invited the IYF to his village. This led up to this year where close to 200 American and Canadian volunteers held youth camps that spanned across seven villages.

in 2011

Team 1 arrived in the village called Nelson House and unpacked their bags at the school, which was the nicest and biggest building there.

Without time to even catch their breath, the volunteers went straight into work mode as they prepared for the camp ahead. Despite working late into the evening, they were filled with gratitude when thinking of the many new students they would meet the next day. The dance team practiced in the middle of the large gymnasium, and each corner was filled with volunteers preparing the academy lessons. The registrar stacked up the tables with t-shirts, while the kitchen was busy preparing tomorrow’s breakfast. The majority of the volunteers were relatively young students but they were focused, and not one person complained while doing their job.

The first day passed, and the morning sun welcomed the volunteers who were filled with anticipation and nervousness at the same time.

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The camp began at 8:30 but, to their disappointment, only a handful of students showed up. It was later revealed that due to the nature of the white night phenomenon, people tend to run late time to time. We were not despaired and the volunteers happily went into the village to invite each person individually, just as Christ did in the bible. Thanks to the volunteers who walked down the rough, unpaved roads to knock on each and every house they met, the number of participants started to multiply greatly by afternoon. For the students who were on summer vacation, the IYF academy activities were a refreshing way to spend their time, while at the same time, serving as a haven to protect them from falling into the temptations of sin.

The IYF Mind Lectures were able to lead the participants to a new path.

Untill now, the youths were caught up in the thought that doing whatever they wanted would lead to happiness.

But through the Mind Lectures, they learned that true happiness came from controlling oneself. They listened very intently and accepted it purely.

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a special event was held just for the parents of these students. “Family Night� began with cultural dance performances from the Righteous Stars, and classical music by the Gracias Music School students. Pastor Jin Hee Kim from Jamaica was the guest speaker for the event. The students had an unforgettable time with their parents. Through the Mind Lecture, parents learned how to raise their children with joy and how to communicate with them effectively. It was an evening filled with thankfulness.

in the evening

During the week of the camp, the villages were in a festive mood as they celebrated one of Canada’s biggest holidays, Canada Day. The village gathered together to watch the parade and see the different performances that were held. The IYF was invited to put on a performance of their own.

The highly acclaimed IYF dance team left a long lasting impression in the hearts of all the people gathered in the village that day. Their hearts became one with the IYF as they were introduced to our organization and our mission.

It was a truly precious time to see the hand of God guiding us through all the difficulties we faced along the way. There was not one easy step in preparing all this, starting from the camp itself, along with renting the school building and providing lunch for all the participants. Not to mention the plane ride into the village which was the only mode of transportation. We were able to experience God helping us through all of this.

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While the camp itself had difficulties of its own, the promise of God to spread the Gospel to the ends of the world is what allowed us to rent a good school and provide delicious lunches through the donations people made as they heard us through the radio appearance we had to promote the event. Despite the one village canceling our camp last minute, the Chief of the second village was able to provide us with air transportation and that allowed us to spread the gospel to those who would not have heard it otherwise. When we saw God helping us, we knew that this camp was not through man but God. Both the hearts of the volunteers and students were filled with joy as the volunteers spread the Gospel to the Native Americans throughout the camp. Despite having been in the church for a long time, the young volunteers have never preached the Gospel because they thought they were “too young.� These young volunteers experienced God as they saw how He

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Special Article 2015 IYF First Nation Youth Camp

worked as they spread the Gospel and how He changed the hearts of the Native Americans. It was a memorable time they will never forget.

Through His servant, God allowed us to go to a place we have never gone before, and do works that we have never done before. The situation seemed difficult and impossible, but by simply placing one foot forward through faith in the promise of the servant, we were able to experience the amazing work of God. We planted the seed of the Gospel to many Native Americans through this camp. Soon those seeds will grow into flowers and blossom. We are filled with gratitude and hope. This camp is the beginning of many more to come, where we will bring hope of the Gospel to those Native Americans living in despair. We glorify God through all this.

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Memoirs of a Missionary

Partaking in the Work of God

Pastor Joon Hyun Lee | LomĂŠ, Togo

The construction of the chapel finished in 2006 which took two years and six months. We started the construction even though the situation was difficult. We had barely enough money to buy three sacks of cement. We pushed forward with God’s guidance with the heart that we could only continue if God allows.

Finally, God allowed us to finish building the chapel and be established in Togo.

It amazes me when I think about how God worked.

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“Satan finds ways so that he can utilize people’s hearts.

When Satan puts lustful thoughts, people are dragged without thinking about being led to destruction.”

David Gained Courage from God

In 2002, we purchased the land for the chapel and we were rejoicing. We were planning to build the chapel by 2003. At that time, around 100 brothers and sisters attended the church, yet most of them were poor and going through difficulties. When we calculated that it would cost $60,000 to build the chapel, I was concerned because our monthly offering was $200. I asked myself would it be better to get support from Korea and build the chapel quickly; or would it be better to build the chapel piece by piece relying on God? I had to choose.

When I looked at the circumstances it seemed it would be difficult to do it by ourselves. I wanted to build the chapel easily, but I had to throw away that heart. I should rely and learn from God as I build the chapel. A different voice was resonating from the bottom of my heart.

In the past whatever I tried did not work out, yet God had me often think about 1 Samuel chapter 30. Though Ziklag was burnt, David got everything back by relying on God unlike the people who fell in the situation! David was encouraged from God and this made me think to relate the chapel construction to 1 Samuel. I started to converse with God. “And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this

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Memoirs of a Missionary

troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all” (1 Samuel 30:8).

“God, if I start the construction, will I finish it? Will there be a chapel? Can we do it?”

God replied, “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

The heart of God entered me and gave me peace because God would complete the chapel construction.

He Gives Everything, Only When You Have The Heart to Proceed

First, we gathered all of our money to start the construction. It was about eight dollars total. In Togo, you could buy three sacks of cement with that money. I gave everything that I had to Jesus just as Andrew brought Jesus five loaves of barley and two fish.

I shared a testimony about building the chapel with the brothers and sisters.

“It seems like we are poor, but God said that He would let us build a chapel when we rely on God. God will start this and help us.”

With around 100 brothers and sisters, we had prayer meetings and gave commitment offering. We continued the construction whenever God gave us the money. When there was no money, we prayed to God to continue the construction. We were so thankful before God while praying.

In Togo, a taxi driver is one of the better occupations. A few brothers were taxi drivers and some brothers drove motorcycles.

Some brothers sold goods like used clothes and barely made their ends meet. We started the construction with three sacks of cement on July of 2003, and God led the hearts of brothers and sisters to help the construction. One brother was a taxi driver and barely made five dollars a day. He bought one sack of cement with two days worth

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On September 10, 2001, by the grace of God I was unexpectedly ordained as a pastor

of salary and came to help with the construction. We were so happy whenever we received a sack of cement. One brother brought ten sacks of cement by taxi work and brought it to the construction site.

Since Togo is a poor country, it was hard to find any construction sites and there was no place that made bricks. This is why our brothers made their own bricks with sand and cement. We made bricks and dried them for three to four days and stacked them up on the side.

We made more bricks when we had money to buy the materials. As the bricks started to stock up, our hearts became enriched.

God Sends Helpers

Missionaries from foreign countries often visited Togo and preached for us. One of the missionaries preached about this: “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not� (2 Corinthians 8:12).

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Memoirs of a Missionary

I thought, “This construction seems like it won’t work because of our finances, but what does God think? If we have a willing heart, God would accept our hearts and would work through us! Only if we have the heart, He will help us. The situation of not having money was not the problem. God does everything. God wants to manifest His work through us!” I gained great strength as I was listening to the Word.

Missionaries from Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon came to Togo and supported the construction. They even sent workers from Ghana. Although I was not the construction work type, I prayed to God because I wanted to receive grace to meet people and preach the Gospel to them through the construction. At one point we needed to do plastering work, and a plastering person came and received salvation. When we needed to do carpentry, a carpenter came and received salvation and worked with us. God sent many people to church to receive salvation.

Although the construction took a long time due to the lack of money, we were able to continue to work because workers kept getting connected to us. I wanted to work at the pace that God set even though it was slow and delayed. There was a mango tree in the middle of the construction site and we set up a tent as a temporary chapel to have service. The tent would leak and sometimes slip down when it rained. We also could not hear the Word clearly because the sound of the rain was so hard, yet we were so happy.

When we put the roof up on the first floor, the brothers and sisters were so happy because they worked with one heart. We worked from morning to morning the entire time. All the brothers and sisters were happy because we would have a space away from the rain when we finished the roof.

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We did not have money to buy cement, but God gave us money through her so that we could continue to build the chapel.

An Envelope from a Wig Factory Lady

Once, a short-term missionary met a lady from a wig factory and witnessed to her. The lady’s heart was not opened to our church.

However, one day, the lady invited the short-term missionary and us for a meal. We ate in the factory and she asked me a question.

“I heard bad rumors about your church, missionary. Let me ask you a question. How are things going?”

I was really glad that she asked that question.

“The main Good News Mission center is in Korea. They support us with basic living expenses. We have a senior pastor who teaches us to live relying on God. We receive $300, which we use for electricity, water, and phone bills. After that, we have very little money left over.

With that money, we buy basic food and have to get the rest as we rely on God. This is how we live.”

She was shocked and said, “How do you survive on that? Missionary, wait a minute.”

She went into another room and brought out an envelope and gave it to me.

“I would be thankful if you use this money for the work of God.” There was no reason for her to give me money because she did not even come to our church, yet she gave me the envelope. I opened the envelope when I got home and there was $200 in there.

We did not have money to buy cement, but God gave us money

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Memoirs of a Missionary

through her so that we could continue to build the chapel. Outwardly, the construction seemed difficult. However, there was not one time we were difficult because we had no money. We felt rich when God opened the way.

Pastor Could You Meet this Person?

We had the second Bible Crusade with Pastor Ock Soo Park in August of 2004. We set up a tent in front of city hall and held a conference for four days. Gracias Choir also came and performed.

500 brothers and sisters and 400 new people attended the conference.

God connected 100 people in the first conference and 400 people in the second conference. God opened the ways for us to preach the Gospel during the conference. Many people got connected to the church and came to attend the service. I was so thankful that many people attended the service outside near the mango tree. We gained new strength through the Word.

Short-term missionaries were burdened about preaching the Gospel. When they went out to witness, they would rarely talk to people selling goods on the street or talk to the hospital employees.

One day, I told the short-term missionaries.

“You should not avoid the burden. Rather, you need to preach the Gospel relying on God. Don’t just wonder around on the street and talk to the poor. Change your heart. Face the hardship. How difficult is it? Why don’t you go to rich peoples’ houses and ring the doorbell?

If a servant answers the door, ask them, “Is the homeowner available?

I would like to speak to your master.” If that person opens the door for you, then have a fellowship with them. If the master turns on the fan and offers you a soda then drink it. If God opens the way, then go

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I was so thankful that many people attended the service outside near the mango tree.

We gained new strength through the Word.

forward accordingly.”

The short-term missionaries overcame burdens and went witnessing to rich peoples’ houses. Once, Brother Jong Hoon Lee who now ministers in Haiti, rang doorbells in the wealthy neighborhoods. When the servants came out, he asked, “Is the master home?” In French, “Patron” is the word for master. However, the brother was not fluent in French, so he pronounced it as “Pantalon.” which means “pants”. He was actually saying, “Where are your pants?” Of course, the servants were confused, and the brother did not know why. Many other episodes like this happened.

Brother Lee told me, “Pastor, I preached the Gospel to a rich man and he is a singer. He heard the Gospel and received salvation.” I thought to myself, “He doesn’t even know how to speak French. He preached the Gospel?” However, Brother Lee kept insisting on visiting the person, so I went. It was the first time I went to such a nice house. There was a beautiful lawn in the yard, security guards, and cool air conditioners.

The owner, Gaven, was an African singer, and his wife was an American working in the Unites States Embassy. I had fellowship with the owner and the Gospel was planted in Mr. Gaven’s heart. Mr. Gaven explained what had happened.

“Pastor, when I first met this student, I tried to teach him. I said everything I wanted to say and told him to say what he wanted to say. On the first day, I could not understand what he was saying. So, I told him to come again. I was able to understand a little on the second day. On the third day, I was listening to him and the Word he was preaching and the

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Memoirs of a Missionary

On December 9, 2005, the chapel construction finished. It took 2 years and 6 months and we had a dedication service

Word I knew was very different. His French was not good, but I was able to understand. I had a change of heart to listen to him instead of trying to teach him. I realized I was not saved. I received the forgiveness of sin and was saved after listening to the Word that he preached.�

I was amazed and thankful how God worked as I was listening to Brother Gaven’s story. He played the guitar and sang in his studio for us. He sang very well.

A Phone Call from Korea after the Dedication Service

On December 9, 2005, the chapel construction finished. It took 2 years and 6 months and we had a dedication service. Missionaries from neighboring countries came, and brothers and sisters from Western Africa came. I was so thankful that they came. God comforted us during the entire time we spent building the chapel.

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God established the church in this country and led us to preach the Gospel to the people of Togo. I was able to feel the great love of God towards Togo.

Brother Gaven sang at the service. Everyone was rejoicing. “Wow, how could this happen? I am so thankful! God gave us a great singer which makes us even happier!” I was overwhelmed before God. Togo is a small country with many political problems, so the country is not well developed and poor. People in Togo did not have much of a heart to be patriotic, rather they thought about how to leave the country. God established the church in this country and led us to preach the Gospel to the people of Togo. I was able to feel the great love of God towards Togo. After the dedication service was over, I went to sleep with an overwhelming heart.

I received a phone call in the early morning of December 10th.

“Hello? Is this the missionary? This is KBS broadcasting station.

The World Cup group drawing happened today. Did you know that Togo and Korea are in the same group?”

“I am sorry. I did not know because I wasn’t able to check.”

“Oh, really? According to the draw for the 2006 World Cup, Korea, France, Switzerland, and Togo are in the same group and will compete against each other. We have plenty of information for France and Switzerland, but we do not know anything about Togo.”

They said Togo and Korea are in the same group in the World Cup, so they wanted to know what Togo people thought about the 2006 World Cup. They wanted to know their interests, participation, and Togo players.

“In Togo, there is no other sport than soccer. So, people play soccer

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Memoirs of a Missionary

from their youth. A player named Adebayor is 192cm tall and is honored more than the president. He is a talented player who scores many goals and plays in the European league.

I heard that KBS broadcasting station is doing a live broadcast.

“Why is Togo in the same group as Korea? God is informing people about Togo!” I could feel the heart of God wanting to introduce Togo to Korea.

Introducing Togo in Korea

Many broadcasting stations such as KBS and SBS, and reporters from different newspapers found out our church address. They even visited Togo. I got to know the reporters from The Korea Daily and a producer from SBS. The producer came to Togo and saw our church and ate with us. He saw everything: living in the chapel, having service, how the children are living, living with Africans, etc.

The producer said, “Missionary, I travel around the world. I met many missionaries and saw their lifestyles. However, they were living out of formality. Yet, you are living with the natives and live a plain and pure life.”

The producer wanted to shoot the life of a Korean missionary in Africa regardless of his initial reason for coming. He gave what he shot in Africa to a manager in the Good News Mission, and he published it online.

In 2006, we received many phone calls because of the World Cup. On one of the phone calls I was asked to be a reporter for SBS radio. This was like having an interview over the phone.

The host talked to a reporter in Japan and then called me in

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“Why is Togo in the same group as Korea? God is informing people about Togo!� I could feel the heart of God wanting to introduce Togo to Korea.

Togo to hear about what was going on here. All the media in Korea was focusing on Togo because it was the first opponent for Korea. I was so thankful to be a reporter. God established and introduced Togo to Korea because of the Gospel.

Everything did not happen coincidently: the Gospel coming to Togo, chapel construction, and Togo being introduced to Korea due to the World Cup. God was establishing the Gospel and working in His plan. In the Bible, it says that we seemed poor but we make many rich.

Togo looks poor and lacking, but it is a country that is full of hope and joy. I am thankful to God for giving this country to me and being able to take part in the works of God.

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New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

The Path to Salvation Prepared by God Pastor Ock Soo Park | Good News Gangnam Church

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:6~7)

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But What Sayest Thou?

People’s thoughts are different although they are in the same situation.

The level of interest, although looking at the same picture, or the level of excitement while looking at the same food, all differ. People have different reactions toward the same objects or the same circumstances.

People, for the most part, do not think anything other than the thoughts they normally have. That is why they decide everything according to their own thoughts. All things are done within the world of their own thoughts.

In John chapter 9, the disciples asked Jesus about a man who was blind from birth.

“Jesus, who sinned that this man was born blind? Was it himself, or his parents?”

The disciples saw the blind man and discussed the reason for him being blind.

“Who sinned that he was born blind?”

“Since he was born blind, it must be his parents’ sins.”

“No, why would he become blind if it were his parents who sinned?

The parents should be blind then. Then it must be he who sinned.”

“How could he sin in the womb?”

The disciples could not come to a solution so they asked Jesus, “Was this man born blind because he sinned, or was it because of the sin of his parents?” The disciples saw the blind man from the perspective of, “Whose sin caused this?” But Jesus said, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

Jesus’ thoughts were completely different from the disciples’ thoughts.

The scribes and the Pharisees asked Jesus in John chapter 8, “This woman was caught in the act of adultery. Moses says that such a woman should be stoned, but what do you say?”

They tried to push Jesus into a trap through their own wisdom. If Jesus were to say to stone her, they would have said, “He says to stone her

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New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

when He claims that He came to save sinners?” And if He were to say to not stone her, they would’ve said, “That violates the law.” Whether Jesus replies one way or another, they were looking for conditions by which to accuse Jesus. But Jesus was not entrapped by their wisdom. If He were, then how could Jesus be God? Jesus said something they could never have imagined whatsoever. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” No one ever thought that Jesus would reply with such words.

We can see that the thoughts of Jesus were, by nature, different from ours; from man. Not only His perspective of the man born blind, or the woman taken in adultery in the Bible, but His perspectives on everything that happens in your life are different from yours, as well.

Apron of Fig Leaves and Coats of Skins Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened after they ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil in Genesis chapter 3. The first thing they realized afterwards was that they were naked. Because there was nothing else they could do, they plucked fig leaves, tied them up, made aprons, and covered their shameful parts. What would God do at that very moment?

Would God have made aprons of fig leaves? If so, then He would be a God who was not much different from man. But God did not do so.

When we commit sin, our only thought is to try not to sin again and to cover up our sins. The problem is not whether we are doing well or not, but the important thing is whether you are living by your own thoughts or the thoughts of God. In your spiritual life, if you try to keep the law and things do not go well, you will labor again to keep it. As you do that many times, you come to realize, “Ah, this is not going to work!”

It is ultimately in vain that we labor to not sin.

Adam and Eve can only live in darkness if they try to cover themselves with fig leaf aprons, because if they come out in the sunlight wearing fig

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leaves, the leaves will quickly wither and crumble away. That is why they have to live in the shade. Their lives could only become dark. What did God do? It says in Genesis chapter 3, verse 21, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. The method taken by man was to make aprons of fig leaves and temporarily hide their blemishes, but God made coats of skins and completely covered man’s blemishes.

Clothes Paid for with Death This short story in Genesis chapter 3 applies to all of mankind, and it also applies today to both yours and my spiritual life. Even now, people who are unable to truly have faith in God and who are unable to receive the grace of God, sin. And, just like Adam and Eve, they live a life of making and wearing fig leaf aprons, while people who receive the grace of God wear coats of skins and live with thankful hearts.

This may upset animal activists, but the clothes man first made were botanic while the clothes made by God were a leather product. You must know the difference between the two clothing items.

There is no sacrifice in the fig leaf aprons made by man. The wages of sin was not paid. Our sins cannot be covered unless death, the price of sin, is paid. Death, which is the wage of sin, must be paid for our sins to be taken care of.

I attended a Presbyterian church since I was young. I repented daily as I sinned, as taught by the church, and I labored not to sin. “God, I sinned again today. I am ashamed of so many things. Please forgive me. Help me to not sin tomorrow.�

That was how I prayed sincerely to God. But the day after I prayed, I would sin again. So I would sin and repent everyday, and lived a life of sinning and repenting. That kind of spiritual life was like a fig leaf apron.

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New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

Adam may have said, “Wow, it’s very well made today, isn’t it, Eve? It’s soft and comfortable since I used tender leaves,” and proudly wear the apron he had made. Eve may have made aprons with leaves that were similar to arrowroot vines and said, “Adam, doesn’t this look pretty?” But no matter how pretty they were, soon they would wither and crumble away. That was the spiritual life I lived as I attended church a long time ago.

“Father God, I committed such and such sins today. Please forgive me. Help me to not sin tomorrow.”

Confessing every sin, one by one, in this manner and trying to cover my sins were the same as making fig leaf aprons. Regardless of how much I confessed my sins and repented, the fig leaf aprons quickly fell apart and crumbled away no matter how tirelessly I made them. How embarrassing it would be if Adam and Eve made and wore fig leaf aprons, went out in the sun, and the fig leaves crumbled off, revealing their shameful aspects, making Eve say, “Adam, I can see everything.”

How embarrassing this would be! We can never become whole trying to cover our sins ourselves. We cannot be perfect. That is why we can never be freed from the state of being sinners.

But the coats of skins made by God are different. This is the first time death occurred in Eden. A sinless animal was killed to cover the shame and guilt that came about through Adam and Eve committing sin. The death of that animal, as you well know, represents the death of Jesus Christ.

You pray, “God, forgive me! Forgive my sins!” when you steal, lie, commit adultery, or murder. But in your heart, the sin is still alive and torments you. You cannot be truly freed from sin. That is why God does not wash our sins away through the methods of us repeatedly repenting,

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"The death of that animal, as you well known, represents the death of Jesus Christ." or shedding tears. He clearly shows us, before our very eyes, that death must occur and punishment for the sins we committed must be received.

“Adam, Eve, get over here.”

“Yes, God, we are so ashamed.”

“Adam and Eve, those fig leaf aprons will not do, right? Those can’t completely cover your blemishes, correct? Your blemishes are revealed again and again even though you cover them, right? That is why from now on, I will work. Wait and see.”

Then God kills an animal.

“This animal did not have to die, but it died because of you. If this animal dies, then with its skin your blemishes will be covered.”

When God killed this animal, Adam and Eve clearly saw this sinless animal shed blood and die. They thought, “That animal did not have to die. It did not have to shed its blood like this, but it died because of the sin I committed!” This is what God clearly showed them.

The Cross of Christ Before All Men Jesus died 2,000 years ago on the cross on Mt. Calvary! Why didn’t God crucify Jesus on the cross in closed chambers, but instead crucified Him before all the people of Jerusalem? Jesus suffered the punishment of the cross before many who shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” He carried the cross up Mt. Calvary before the multitudes. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross in the view of all, and He shouted, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me!” before many people. Then He

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New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

shouted, “It is finished,” bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. Jesus showed the image of His death to all. We, too, can clearly see the image of Jesus dying throughout the Scriptures, which have recorded this fact.

“That’s right. Jesus did not have to die on the cross. Jesus shed His blood and died because of the sin of Adam and Eve leaving God and selecting Satan and for all of the sins I have committed! That death is for my sin of lying, coveting, stealing, lusting, committing adultery, hating, and committing murder!”

This is what God is clearly showing us. He is saying, “I am crucifying your sin of adultery, your sin of stealing, your sin of lying, all of the sins you’ve committed I am crucifying.” To crucify all the sins we have committed, God crucified Jesus on the cross along with all those sins.

If a person has stomach cancer, the cancer alone cannot be removed.

The stomach must also be removed. Even so, the man will die if the cancer remains. His whole life will be lost. It would be great if only the cancer could be removed, but that is impossible and a life is lost. In the same way, it would be great if only the sin can be removed from our hearts. But because this is impossible, Jesus had to bear our sins and be crucified together with them on the cross. He received the punishment for all the sins we’ve committed.

God has shown this to us in great detail. When I sin and my heart is in pain and I look to the cross, I can say, “Right, this sin was crucified when Jesus was crucified! The punishment for this sin ended on the cross!” When the ambitions of sin spring up in me, I can say, “This is shameful, but this sin has already been paid for!”

Adam and Eve’s shame was completely covered through the death of an animal. This is the difference between God’s thoughts and our thoughts. We pray and beg, saying that we will never sin again each time we sin, but it does not work. We end up sinning again. God knew that our doing this would not take care of our sins, and thus, had Jesus

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crucified on the cross. He was not simply crucified, but God clearly showed the crucifixion of Jesus to all.

Loving folks, who among you lives without sinning? Everyone has sinned. That sin lives and works in your heart, causing you shame and pain, keeping you bound and making you afraid to come before God. God, in order to give us true freedom from this sin and to take care of sin, clearly displayed before our very eyes, Jesus shedding His blood and dying on the cross. When we see this precisely, we come to discover, “Ah! If the Lord was killed on the cross, my sins are forgiven!” The death of Jesus shows that He has completely received the punishment for all your sins.

Adam and Eve distinctly saw God killing an animal to cover their

All of the sins you've committed I am crucifying . . . blemishes. They said, “That animal does not have to die, but it is dying for our sin. Through its death, the punishment of our sin is over. Because death, which is the wage of sin, has been paid, our sins are covered when that animal dies.”

God did not select the methods we humans use because He wanted to truly free us from sin and give us liberty. We think that everything will be fine only if we confess our sins, beg for forgiveness, try not to sin, and are good from then on. But God did not do it that way. He did not just

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New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

forgive sin, but He sent the punishment for our sin and took care of it on the cross. When the sounds of Jesus’ crucifixion, “Boom, boom, boom,” shook Mt. Calvary, they were the sounds of your sins being taken care of.

All of the sins you’ve committed had been paid for on the cross. Just as the coats of skins were enough to cover Adam and Eve’s shame, the cross of Jesus is enough to give us freedom through covering the various filthy and dirty sins of our heart.

Believe in God Who Perfected You God has already shown us the secret of salvation in Genesis chapter 3. We have lived with the method of us doing well and trying not to commit evil. But the method of God was different from our method.

The thoughts of Jesus differed from the thoughts of the disciples when looking at the blind man. The scribes and the Pharisees thought Jesus would say, “Stone her,” or, “Don’t stone her,” in regard to the woman taken in adultery. But instead, Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her,” which was completely different.

The thoughts of God and our thoughts concerning our sins are very different as well. We try to take care of sin by saying, “God, I sinned. I committed adultery. I stole. Forgive me.” That is not God’s method. He did not forgive our sin, but punished and took care of our sin before our very eyes. For our hearts to have true freedom, God covered our sins completely on the cross.

The Bible clearly shows us the difference between God working and our works. In Luke chapter 15, the prodigal son wore filthy rags and could only starve to death in the pig pen when it was he who was at work, no matter how hard he worked. But when the father worked, the prodigal son became clean and truly blessed. We cannot become whole when we work, but we can become whole when the father works.

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Do not try to make yourself diligent and good, But Believe in God who perfected you.

Even now, you are filthy, dirty, and evil. Do not try to make yourself diligent and good, but believe in God who perfected you. No matter what sin you may have committed, God has perfectly and spotlessly disposed of your sins on the cross. He has already delivered punishment for and has gotten rid of all sins. Loving folks, the works of the Lord are completely different from ours. That is why we throw away our own methods and ways and believe solely in the Lord.

Just as God made the coats of skins and put them on Adam and Eve to give them freedom, Jesus took care of every single one of your sins through dying on the cross. Do not think of anything else, but believe this and gain freedom from sin. And I hope that you will thank God, who has cleansed you from sin. When you become freed from the position of sinner and stand before God, the grace of God will surely overflow in you.

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Gospel Lesson

God Who Fulfills His Promise Pastor Kim Sung Hoon | Hanbat Central Church

The Evidence of Creation; The Order God, who has created us, had to show us that He is living. That is why through all creation, He has shown us that He is alive in many different ways. “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understand by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.�

(Romans 1:19,20) 44

The Word tells us that God’s power is shown in all creation of which He has made. For example, pretend I went to someone’s home and there was a piano made out of wooden matches. Then, I would think, “The owner of this house has great talent.” When you see objects in a house, you can observe the homeowner’s talent and know their personality quite well. In the same way, if you see all of the creations God has made, you can know exactly God’s personality, heart, and will.

There are some who do not know that God has created this world.

There is definite evidence that we can show to those people to prove that God created everything. This is called the "Order" in all things.

"Order" can never just happen.

In the law of nature, more specifically in the second law of thermodynamics, it says a system will become more disordered, as time increases. If you turn on a light bulb, the bulb starts aging and will eventually die out, just as how people age. This is the law of nature. That is why when something is created and left alone it loses its order. Order 45

Gospel Lesson

God has shown His skill through all creation.

slowly disappears. However, there is an amazing order that does not fade away. It is not something that the world has coincidently made, but it is the evidence that God created this world. Everything God has made is very elaborate. People are made very elaborately as well. One of the brothers of our church who is currently in England researching DNA once told me, “Pastor, the human body is quite amazing. The whole body is made up of protein. Hair, skin, blood, and teeth, all of these things are clumps of protein. Protein can become a hair or an eyelash depending on its structure.

Even though it is the same hair structure, the hair on the head continues growing and the eyelash stops growing after a certain length.”

The electronic signals are told to be what assigns the structure of proteins and how they possess their individual form in the human body.

The central part of the body says, “You should structure protein in this way or you should structure protein in other ways.” It gives each cell an electronic signal. It regulates our body in a perfect way. Sometimes, our body formulates cells that it cannot accept and those cells become the disease that everyone is afraid of: cancer.

Amongst the people that this brother works with, there was someone who didn’t believe in God. Those people say “This can never be just a coincidence. There really is something there.”

God has shown His skill through all creation.

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He has given us seasonal fruits and vegetables. The shepherd’s purse and other herbs that grow in the spring are ones that our bodies need. When winter passes and it becomes spring, as many people get sick, several people may die. This happens because people’s bodies were accustomed to the cold then suddenly are confronted with warmer weather and they simply cannot adapt to it. However, it has been told that the herbs and sprouts that grow in the spring help regulate the sweat glans to help our bodies become acclimated to spring. The fruits that grow in the summer help our sweat glands open significantly, which lets the sweat out to cool us down. In the late summer to fall, fruits help the sweat glans decrease. These days, we eat fruit and vegetables that aren’t seasonal because they grow them in greenhouses and this leads to unstable health.

Just like this, there is order in all things that God has made. There is also a path to the wind. There is a path that the fish in the ocean follow. Even migratory birds migrate from place to place. The migratory birds that are born in Korea fly to an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean before it becomes winter. They know the exact path even though they have never been there.

The Book of Promise: the Bible After God reveals Himself through all creation, He wanted to reveal Himself more in detail, so He has given us the Bible. In the Bible, there are many pieces of evidence that prove God is alive. The Bible is made up of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The 47

Gospel Lesson

God not only promised, but He is shown as one who fulfills His promises with joy.

Old Testament is the old promise and the New Testament is the new promise. In other words, the Bible is the book that has recorded the promises.

There is no other book of promises in the world.

Promises do not count with things of the past, but it talks about the things of the future. God has shown us our future through the book of promises, the Gospel. Why has God given us the Bible that is made up of promises? It is to create faith in our hearts.

If we have strength and wisdom, we can overcome any kind of problem. Unfortunately, we have left God through distrust and we are in a condition where God cannot accept us. This is why God has given us the Bible to create faith in our hearts once again.

People start to trust each other through promises. If I made 100 promises with one person and kept all of them, then trust would form in their heart. On the other hand, candidates make many promises during an election, and then later on, they end up not keeping many of them. Just like this, if someone cannot keep their promises, he or she becomes someone who you cannot trust.

Now, God has given us the Bible of promises.

From God’s perspective, this is a risk. It is because if God cannot keep even one of His promises, He would deserve to be distrusted and despised. To God, the Bible is a book of promises that He absolutely

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Ezekiel The author of the Book of Ezekiel presents himself as Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, born into a priesthood lineage of the patrilineal line of Ithamar, and resident of Anathoth. He gives a chronology for the first divine encounter which he will present. Ezekiel describes his calling to be a prophet, by going into great detail about his encounter with God and four living creatures or Cherubim with four wheels that stayed beside the creatures.

must keep. God made these promises and He has started to fulfill these promises. “Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name.” (Jeremiah 33:2) God not only promised, but He is shown as one who fulfills His promises with joy. Because this is true, if we come to know God, we would have no choice but to believe in God. “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” (Hebrews 6:17, 18) In the Word, there are two things that appear which God cannot lie about. It is called "oath" and "confirmation". People who believe in the promise, God surely shows that He did not lie, confirming it by an oath.

If you want to get a loan from a bank, you need to get a guarantor. If you are not able to pay back the loan, then the guarantor needs to take responsibility. After God promised and made an oath with us, He wanted to establish a guarantor to show us that He will keep His promise. However, if you want to have a guarantor, you need one that is greater than God. Because there is no such being, God, Himself, is the guarantor. If there are problems with the promise, then God said He would take full responsibility.

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Gospel Lesson

Ezekiel Chapter 37 The Word of promise, the Bible that God has given us is so important. Now, let’s see what kind of promises He has made in the Bible. First of all in Ezekiel Chapters 37 and 38. The Bible was written roughly 2,800 years ago and the promises recorded would happen in the future generations.

One day, God called Ezekiel. “Ezekiel, record in detail what I am about to show you.” Ezekiel recorded what would happen in the last days in much detail. It was mostly words about Israel. Ezekiel saw that Jerusalem would be completely abominated in desolation by Rome, and the Israelites were scattered into many nations. Also, he saw that the Palestinians would claim the land of Israel.

Just like the Word recorded in the book of Ezekiel, 800 years later, Israel became barren because of Rome. When the Romans saw Israel, they felt that the togetherness of the Israelites was strong, so they thought the nation would rise again if they were together. That is why they cut down all the trees in the whole area of Jerusalem and made it desolate. They made it a land that no one could live in.

God showed Ezekiel another vision.

“Ezekiel, do you see that desolate land? Do you see the Israelites being scattered to many places and being tormented?”

“Yes, I see.”

Ezekiel saw, that the Israelites were scattered in 50

Independence of Israel On May 14, 1948, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed as British rule in Palestine came to an end. when Israel declared its independence, the United States immediately recognized the new state. The Times wrote, “In one of the most hopeful periods of their troubled history the Jewish people here gave a sigh of relief and took a new hold on life when they learned that the greatest national power had accepted them into the international fraternity.”

the different parts of the world and were being abused.

In Ezekiel Chapter 37, Ezekiel saw the Israelites’ bones filling the canyons and ridges and he recorded this fact.

That was when God told Ezekiel again.

“After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.” (Ezekiel 38:8) After many days, in the time of the last days, God’s command is suddenly fulfilled and the Israelites would gather again in the once devastated land of Israel. It is written in the Bible that they will be freed from that land and be victorious.

Even 100 years ago people had ignored this Word that was written in the Bible in Ezekiel. People thought it was impossible to take back the land of Israel.

However, on May 17, 1948, there was a heart-stopping event that occurred. The Israelites gathered at the Mountain of Zion and declared independence. People had gathered in the land that was desolate for 2,000 years and now filled this country.

As Israel declared their independence, the Philistines that had lived in that land had no reason to stand still.

In the end, in the year 1960, many countries in the Middle East united and started a war to destroy Israel.

At the time, the Defense Minister of Israel, Lieutenant General Moshe Dayan said at a press conference, “We will win this war. Although we are at a disadvantage in 51

Gospel Lesson

Moshe Dayan (20 May 1915 – 16 October 1981) Moshe Dayan was an Israeli military leader who later became a crusader for peace. He played a key role in four wars and helped negotiate the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. Dayan's activities in the 1948 War of Independence began when he commanded the defense of Jewish settlements in the Jordan Valley.

every aspect, we have discovered a groundbreaking weapon that can defeat the large army of the Middle East. We will win because we use this weapon.”

After America and England heard this speech, their intelligence information agencies thought they would be using a nuclear weapon and did a thorough investigation. However, they could not find this weapon. The war started, and something happened that could never happen in the history of the world. Israel completely defeated the Middle East in six days. After the war ended, Moshe Dayan called another press conference.

“Just like I have told all of you, we have become victorious because of the new weapon we have made.”

Because there was no weapon that they used during the war, the very curious reporters asked, “What in the world was that weapon?” Then Moshe Dayan took out an Old Testament Bible out from his left chest pocket.

“It is this. This is the weapon that we used to be victorious. We engraved the promise that God had given us in the hearts of all the soldiers. We have won this war because of this weapon.”

God’s Word is fulfilled exactly. The promise of God led the Israelites who lived scattered for 2,000 years and He gathered them again. He allowed them to establish their country and be able to live peacefully.

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Revelations Chapter 13 The book of Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelations in the New Testament are the books that are famous for their revelation. Daniel, as a man of Babylonia, received the revelation of God and recorded the countries that would reign after Babylonia. The world had been progressing just as Daniel had foretold.

In Revelation, it talks about very much in detail, concentrating on what will happen in the end of the world. This Word appears in Revelations chapter 13. “…to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name… for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

(Revelation 13:16~18) People think 666 is the number of the devil. If you watch the movie called "The Omen", the evil one has the number 666 engraved in their head. However, the number 666 is the number of the Anti-Christ. In the last generation, what will happen is this number 666 appearing and it will regulate the people. People who lived tens of years ago could not understand this, but we understand it now. It is because it is already happening.

The Bible says that the number six represents man.

God made man on the sixth day. The number three is the number that represents God (The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit). The number 666 is three sixes put together. Therefore, this means that man tries to be 53

Gospel Lesson

Man who should be regulated by God will be regulated by what they have made.

in the position of God. Man who should be ruled

by God refuses God and will be ruled by the best machine that man has ever made. That is 666. In the Bible, it says that people will get the mark of 666 in their forehead or hand and they will buy and sell with it.

As the number of theft and burglary has increased in the world, people thought that if cash decreases then there would be no more theft or crimes. That is why they have made the credit card. However, losing your credit card is very problematic people have experimented again and have come up with a stifling method. They will engrave the number that is in the card on the forehead and hand.

This system has already been made. The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation has already given everyone a serial number. Your Social Security number, license number and bankcard number will all be put together as one number. All they have to do is engrave this number on your forehead or hand. They have already made this machine in Germany. The machine can engrave this number on our bodies which we cannot see with our eyes by using a laser that they have already finished testing on animals.

The object that man has made that will rule man instead of God is the computer. Man who should be regulated by God will be regulated by

54

what they have made. These words have been precisely recorded 1,900 years ago in Revelation chapter 13.

God Himself Came God has surely shown us all creation that God has made through His skill and power in many ways. We have lived without having anything to do with God, having already left God. God has promised man in the Bible, and He will surely fulfill. Also, God now finds men who were lost.

“And he must needs go through Samaria.”

This means the Lord had to come to this world?

Why did Jesus come to the world? He came to find us. In the Bible, it says that, “Jesus brought the heart of His father.” Jesus, with the heart of the Father God, came to this world to find us. We cannot go to God with our own efforts and labor. We have already gone too far away from God. That is why God sent Jesus to this world. In order to show His heart towards us, He has sent Jesus to save this world.

Pastor Kim Sung Hoon is currently the head pastor at Han Bat Church. This is the sermon that he preached at the 29th Summer Retreat, titled, “For the Lost Souls”

55

God Protects Even the Fish Testimony of Pastor Ock Soo Park

56

Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

B

ack when I used to preach the Gospel at a small church in Jangpali, Geochang, I was so poor that there were barely any necessities in the chapel. Especially during the winter, it was very difficult for me to endure the bitter cold in the heatless chapel. After the evening meetings, I hoped for the brothers and sisters to stay a bit longer, but they always left to escape the cold, leaving me by myself.

Without a blanket to cover myself, I covered myself with the Sunday school hymnal sheets, often wondering to myself with fear, “What if I freeze to death and become a corpse by morning?”

My home was in Seosan, so it was not a long distance from Geochang. I never even thought of going back home, even if I would die while serving the Lord. Each morning, I would wake up with my body stiff from the cold, and it seemed that I would be unable to endure the winter.

One day, I arrived at the creek to wash my face. Even though the water was frozen over, I could see fish swimming below. At that moment, I had a fleeting thought, “Even in the freezing winter, fish live below the ice. God protects even the fish. He can protect his loving child even more!”

As that thought settled deep within my heart, I was able to endure the winter. Living as a preacher of the Gospel until now, there were many gloomy days and difficulties in spiritual life that crossed my path, but my faith said “God protects even the fish. He can protect me even more,” helped me overcome those circumstances, and held onto me so that I can preach only the Gospel.

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Church Directory (North America) EAST COAST Good News New York Church 718-878-4246 300 Nassau Rd., Huntington, NY 11743

Good News New Jersey Church 201-406-4677 1075 Queen Anne Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666

Good News Manhattan Church 917-678-3344 268 West 44th St. 5th Floor, New York, NY 10036

Good News Detroit Church 248-971-4151 1181 Harding Ave., Rochester Hills, MI 48307

Good News Bronx Church 646-339-6432 685 Morris Park Avenue 2nd floor, NY 10462

Good News Indianapolis Church 516-231-8562 383 S. Emerson Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46219

Good News Brooklyn NY Church 917-526-7498 765 43rd St. 1st FL, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Good News Miami Church 954-667-7753 331 NW 65th Way, Hollywood, FL 33024

Good News Flushing Chinese Church 631-535-1169 134-24 Cherry Ave., Flushing, NY 11355

Good News New Orleans Church 504-432-6000 3205 Cherry St., New Orleans, LA 70118

Good News Atlanta Church 404-966-6352 11000 Rogers Circle, Johns Creek, GA 30097

Good News Jacksonville Church 904-800-7890 3850 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207

Good News Atlanta Spanish Church 678-387-9271 2635 Fairlane Drive, 2nd FL, Doraville, GA 30340

Good News Boston Church 617-943-9739 4 Church St. #8, Malden, MA 02148

Good News Philadelphia Church 215-379-0501 305 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027

Good News Charlotte Church 704-500-6063 8731 Green Ivy Lane, Charlotte, NC 28217

Good News Chicago Church 847-329-0237 4825 W. Jarlath St., Lincolnwood, IL 60712

Good News Fort Wayne Church 260-797-3412 3316 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, IN 46807

Good News Washington Church 703-309-7132 5044 Portsmouth Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032

Good News Maryland Chinese Church 301-250-1138 85 Orchard Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Good News Memphis Church 901-206-7891 4162 Owen Rd., Memphis, TN 38122

Good News Nashville Spanish Church 615-927-8980 120 Arbor Knoll Blvd., Antioch, TN 37013

Good News Minneapolis Church 612-354-3909 3000 West Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411 Good News Orlando Church 407-456-0470 1120 Arden St., Longwood, FL 32750

WEST COAST Good News Central Church 213-386-0097 3500 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90004

Good News Tacoma Church 253-582-3599 10103 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, WA 98499

Good News Hawaii Church 808-679-2800 1219 Keeaumoku St., Suite 400, Honolulu, HI 96814

Good News Albuquerque Church 505-301-7167 3001 Cuervo Dr., N.E. Albuquerque, NM 87110

Good News Houston Church 210-315-0346 6534 Rolla St., Houston, TX 77055

Good News Dallas First Church 972-272-4724 4502 Lawler Rd., Garland, TX 75042

Good News Phoenix Church 480-273-2199 9001 West ELM St. #5, Phoenix, AZ 85037

Good News San Jose Church 408-893-2267 1548 Curtner Ave., San Jose, CA 95125

Good News Sacramento Church 916-996-4655 7136 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael, CA 95608

Good News Las Vegas Church 702-248-0572 2880 Red Rock St., Las Vegas, NV 89146

Good News Oklahoma Church 405-535-9553 5316 Huddleston Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73135

Good News Salt Lake Church 801-656-5299 353 Park Creeke LN #B, Salt Lake City, UT 84115 Good News O.C. Baptist Church 714-226-0595 3330 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801 Good News Anchorage Church 907-258-9987 1020 W. Fireweed Lane, Anchorage, AK 99503 Good News El Paso Church 915-478-3576 8001 Magnetic Street, El Paso, TX 79904 Good News Portland Church 971-300-1127 6225 S.W. Dale Ave., Beaverton, OR 97008

CANADA & CARIBBEAN Good News Vancouver Church 1-778-881-5508 2291 Dorman Dr., Burnaby, BC V5A 2V3 Good News Ottawa Church 1-647-770-3379 275 Rue LaramĂŠe, Gatineau, QC J8Y 3A1, Canada Good News Toronto Church 1-416-321-2004 70 Mcgriskin Rd., Toronto, ON M1S 4S5, Canada Good News Jamaica Church 1-876-318-0189 63b Deanery Road, Kingston 3, Jamaica W.I.

Good News San Antonio Church 210-993-9414 405 Walton Ave., San Antonio, TX 78225

Good News Dominican Republic Church 1-809-350-1429 Calle 26 #2, Valle Verde 1, Santiago, La Republica Dominicana

Good News Denver Church 720-308-3442 8279 E Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO 80237

Good News Haiti Church 509-70-8253-2511 Rue Jeremie #7 bis Delmas 33, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Good News Kansas Church 816-210-0351 1301 E 100th TER, Kansas City, MO 64131

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9/19 (Sat)

New Jersey - 7PM | 201.857.2516 Newark Symphony Hall

10/1-2 (Thur, Fri) Anchorage - 7PM | 907.351.1341 Alaska Center for the Performing Arts

9/20 (Sun)

Philadelphia - 7PM | 267.339.4652 The Liacouras Center, Temple University

10/3 (Sat)

San Jose - 7PM | 408.766.0308 City National Civic Auditorium

9/21 (Mon)

Washington DC - 7PM | 571.218.7140 Warner Theater

10/4 (Sun)

Los Angeles - 7PM | 213.386.0097 Shrine Auditorium

9/23 (Wed)

Detroit - 7PM | 248.608.1409 Masonic Temple

10/5 (Mon)

Las Vegas - 7PM | 702.956.4073 Cashman Center Theater

9/24 (Thur)

Fort Wayne - 7PM | 260.444.4918 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

10/6 (Tues)

Phoenix - 7PM | 480.392.1244 Mesa Arts Center (Tom and Janet Ikeda Theater)

9/25 (Fri)

Indianapolis - 7PM | 317.294.5329 Old National Center (Murat Theater)

10/7 (Wed)

El Paso - 7PM | 915.777.3137 Abraham Chavez Theatre

9/26 (Sat)

Chicago - 7PM | 847.329.0237 Genesee Theatre

10/8 (Thur)

Albuquerque - 7PM | 505.301.7167 Tingley Coliseum (State Fairgrounds)

9/27 (Sun)

Kansas City - 7PM | 816.352.6340 Lied Center of Kansas

10/9 (Fri)

Amarillo - 7PM | 806.437.9993 Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium

9/28 (Mon)

Twin City - 7PM | 612.812.1246 Northrop Theater

10/10 (Sat)

Oklahoma City - 7PM | 405.464.5617 Civic Center Music Hall

9/30 (Wed)

Seattle - 7PM | 253.582.3599 McCaw Hall

10/11 (Sun)

San Antonio- 3PM, 7PM | 210.315.0346 Lila Cockrell Theatre

10/12 (Mon)

New Orleans - 7PM | 504.602.9930 Lakefront Arena

10/13 (Tues)

Atlanta - 7PM | 404.966.6352 Fox Theatre

10/14 (Wed)

Jacksonville - 7PM | 904.800.7890 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

10/15 (Thur)

Miami - 7PM | 954.667.7753 James L Knight Center

10/16 (Fri)

Orlando - 7PM | 941.740.3676 Bob Carr Theater

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