The Goodnews - May, 2017 by Good News Mission

May 2017

DELIVERING THE GOSPEL & THE TESTIMONIES OF GRACE

∙ Salvation Testimony

∙ Memoirs of a Missionary

∙ Special Article

∙ Testimony of Pastor Ock Soo Park The Lord Opened Doors for the Gospel to Be Spread in Prisons

When Jesus Stands Before You 2017 New York Bible Crusade

War

Table of Contents

04 Monthly Sermon The Heifer With A Stricken Neck In The Valley Neither Eared Nor Sown

Special Article Testimony from 2017 New York Bible Crusade

Salvation Testimony When Jesus Stands Before You

30 Memoirs of a Missionary War

New York Times II True Repentance; an Absolute Necessity in Spiritual Life

Special Article 2017 New York Bible Crusade

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Good News Magazine | MAy 2017

Cover Story: The Gracias Choir ended their Easter Cantata church tour and the 2017 Bible Crusade in New York in beautiful fashion with their final performance of the Easter Cantata at the United Palace. The seats were filled with people, and every heart was filled with the message of eternal redemption through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

60 Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth The Lord Opened Doors for the Gospel to Be Spread in Prisons

Gospel Lesson The Sin Offering of the Old Testament Era

Church Directory

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Sermon of the Month

THE HEIFER WITH A STRICKEN NECK IN THE VALLEY NEITHER EARED NOR SOWN Pastor Ock Soo Park | Good News Gangnam Church

If one be found slain in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him: Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke; And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley: (Deuteronomy 21:1-4)

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I discovered that because I considered myself to be right, I had the heart that could not accept any words from people, and this was like the valley that could not be eared or sown.

WHAT KIND OF A VALLEY IS IT THAT YOU CAN NEITHER EAR OR SOW IN IT?

Sometime ago, I was reading these words and I thought, “A valley where you can neither ear nor sow, what does that kind of valley mean? In the valleys there is water always flowing, but what type of a valley is it that you can neither ear nor sow?” I could only think that it was a valley filled with solid rock. Usually, valleys always have water flowing, and as I thought about the condition of this valley of solid rock, where you can neither ear nor sow, I began to think about my heart. My heart is so solid and hard, and I discovered that it was as the same as this valley. THE HEART THAT COULD NOT ACCEPT ANY WORDS FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE I WAS RIGHT

Since I was a child, I lived like a frog in a well. I had never encountered a thought better than mine, nor a heart more beautiful than my own. I always lived by my own thoughts, and I was always right. When I spoke with my friends I wasn’t able to easily accept their words. That was because I always considered myself to be right, and if there arose a difference with my opinion among my friends, we argued and fought. If my friends did not accept my opinion, I would still try so that things would not go according to their opinion. That is why my friends did not like me much. In my view, I was always right, and I couldn’t understand why my friends would not accept my thoughts. Likewise, I discovered that because I considered myself to be right, I had the heart that could not accept any words from people, and this was like the valley that could not be eared or sown. -5-

Sermon of the Month

WHY IS THE HEIFER’S NECK STRICKEN IN THE VALLEY NEITHER EARED NOR SOWN

The elders of the city bring a heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke to a valley, which is neither eared nor sown and cut off the heifer’s neck. Why do they not bother with the other types of land, and why do they have to remove the heifer’s neck in the land, which is neither eared nor sown? As I think about it now, the grace of God is so great. I always insisted that I was right arguing and fighting, but God did many works upon my heart. Until I was nineteen years old, I wanted to do something well and I wanted to live well, but there was nothing that worked out right for me. As I look back upon those past days, it may seem that I was better than others, but I failed in everything that I did. And the things I did were dirty and evil. From the moment I discovered this fact, my thoughts of being better, smart, and right began to crumble away, and I felt myself loosing strength. Surely, because I believed I was correct all the time, I was always insistent, but later on, I was the one who was wrong. I thought I was better than others, but later I found out that I was not better at all. I thought that I was honest, but I was lying and doing evil. As I saw this image of myself, the heart to trust in myself collapsed, and I felt my heart that was solid and hard as a rock beginning to crack. Afterward, I believed in Jesus and received the forgiveness of sin. When I thought about the Lord, who shed His blood on the cross and died for the sins of a dirty human being like me, I was infinitely grateful and joyful. I strongly felt my heart falling down. From that moment, I was changed. I didn’t change because I tried to change. I was such a bad and filthy person; I failed in everything that I did. When I thought about the grace of the cross, where Jesus shed His blood and died for a person like me, my heart crumbled down so much that it became soft. Previously, I did not keep or listen to words that did not fit my heart, but I felt my heart changing into a heart able to receive the seed. HOW WAS JESUS ABLE TO SPEAK LIKE THIS?

After receiving salvation, the first thing that changed was the reading of the Bible. Prior to being saved, when I read the Bible I didn’t see anything. However, afterwards, when I read the Bible, the more I read it, I could -6-

The death and sacrifice of Jesus, like the heifer, is melting and shattering people’s obstinate hearts in order to soften them. He turns the evil heart of man into a heart of beauty.

feel it softening my heart. As I read the Bible, there was a woman who was caught in adultery, and she had to be stoned to death, but incredibly that did not happen. The scribes and Pharisees brought that woman to Jesus, and in order to lay a trap for Him, they asked, “This woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Moses commanded that such a woman be stoned, but teacher, what do you say?” If Jesus were to say to stone her, then they would have denounced him. They would have accused him, saying that Jesus, who was supposed to have come to save sinners, just told us to stone her. If Jesus were to say not to stone her, then He would have been accused of breaking the Law. Therefore, He was going to be trapped either way. However, Jesus replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” By that one statement, Jesus defeated all the scribes and Pharisees, and revealed His wisdom to save the woman caught in the act of adultery. I thought to myself, “How was Jesus able to speak like this? Jesus has wisdom! Then the Jesus inside me must also have this wisdom! If I’m close with Jesus, I can gain this wisdom!” In front of those words, the thoughts of me being better than others crumbled down. The very mysterious words of God came into my heart and began to bloom, and I saw them grow in my heart. I was amazed beyond words and grateful to God. JESUS CHANGED ME LIKE THAT WOMAN

My heart was hard and rough like a rock, but the words of Jesus entered and changed it to a land that can bloom. “The heart of Jesus is a heart like this!” I was able to acknowledge. I saw how God was within me working to change me. “This was the heart of God. It’s the heart of God!” -7-

Sermon of the Month

Previously, whenever I read the Bible, my head would ache, and I would get agitated and sleepy. However, now, that same Bible that I didn’t want to read has now came into my heart, and began to take hold of my heart, step by step. My heart that was stiff, like a rock that couldn’t be eared or sown, but because God was working, my heart changed to become soft. The woman caught in adultery was pitiful and could only be stoned to death. But Jesus saved her, and there was an indescribable thankfulness and love for God that came flowing from her heart. Jesus also changed me Like that woman. I thought that I was better than others, and I had a heart that was unable to accept even a tiny amount of anything that I didn’t like or didn’t fit me. The words of the Bible didn’t suit me at the time, and I didn’t want to read it. Now, the words in the Bible entered my heart, word by word, and it became the treasure of my heart. I saw those words blossom in my heart, and I saw them bearing fruit.

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JESUS’S SACRIFICE IS STILL MELTING AND SHATTERING THE OBSTINATE HEART…

The heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke, is an innocent heifer that has never once been led by a person or worked with or drawn a yoke. I saw the image of that heifer, which was without any sin, having its neck cut and removed, bleeding to death in the valley that can neither be eared nor sown. Then, no matter who it may be, the Bible tells us that an obstinate and evil heart will shatter and crumble and that it will change into a land that can be sown and bloom to blossom flowers and bear fruit. The death and sacrifice of Jesus, like the heifer, is melting and shattering people’s obstinate hearts in order to soften them. He turns the evil heart of man into a heart of beauty. The land was dying, but because water was always flowing, if the land just becomes softer, it is more than capable of blossoming flowers and bringing forth fruit. Although we hear the water flowing, because of our stiffened heart, we live not accept anything. I was a person like that, and I am thankful beyond words to have been given a heart to accept the words of Jesus. GOD MUST BE CHANGING SO MANY PEOPLE EVERY DAY

Even now, I see people around me with a heart that can neither be eared nor sown. Although their hearts are obstinate and rough, if they discover their wickedness and discover the heart of Jesus, they will change. They will forsake their hearts and they will change to accept the words of Jesus, which do not originally fit them. God softens the heart of stone, and plants seeds and causes flowers to bloom and trees to bring forth fruit! God must be changing so many people every day. I thank God and glorify him. 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, and 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

When Jesus Stands Before You tan Raven Jones | Good News Manhat

Church

was first introduced to the Good News Mission a couple years ago when I was attending Baruch College, where they were promoting the Easter Cantata. During that time, I was very busy studying for midterms, and so I would spend all day at the library. This made me tired, and sometimes I would go on a break to a café or something. Well, since it was time for the Easter Cantata, instead of taking a coffee shop break, I went to the Easter Cantata. I heard Pastor Ock Soo Park preach after the Cantata, and I enjoyed it. Everyone was nice, welcoming, and accepting. However, I never thought of going back to church because I was so busy with everything else. I was living my life, drinking, going out, attending school, working, and I had a boyfriend. I always believed in God, and I would pray whenever I was in difficult situations, but I never thought of going to church. I grew up going to church, but my home and childhood was not stable. Even though we went to church, everything was still bad. When I would go home, I would still be sad and angry. My mother would never listen to me, and she was always angry. My mom was not mentally stable, and I would just always remain sad and depressed. I never thought of going to church. After some time had passed, I fell into problems. I was pregnant, and my son’s father left. After he left, I became depressed, and started to drink and use drugs while I was pregnant. The ACS came and told me that I could not have my baby while drinking and doing drugs. I told them they can take the baby because his father doesn’t want me, and so I didn’t want the baby. They told me that they don’t want to take my baby, but instead, they placed me in a drug rehabilitation program to receive counseling for drugs and alcohol. One day, I was coming out from the counseling center and was talking to someone about my drug use. A short-term missionary, Daniella, - 10 -

that I don’t have to “tryI realized to do well, and I don’t have to

try to be a good person, but I just have to accept Jesus’s grace, and simply stand behind the Vine.

”

was handing out newspapers for the Good News Church. I stopped talking to that person, and looked down at the paper and I saw Pastor Ock Soo Park, whom I saw at the Easter Cantata a couple years ago. I turned back around and asked, “Where is your church?” She told me, “It’s right there, come tomorrow.” The next day was Sunday, so I came. When I came in, the first thing that was preached was from Hebrews chapter 10, verse 10: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Then another verse was explained, which described Jesus as being the true Vine. If we stand in front of the Vine, then we are not allowing Jesus to work. However, if we stand behind the Vine, and we cease from our own works, He will protect us and it will be by His will and grace. If we are trying, we are standing in front of the Vine, and therefore, Jesus cannot work. I realized that I don’t have to try to do well, and I don’t have to try to be a good person, but I just have to accept Jesus’s grace, and simply stand behind the Vine. Once I came back to church, everything started to become easy to recognize. For the first time, I started to understand the Word of God. I started to understand that if I just throw away my thoughts, then I don’t have to look for drinking; I don’t have to look for drugs; I don’t have to look for anything else. If I just throw away my thoughts and receive God’s grace, then I don’t have to look for anything else. When I was younger, in high school, I was taught to repent every day and that I was a sinner. But coming to the Good News Church they preached from Hebrews chapter 10, verses 18 and 19: Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. So now I no longer call myself sinner, which I was taught in my former church. I am righteous now because God doesn’t remember my sins, and there is no more offering for sin. He died one time for all of my sins. - 11 -

Special Article 2017 New York Bible Crusade

2017 New York

Bible Crusade

Gracias Choir moving the audience

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Welcome to Bible Crusade!

The First Day of the 2017 New York Bible Crusade

I Am No Longer a Sinner!

Repentance. Faith. Change.

pril 19th, Spring was in the air and it marked the first day of the Bible Crusade. The New York conference was held from the 19th to the 21st at the United Palace Theater. There were two sessions: mornings at 10:30 and the evenings at 7:00. Notably, the pastors who had participated in the CLF attended this conference as well. After the beautiful performance by the Gracias Choir, Pastor Park preached the word. Pastor Park preached the words in John chapter 8, about the woman caught in adultery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Folks, just as this woman from John chapter 8 was disappointed with

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Special Article 2017 New York Bible Crusade

her life, there are people in this world today who as disappointed with their own lives as well. They are unable to find meaning in their lives. They are not aware of the fact that these are the people who are most fit to do the work of God. When we face difficulties, we try hard to overcome it on our own. We try to fight off the lust and sin in Pastor Park preaching the Word our hearts with our own efforts. However, despite how hard we try to break free, the power of temptation is, unfortunately, so much stronger. We are like this woman, helplessly dragged by temptation. The Bible describes the image of humans accurately. You might think our yourselves as better than this woman, but just as it's shown in John chapter 8, we humans are overcome with sin and fear. If we meet God through the Bible, we will be able to see change arise within ourselves. Darkness is the best condition for which light to work. Emptiness is the best condition for which God can fill. Folks, God will be the light in your hearts that are filled with despair, void and pain.â&#x20AC;? (Excerpt from Pastor Park's sermon) The lecture lasted for about two hours, and Pastor Park went into detail when preaching the Gospel. He also explained each Bible verse in detail which helped the audience understand better. The audience listened to the words of God with much sincerity. And after the sermon ended, there was time for individual fellowship and many questions were answered during this time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I received a flyer promoting The audience listens with sincerity the Bible Crusade and attended.

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The Gracias Choir have voices given by God and I enjoyed the music a lot. Through the sermon I realized that we don,t receive salvation or grace by being diligent. What the Bible says is completely different. If we receive things according to our works, then that is not grace. Pastor Park spoke about the words in Romans chapter 4, verse 4. Becuase Jesus already washed our sins, I am no longer a sinner. I believe that I've Angela (left) received become righteous. Forever!” assurance of salvation -Angela, Bible Crusade attendee Just as the weather began to heat up, so did the conference atmosphere. When the attendees were interviewed about the message they heard, so many people said “Amen!” They received assurance of salvation in their hearts.

Having fellowship with their whole hearts

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Special Article 2017 New York Bible Crusade

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Manhattan, the center of New York. Can the Gospel be preached with any more fervor than this?

New York Bible Crusade:

If God Says We Are Righteous, Then We Are Righteous!

n April 21st, the Gracias Choir Easter Cantata was held at the United Palace Theatre. Not only was this the last day of the conference, but it also the finale of the month long Easter Cantata tour. Many people came to see the last performance of the Cantata. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Folks, if we do it, we can make mistakes so God is the One who forgave our sins and passed it on to Jesus. All we had to do was nothing. - 17 -

Special Article 2017 New York Bible Crusade

Bible Crusade

Photo Highlights Inviting you to the Easter Cantata

People standing in long lines, awaiting the Easter Cantata - 18 -

"We're here to see the Cantata."

The lobby of United Palace Theater

So many people came and filled every empty seat.

The audience, filled with expectation, waiting for the start of the program. - 19 -

Special Article 2017 New York Bible Crusade

Easter Cantata

Live Performance

02 01

The High Priests seeking to kill Jesus

"We want Barabbas! Crucify Jesus!"

"All Hail King of the Jews"

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The Last Supper with Jesus

"You're the disciple of Jesus!" "No, I don't know that crazy man!"

Happy reunion after Jesus ressurects

Finale of the Easter Cantata

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Jesus being crucified on the cross

Jesus did everything! He bore all the sins of the world and cleaned our sins as white as snow on the tabernable in Heaven.” (excerpt from Pastor Park's message) After the performance ended, everyone's heart was open and moved. Pastor Park preached the precise message of the Gospel. “Regardless of what I think, if the God who created the whole universe said that I was righteous, then I am righteous! That's what is says in the Bible. You must believe in these words. If you still call yourselves sinners after Jesus had died on the cross, then you are saying that the cross of Jesus has failed. Jesus did not die in vain. Don't believe in your thougths; believe in the word of God!” (excerpt of Pastor Park's message)

Pastor Park giving the Easter message

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Testimonials

Patricia, usher at United Palace Theatre

Patricia worked as a security guard for the United Palace Theater and was able to listen to the sermons as she worked during the conference. When we met her on the first day, she told us that she was Catholic and told us that unlike Christians, they believed in the Virgin Mary. However, when asked on this day if she understood the sermon, she answered that she did and had a big smile on her face as she said that she was righteous. “Did you understand today's sermon?” “Yes! I understood it completely. I am righteous. I no longer have sin. If God says that I am righteous, then no matter what happens, I am righteous.”

“I received a ticket from my church pastor. The Cantata was beautiful. The stage and acting was outstanding and the story itself was very touching. They portrayed everything accurately, even to the fine details. The scene that left an impression was the one of Jesus bearing the cross. It look so real. Also, I have never heard anyone preach the words as the pastor did tonight. Pastor Park delve deep into the Old Testament and preached the Wanda, Easter Cantata attendee Gospel accurately. Many pastors preach that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but none are able to explain the reason accurately. But Pastor Park explained in detail how we washed our sins in the past, and because this was not enough, Jesus had to come. Now I know with certainty why Jesus died on the cross for me. How he cleansed our sins completely! I am no longer a sinner! Pastor said not to believe in my thoughts that call me a sinner. He said to believe the God who has made us righteous through Jesus. Jesus shed his blood and forgave all our sins. We can't say we are not righteous after all this. Because this is the truth! It is amazing! I never knew this before. People believe in something else completely. If God said we are righteous, then we are righteous. We need to believe in this.” - 23 -

Special Article 2017 New York Bible Crusade

When we first rented this venue for the Bible Crusade, we did not know why God allowed this venue to us. But as we were preparing for the conference, we realized that everyone in Manhattan knew this was the venue where Gracias Choir performed the Cantata. This was the venue for the Christmas Cantata for the past few years. We realized that this was the place God had prepared for us. Thousands of people came to the United Palace Theatre to see the accurate Gospel with their eyes, hear it with their ears, and received the words with their hearts. These people have heard the Gospel once, twice every time they attend our events. We are hopeful that the people of New York will realized the true and accurate salvation.

Repeantance. Faith. Change. People purchased Gracias Choir cds and Pastor Park's sermons. - 24 -

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How do I order?

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Receive 12 monthly editions for the price of 10 with FREE shipping. (12 - $5 per magazine for a reduced price of $50) We offer a first year complimentary subscription to select individuals within the U.S. who attend the Bible Crusade, Christmas Cantata, and other church events.

How do I pay?

Make your $50 payment by check - Pay to the order of "Good News New York Church" - Recipient is Good News Magazine - Send check to 300 Nassau Rd., Huntington, NY 11743 - 25 -

Go Boldly Minister Caleb Ahn Good News New York Church

s God gave us the Christian Leaders Fellowship (CLF) this year, I was able to meet many pastors. Because we had previously held World Camps and Christmas Cantatas in New York, I had already begun meeting and witnessing to several pastors, who attended those events. However, this was the first time I was able to meet and speak with so many pastors at once. I got the chance to reach out to and meet pastors in the Brooklyn area, when we first held the World Christian Leaders Fellowship in March. During the pastoral meeting that took place in January, some pastors, who had fellowship with Pastor Ock Soo Park, wrote reports and submitted them. I procrastinated, and ended up handing in the report a week late. For the upcoming CLF, Pastor Yeong Kook Park called several missionaries to witness to other pastors and have fellowship with them. He told me that I handed in the report late because my heart was arrogant. People have the heart to trust themselves, and they think, “It’ll be okay to hand it in late. Let me just do it later.” Pastor rebuked me for having an arrogant heart, through which I ignored the due date for the report, and for following my own thoughts. He opened the words in Hebrews 10:19, which reads, Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. He explained to me that we have boldness to enter into the holiest, not because of what we do well or do not do well, but only by the blood of Jesus. “So what if Caleb Ahn can’t speak English? Jesus shed His blood for you.” He told me that the blood Jesus shed for me is more than sufficient to allow God to work through us. I thought that I could not witness well because I couldn’t speak English, and I’m not good at speaking. However, as I listened to pastor’s words, I felt like none of that was actually important at all. Although I handed in the report - 26 -

late, and although it is true that I can’t speak English well, Jesus already shed His blood on the cross for everyone. In light of this, I could feel that this was more than enough for God to work. I received the grace and opportunity to hold a Bible Seminar for three days at a church in Brooklyn, through Pastor Richard, whom I got to know while witnessing for the CLF. In the afternoon, someone came to the church to fix the television monitor. I saw him turn on the screen, and video of the Gracias Choir singing came on. So I asked him if he knew of the Gracias Choir. He told me that he knew about the Choir very well, and we began to talk. Richard was originally a member from our church in Jamaica, who received salvation there a long while ago. He even helped with the construction of the Jamaica church’s chapel. Afterwards, he came to the states and married Vinette, who was a pastor, and had been ministering with her ever since. Pastor Richard introduced me to many pastors he knew, and allowed me to have a Bible Seminar at his church. He and his wife attended the Dallas Winter Camp in December of last year, and the CLF that was held this past March. Pastor Richard introduced me to a female pastor named, Rush. She had attended our World Camp in South Korea a long time ago. She was able to attend the World Camp in Korea because of the low cost of traveling there. Afterwards, we were disconnected, but she told us that she was thankful for having met us again. Pastor Rush rented a tour bus, and attended the Christmas Cantata in Manhattan with her congregation members January of this year. After having attended the CLF this March, she listened to Pastor Ock Soo Park’s sermons and received salvation. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Pastor Rush volunteers to hand out food to over two thousand people. She also holds services before handing out the food. Pastor Rush asked us to invite a guest speaker to preach the Gospel to the people she was ministering to. On one of those days, we preached the Gospel

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Special Article Testimony from 2017 New York Bible Crusade

to the people there, and Pastor Rush stood up to give a testimony in front of everyone. She said, “Everyone, I’ve believed in God the wrong way until now. I thought I had to do something diligently to go to Heaven. However, I attended the CLF, hosted by the Good News Mission, and listened to the Word. Now I can surely tell you that I received the forgiveness of sins, not through my works, but by the blood of Jesus.” After testifying, she summarized my sermon to the listeners. She then made each person stand up, one by one, and asked them if they were a sinner, or if they were righteous. Then, she ended with these words, “When Pastor Ock Soo Park talked about how Brother Shim Hong Sub became forever righteous, I felt happy in my heart as well. Just like Brother Shim, my husband is currently a heavy drinker. However, I believe that God will change my husband as well according to the Word.” Pastor Ock Soo Park told us to host the CLF in New York, and according to the words of the servant of God, many pastors received the forgiveness of sins. We were able to see God working through those people. Pastor Rush rented out another 55-passenger bus and attended the Easter Cantata on the final day of the Bible Crusade. As she and her congregation watched the Easter Cantata and listened to pastor’s sermon, I was so thankful to see how joyful they were. Pastor Rush also invited three of her friends, who are also pastors, to the CLF and to the Bible Crusade. Two of her friends received salvation, and Pearletha, also a pastor, even gave a testimony of her salvation. She said, “Until now, I have been calling myself a sinner, saved by grace. Now I realized that this does not make sense. I have been made forever whole by the blood of Jesus. I am righteous.” During the CLF, around 30 pastors from the Brooklyn area attended, and the majority of those pastors received salvation. Each day was filled with a packed schedule, but after breakfast,

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lunch, and dinner, the pastors were able to have fellowship with missionaries and pastors from around the world. Through Pastor Park’s sermons and all the fellowship they received, we saw many pastors receive salvation and have such a thankful heart towards God. Maria Monroe is a pastor from Nepal, who is currently residing and ministering as a co-pastor at a church in Brooklyn. She got connected to us during the CLF and received salvation. She said, “Many churches in the world say that Jesus was crucified on the cross for their sins. However, there are no other churches that preach the Gospel like the Good News Mission does. If God, in the Bible called us righteous, then we are righteous.” After the CLF came to an end, Pastor Maria spoke to the senior pastor of her church, and got permission to invite us as guest speakers to preach the Word of God there. She asked us to preach this Gospel to her church members since her senior pastor and her congregation members did not know about this Gospel. We went to her church to preach on Wednesday, and after hearing the Gospel, the senior pastor asked us to visit once every month to preach the Word. Even after the CLF and Bible Crusade have come to an end, many pastors are inviting us to preach the Word to their churches and want to continue working with us. As I preached the Gospel to the members of those churches, I often thought of Jesus Christ’s blood. Even now, I preach with my horrible English, but because of the blood of Jesus, God helps me preach the Word boldly. When we were promoting the CLF, I would often complain about the dried rice and cold bagels we carried around for breakfast and lunch. Many times, we would visit the same churches, over and over again. However, God showed us that the footsteps we took were not in vain. When I see how the heart of God and His servant were manifested through the CLF and the Bible Crusade, I am truly thankful. - 29 -

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Memoirs of a Missionary_Cote d'Ivoire

Memoirs of a Missionary Episode 7

War Who wants to be in a war, where oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life is at risk? God gave Missionary Jung Do Lee something more precious than treasure, along with war. In that war, there was the help of God, hearts of hopeless people, and moments to preach the Gospel. Thus, Missionary Lee testifies that he tasted thankfulness and joy from a land swept by war 4 times.

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Something More Precious Than Life

In 2003, my wife, who did not usually dream, told me that she had a dream the night before. She said Brother Thomas (current pastor of Tibo Church), who was a missionary student at that time, was being rebellious towards me in her dream. Since Brother Thomas was not a person who would act in such a way, I told my wife that she was speaking about something that was nonsense. The next day, I did not see Brother Thomas during the early morning service, so I asked the other missionary students where he was. However, no one answered. I told them to go to the sleeping quarters of the missionary school and bring Brother Thomas. Soon, Brother Thomas came with an angry face and started to yell at me. “Since last evening, I was sick and not able to sleep. I barely fell asleep in the early morning. Why are you waking me up like this?” He turned his back and went back to the room. “Thomas! Thomas!” I tried talk him, but he just passed me by as if he did not see me. The brother never behaved in such way and I never imagined him acting that way. I was dumbfounded. At lunchtime, I went to the sleeping quarters to have a conversation with Brother Thomas. When I met him, he told me that he was so sorry and could not understand why he behaved in such a way and asked me for forgiveness. As I was coming out after having fellowship with him, I recalled my wife telling me about her dream. One week later, while we were sleeping, my wife suddenly started to shed tears and cry out loud. When I woke her up, she held on to me and cried out loud again. Later, she calmed down and started to tell me about the dream that she had. In her dream, there was war in Ivory Coast, and she was notified from the Korean embassy to quickly evacuate to the airport. My wife tried to find me to go to the airport with Do Hee and two short term missionaries. However, I was nowhere to be found. Inevitably, four people went to the airport and came to Ghana through a military transport plane that was prepared there. After - 31 -

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arriving at the church in Ghana, she turned on the TV to see what was going on in the Ivory Coast, but she saw my dead body on TV. After that, she went back to Korea and met Pastor Ock Soo Park and his wife. When she met them, she held them and cried out loud. That was the moment that I woke her up. After her dream, war broke out two days later. We received a call from the Korean embassy to immediately evacuate to the airport. Pastor Ock Soo Park also contacted us to escape to a safe place. While my wife, Do Hee, and two short term missionaries were preparing to go to the airport, I thought about something. When I was in the missionary school, I heard this from Pastor Park. There were about three things that a Gospel preacher should always be ready to do. First, be ready to preach the Gospel at any time. Secondly, be ready to leave or go any where at any moment. Thirdly, be ready to die anytime. Pastor Park taught me the life of a Gospel preacher through his own life. Once, Pastor Ock Soo Park had to go to Peru for a conference after finishing a Bible seminar in the United States. At the time, many people suggest that Pastor Park not go to Peru because his heart was in bad condition. However, Pastor Park went to the conference, as planned, where the brothers and sisters in South America were waiting and preached the sermons. On the first day of the conference, Pastor Park, who was waiting behind the podium before preaching, quietly went downstairs to a dressing room. Pastor Park had not returned yet, so the start time of the sermon had to be delayed. The missionary of Peru went to the dressing room. In the dressing room, Pastor Park had removed his suit jacket and was pounding on his chest while crying out to God, â&#x20AC;&#x153;God!â&#x20AC;? Because of arrhythmia, his heartbeats were irregular, and even stopped at times. That was why pastor was pounding his chest. Then Pastor Park put his jacket back on and stood at the podium. Whenever he felt difficult, he asked the audience to pray for him and continued to preach until the very last session. - 32 -

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I remembered praying for Pastor Ock Soo Park after I heard that he was sick. I was worried, but also thankful at the same time. I thought that it was a blessing for me to have someone like the pastor, whom I could model my life after. Pastor Park showed me that there was something more precious than one’s life. The Gospel and church were something that I had to value more than life. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24) I thought about what decision would benefit the Gospel and church. “If Pastor Ock Soo Park was here, what would he do?” While thinking about that, I was able to remember the Word and have fellowship with the heart of Pastor Park. As a result, I decided to remain in the Ivory Coast. My wife, Do Hee, and two short-term missionaries went to the church in Ghana, taking the military transport plane that was prepared at the airport. It seemed everything went according to the dream that my wife had. However, I am still alive. People in Africa deeply believe in their dreams. For that reason, when people have nightmares, they cannot come out that day because of fear. Yet, I see that my testimony gives freedom to those people. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. (Jer. 23:28) After this happening, the brothers and sisters opened their hearts widely to the church and came to trust the church even more. On the Way to the Airport

In 2011, war broke again. The situation was so severe that we could not even evacuate the country. That year, I purchased an airplane ticket to attend a conference in Haiti, but the situation became more and more severe. We could not go - 33 -

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Memoirs of a Missionary_Cote d'ivoire

anywhere because there were curfews in the morning and the evening, and there were no cars on the road. A day before I was supposed to depart to Haiti, I got a call from Korea. It was about bringing flyers for witnessing to Haiti if possible. Since the French flyers were made in the Ivory Coast, I had to go to Haiti, to deliver the flyers. I asked Brother Andea if it were possible to travel. For a while, he searched for more information. He said if I could get to the airport, I could get on the airplane. Though it was an extremely dangerous situation, it was not impossible, so I made up my mind to go to Haiti. Before heading to the airport, I checked the car. The gas tank was almost empty. While I was thinking that I might not be able to go since all the gas stations were closed, Brother Aqube came with his car and said, “Pastor, I will take you to the airport.” However, he had just enough gas to get to the airport. “Brother, how are you going to come back?” I asked. “Pastor, you are going there to preach the Gospel. You must go. We will find ways to deal with everything. Don’t worry. Get in the car first. We will figure something out later.” Brother Aqube drove and Brother Joel accompanied us. Not a single car was on the street until we reached downtown. As we were passing by the military police, they pointed guns at us. We held our hands out of the window and drove slowly. Soldiers from tall buildings were also pointing their guns down at us. That was how we passed through downtown. As we had almost come out of downtown, a truck passed by us. There were armed soldier pointing guns on us on the truck, as well. There was dead silence until they passed us by. We came out of downtown and started to cross a bridge. Suddenly, Brother Joel told me, “Pastor! Look ahead!” There were young men with guns and gestured for us to pull the car over. When we pulled over, they shouted for us to get out of the car and lay on the ground. We quickly got outside and lay on the ground. At that time, the war had - 34 -

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already started turning into a war between Christians and Muslims, so if people had a different religion, they would kill one another. The young men started searching us. “Where are you heading to?” they asked. “I am a pastor and am on my way to the airport to go to Haiti for a conference.” Brother Joel had a pocket-sized Bible on his back pocket. One young man saw the Bible and said, “Why are you shivering so much? You said you are a Christian.” They said they were Muslims. Across the street, there were around 10 young men being taken, with both of their hands up and naked. One young man said. “Hey, let’s kill everyone and keep the car.” However, another young man opposed, “Don’t kill them. Just let them go.” Two young men started to argue. The young man who opposed killing us told us to take the car and leave quickly. We immediately got into the car. Yet, Brother Herman started the car, but were just holding the car handle. “Brother, we must leave now.” “Yes, pastor.” Brother Herman had no strength in his legs, so he was unable to press the accelerator. The car stayed there for 10 seconds, but it felt like 10 years to me. When we arrived at a gas station near the airport, we saw people burning while standing on a truck that was parked across from the gas station. Then, some young men suddenly came out of nowhere, and told us to get out of the car. We got out of the car and laid on the ground. Right in front of us, there was a person burning in a tire. The young men took off our shirts and searched our bodies. One said, “Hey, let’s kill them and take the car.” However, amazingly, God prepared a person to help us there as well. One young man came and told us to get in the car and leave. Finally, we arrived at the airport, but French soldiers were blocking the road with tanks. As we approached, they told us to pull over and get out of the car. Then, they gestured and called one of us to come over to them. I went and explained - 35 -

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why we were going to the airport. “Do you think an airplane would take off now?” “Yes, I heard that flights are operating normally.” “Anyways, you can’t go beyond this point. You must return.” On the way, we passed some college dorms. During that time, college students and Christians supported the government. The UN, France, and Muslims supported the rebels. College students gnashed their teeth toward Korean people because the UN Secretary General, and the UN envoy to the Ivory Coast were Korean. Since college students saw Koreans as their enemies, it was a hopeless situation for me to pass through there for me as Korean. However, I had no other way. Sure enough, students with guns stopped our car as we were passing by. Again, we got out of the car and laid on the ground. The students asked me, “What are you? Are you Korean or Chinese?” I did not know how to reply. I felt ashamed to say that I was Chinese in front of the brothers. On the other hand, I was afraid to say that I was Korean. I could not reply and was hesitating. Once again, a different student came and helped me. “Don’t you see? He is Chinese. Get in the car.” That student argued with the other students for a while and let us go. We were supposed to pass three checking points, but he followed us to help us pass through. “There’s No Flight. Go Back!”

After we arrived at the airport, we asked a few people if flights were operating normally. However, everyone treated us like crazy people. “We are at war. Do you think airplanes will be taking off? Is that even possible? Who told you that flights operate normally? By the way, where are you from?” “We came from Angre.” “Angre? You came from all the way from there? Anyways, there’s no flight. Go back.” We had no gas in the car, and it was too dangerous for us to return. We decided to go to a local church near the - 36 -

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airport. We had to pass five checkpoints. We were passing by both soldiers from the government and rebels. No matter which side we faced, it was problematic either way. Yet, there could be no problem in either way if I thought differently. When I met people from the government, I told them that I was a pastor. Whereas, I emphasized that I was Korean when I met people from the rebels. We passed four checkpoints safely and arrived at the fifth one, but it was a severe situation. There were three layers of blockades and tens of young Muslim young men who were in very emotional states. They were wearing masks and had swords. They knocked on our car yelling, “We will cut your head off!” I thought everything was truly over. Fortunately, one young man tried to help us, but this situation was a little bit different. Just one person was not enough. “We won’t kill you, so go back!” “We can’t go back because we don’t have any gas in the car.” “Then, we will kill you.” At that moment, another young man showed up. The two young men risked their lives to push away other young men and move the blockages. After we arrived at the local church, we invited people around the church and held a conference, starting from next day. After 2 weeks of the conference was finished, the situation settled down a little, so we decided to return home. Every gas station was closed. Yet, one brother brought some gasoline, but I was not sure how or where he got it from. The checkpoints around the college dormitory were very dangerous on the way back. But there was a student, who wore IYF t-shirts and a mask that protected us. “If Thou Take Forth the Precious From the Vile”

After I returned home, I looked back upon what had happened. Brother Andea had not contacted the airport or a travel agency, but relayed the information that he received from his friend. From that day on, Brother Andea’s nickname became, False Prophet. I went to the airport, - 37 -

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risking my life believing in something that later proved to be nonsense. There was also Brother Aqube and Brother Joel who were with me risking their own lives. I was so foolish. Thankfully, there was God who protected and helped such foolish people. Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. (Psalms 54:4) Though there were so many dangerous situations, God helped us to the very end. During that time, the government distributed 5,000 guns to young people and college students who supported the government. Also, the prisons were broken due to bombing, so thousands of inmates escaped and were on the streets. Rebels also robbed and murdered many people, and the atmosphere was so intense and serious. Although I spent a few months in the midst of these wars, I was really happy. Due to war, everyone stayed home in fear. Thus, it was good for us to have Bible seminars at their houses. People blocked the entrances of their apartments so that people could not enter from the outside. We were able to freely have conferences from the morning to the evening. The brothers and sisters shared news about their conferences daily. The church became a shelter. Every day, around 40 brothers and sisters gathered and went out for witnessing during the day time. In the evening, we had meetings and had a great time playing fun games when the meetings were over. Our sounds of laughing were so loud that armed soldiers came and told us to be quiet, since we were in the middle of a war and should be considerate of other people. â&#x20AC;Śif thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouthâ&#x20AC;Ś (Jeremiah 15:19) In order to become a person who could speak for God, the person should take forth the precious from the vile. I was able to discover precious things that God prepared in the midst of the war: there was God who protected and helped the church; there were the people whose hearts were crumbled down; there was time to preach the Gospel, and there were brothers - 38 -

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a H w r and sisters who were more precious than any jewels. As I have lived in the Ivory Coast for approximately 15 years, I experienced 4 wars. Of course, no one likes war. However, there were things that people could never have gained or realized unless having gone through the war. Even if there were people whom I hated and despised, I was able to discover many precious things that were hidden within them when I got to see them closely. The wars had that meaning for me. This is a letter that Mrs. Sook Hee Kim, the wife of the pastor of Ivory Coast, wrote to Mrs. Myung Soon Kim, Pastor Ock Soo Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, during the civil war in 2011.

Dear Mrs. Kim, How Are You?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It feels just like yesterday that I spent with you during the World Camp in Thailand a few months ago. Through the special care of God, I am living healthily here with my family, short-term missionaries, and the brothers and sisters. Companies, banks, and stores, were all closed down. Although the sounds of guns firing and bombs exploding have not stopped, regardless of the situations, the brothers and sisters come to the church and have services with a heart to pray every week. I was really thankful to the brothers and sisters when I saw them not leaving, despite hearing the sounds of guns from outside, and having the faith to believe the church and the Word of God. Our church is probably the only church in Abidjan to have services under such circumstances. Our youth members are also practicing dances for the World Camp, and we are having conferences by regional groups. Many people are receiving salvation. - 39 -

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This week, the situation grew even more severe. In the downtown area of Abidjan, there was a full fledge battle what broke out between the government and the rebels, who already occupied local cities. For a week, we were in the crucible of war. The president gave weapons to all the young people and college students who supported him. There were countless numbers of armed soldiers and young people who became robbers in the streets. Most people fled into the countryside, so the downtown is empty. Fortunately, around 50 brothers and sisters, who evacuated their houses, are now staying with us in the church. I cried a lot yesterday. 3,000 inmates escaped from the prison. Gas stations and supermarkets were robbed. The rebels, who have now become robbers and young people with guns, go to random houses and take things away from them. They load everything into the car that belongs to the victim, and drive away. The brothers and sisters called the church in fear, and I spent all day having fellowship with them. Today, a few young men with guns stole our church truck. We felt so miserable watching them take the truck before our very eyes. We prepared dinner in the midst of the sounds of helicopters, guns, and bombs. I felt like my heart would stop a number of times, thinking that bullets may come through the windows. I could not take it any longer, so I went to my room. I knelt on my knees and prayed. I comforted my heart with the words in Psalms, and continued to prepare the meals. I prepared rice and a green sauce. I collected some grass from outside and made green sauce because I could not go grocery shopping. My children and the short-term missionaries did not know anything, and enjoyed dinner, saying that it was very delicious. When I heard them, I could not hold back my tears, so I went back to my room. That evening, armed French soldiers parked tanks outside and knocked on the door, looking for French people. It seemed like after gathering all French people they could - 40 -

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find, they would drop bombs everywhere. I felt so insecure that I started to shout out, “What is the Korean embassy is doing?” That was the moment when my deeply hidden distrust towards God exploded. As I saw myself, who did not believe in the promise of God, I cried again. Mrs. Kim, I often think about the time that I spent with you during the World Camp in Thailand. Whenever I think about that time, I soon become happy. During the time we ate together and laughed and cried while listening to the Word, I felt, ‘How could I have received such grace?’ Thinking that, I did not know what to do. As I was listening to the Word of God during one early morning service, I wrote down on my notebook: ‘God, let me reject everything other than the Word of God, and let me live with a heart into which other things cannot enter. It’s okay even if it were for one day.’ That day was today. God answered my prayer. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. (Psalms 39:9) Heaven does not accept our wise judgments or goodness, but only the Word of God.’ While I was thinking about what you told me, I saw God allowing me to believe in the Word that God gave me as a promise. Yesterday, I went out witnessing with a sister from missionary school, and met a person who was thirsty for the truth. I preached the Gospel for more than three hours. As I saw him becoming happy, I, too, was extremely happy. At that time, I no longer heard any gun sounds. However, even though God gave me such happiness and joy, my heart was swiftly taken away by the situation. Mrs. Kim, pray for us. Even tonight, I hear the sounds of guns and bombs, but I am peaceful because I feel as if you are next to me, while I’m writing this letter. Be healthy and be well. Sincerely yours, Sister Sook Hee Kim from the Ivory Coast - 41 -

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New York Times: Notes on Genesis II

True Repentance; an Absolute Necessity in Spiritual Life Pastor Ock Soo Park | Good News Gangnam Church

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (Genesis 17:17~19)

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filthy, and evil. Therefore, trying to do good was just an act to cover up my deplorable heart and appear to be good. I came to know that, in reality, I cannot help but sin. The various sins I have committed in my life were not the actual problems. I realized that I could not live according to the will of God with this wicked heart. In turn, the grace I received when I threw my thoughts away and received the heart of God was tremendous. My Heart and Jesusʼ Heart I once was invited by the church of a leper colony to preach the Word of God there. I had never been to a village where only lepers lived. It was to be my first time staying in a leper colony and preaching the Gospel for an entire week. But as the date of the conference neared, I began to become worried in my heart. "How will I eat and sleep when I go there? Will they ask me to eat with them? Will they want me to sleep in a room with lepers?” One day, I woke up early in the morning and as I prayed to the Lord, I thought about the problem of going to the leper colony. The Lord then gave me these words: Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6) These words came to my mind, and then I thought, “The precious and holy Lord went to the house of a

New York Times

Upon Discovering that My Nature is Dirty and Evil I often saw God changing my heart in my spiritual life. In the past, I considered all of my thoughts to be correct and pursued whatever I judged and decided upon. However, there is one thing that has changed since I have come to know God: I deeply realized how wrong my thoughts, which I had once deemed to be correct, actually were when reflected upon the Word of God. True spiritual life is only achieved through “repentance” and “faith.” It is important to say, “I have committed theft. I have committed adultery. I have lied. I have hated others,” and turn from such sins. However, even more important than this is to discover the fact that your heart, itself, is dirty and evil. And you must turn away from your own heart. I could not open my heart to others because I always lived with dirty, filthy, and evil thoughts in my heart. Because I thought of myself as a great person, although I was deplorable, I constantly had to hide myself. In reality, I was a filthy, dirty, and evil person, but I thought I could do good if I tried. I labored and toiled to live honestly as a good person. However, I failed time and time again. I thought, “Why doesn't it work? This time I'll do well,” and I put my heart into doing well. But I failed. Amidst all this, I discovered that my nature was dirty,

New York Times: Notes on Genesis II

leper. Then why should a pitiful and lowly person like me hesitate to enter a leper colony?” My heart changed. Worrying and being afraid was my own heart. I could feel that this new heart was not my heart but the heart of Jesus. In addition, I thought, “Lepers are not special people. You will have a cold if you catch a cold. You will have tuberculosis if you catch tuberculosis. Likewise, I will become a leper if I catch leprosy.” Before this I had thought that I was clean and the people who lived there were dirty lepers. But that difference vanished and it felt as though I could hug and kiss the lepers without hesitation. I visited the leper colony with this heart and the conference turned out wonderful. The doors of the Gospel were opened to about ten churches in the leper colony and I continued to hold many conferences. I saw

many lepers receiving salvation and I received much grace in my heart. My original heart was to be distant from lepers, but the heart of Jesus was to be completely free with lepers. I, too, was able to freely stay with the lepers when that heart of Jesus entered me. Before this happened, I labored for a long time to be good with my original heart. For a short time, it seemed as if goodness was appearing. Then, my original dirty and lustful hearts would arise. Thus, my life was always striped and spotted with filth, and I lived my life as a churchgoer feeling guilt in my conscience. I would then continue to tearfully confess my sins to God. However, one day God showed me my heart: The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: (Jeremiah 17:9) That was how my heart was in the eyes of God, but it was not so in my own eyes. I would acknowledge that my heart was a little filthy, dirty, and evil, but I could not acknowledge this to the extent of me being called deceitful above all things and desperately wicked by the Word of God. One day, when I took a good look at myself, I discovered that this was truly the kind of person I am. It was then that my heart and the way that God saw me became the same. “I am indeed dirty, deceitful, evil, and lustful. And because this is my

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The thoughts you have now are different from the thoughts of God. If so, is it your thoughts that are wrong or God's thoughts?

Abraham, Who Trusted in Himself I was able to discover the clear reasons behind how the people of God became powerful people when I read the Bible. Abraham, David, Elijah, Daniel, Paul, Peter. They all went through the process of their hearts of believing in themselves crumbling down, and they then moved into the position of trusting God throughout their lives. We can see that God began to work in them from that point onward. God sincerely wants to work upon each and every person, but most people dwell within the frame of their own thoughts, and thus, they cannot accept things that are outside of their thoughts, although it may be the Word of God. Then one day, when they realize that they are dirty and

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evil and throw their thoughts away, they can enter the Word of God. God can appear and work through them because now their hearts are the same as God’s. The scriptures we are talking about today have recorded in detail such a change in Abraham. Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees according to the Word of God. Abraham did leave his country, his kindred, his father's house, and had entered Canaan, but his thoughts always remained within the frame of his own mind. God appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years old and said, “I am the almighty God. Do not call yourself Abram but Abraham. I will multiply you greatly, and I will bless you so that your wife Sarah may bear you a son.” What did Abraham do upon hearing this? He thought having a son would be impossible because he had yet to be freed from the frame of his mind. He was 99 years old, and his wife was 89 and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. When thinking about this, not from God’s perspective, but from his own frame of mind, this was something that made no sense at all:

New York Times

nature, with my heart, I can never live as a goodly person, nor can I please God!” After having this heart, I was able to deny myself. As I completely denied the heart to believe in myself and all of my thoughts, I was able to simply believe in the Word of God. Then the Word began to enter me. From then on, I lived being led by the Word.

New York Times: Notes on Genesis II

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! (Genesis 17:17-18) This was purely Abraham's thought. Isaiah chapter 55, verse 8 tells us, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the Lord. The thoughts you have now are different from the thoughts of God. If so, is it your thoughts that are wrong or God's thoughts? Your thoughts are wrong. Nevertheless, people do not think that their thoughts are wrong. It is because those thoughts have come from what they have perceived, known, and experienced. In his own eyes, Abraham's answer was the only reasonable one. How could a person 100 years old have a child? Sarah was ninety. It scares us to think that a 90 yearold woman would have a son. In our congregation, from time to time, there are women who become pregnant late in their lives or give birth for the first time in their 40's. These sisters all worry about their child's birth. Giving birth is difficult even for young women in their 20's and 30's. Having a first child in their 40's is extremely difficult. In light of that, isn't it scary to think that

a 90-year-old woman would have a son? How could she endure the difficult labor? Abraham's answer was very fitting when looked upon through the standards and judgments of man. This is the exact problem. Even though the thoughts you have may be normal and within the boundaries of common logic, they cannot be the same as the Word of God. Thoughts different from the Word of God are wrong. There are many such cases when God was meeting man. It was so when God met Moses. “Moses, I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people of Israel out." "No, I cannot do that." Moses thought of his circumstances. "I cannot do that. I am not eloquent Send the one whom you will send." "I will accomplish this work. I will send you to do this.” “No....” No matter who it may be, Satan pulls the current of our thoughts in the direction of not being able to accept the Word of God since we have been under the dominion of Satan from the time of Adam and Eve. However, God can easily be free of the rules of man and work because God is omnipotent. God can change the laws of the seasons. He can change everything in our lives, and if He does something, then it is accomplished. But we are

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Repentance must occur if true faith is to be formed in you. Not merely confessing the sins you have committed, but finally realizing, “My nature is so filthy and dirty.

True Repentance Must Absolutely Come About If the story were to end here, for the duration of his life, Abraham would not have been freed from the frame of his thoughts and he would still be living within them. However, God loved Abraham and approached him again, saying, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (Genesis 17:19) Right then and there, Abraham changed his heart: “This was what I thought, but I will have a son if God allows it!” Abraham's heart changed. That is the “repentance” which becomes the basis of spiritual life. Confessing that you have stolen, committed adultery, lied, or committed murder and turning from those things can be called repentance, but the most important thing in repentance is - 47 -

to turn from the heart to believe in yourself to the heart to believe in God. In reality, we are not worthy of being trusted, but people trust in themselves because they love themselves. If you could see into your neighbor's heart like you can your own, you would feel so disgusted that you would not want to see that person again. But since it is you, you believe in yourself again and again. You are very understanding with yourself even though you make mistakes, and you trim your outward appearance to be good even when you sin. That is why you can go on living believing in yourself. Since everyone lives this way, it is very difficult for people to see their true

New York Times

unable to accept the Word of God because we are not freed from the frame of our thoughts. There, the problems in our spiritual lives begin.

New York Times: Notes on Genesis II

God can change the laws of the seasons. He can change everything in our lives, and if He does something, then it is accomplished. image. And because they cannot see their own true image, they feel that they are right and follow their own thoughts. That is why they are unable to have faith. Repentance must occur if true faith is to be formed in you. Not merely confessing the sins you have committed, but finally realizing, “My nature is so filthy and dirty. How could good ever come from me?” Because people do not know this, they deceive themselves and think that they can do good if they make the effort. They deceive themselves into thinking that if they try to follow the truth with their dirty, filthy, and evil heart, they can follow the truth. Thus, they try repeatedly, but it never works. And every time they fail, they repent again. Then they try once again, and of course they fail. Then they try again and fail again. Even though they continue to try until the day they die, they fail. In order for true faith to come to us, there has to be repentance not just from the wrong you have done, but repentance from yourself, as a whole. People who are conned often are conned so because they believe the

conmen. Conmen speak to gain people's trust, and their words seem credible; however, one will not trust a conman if the person knows his identity. He will not be deceived. We are being deceived by a conman named, “Me.” Although you are a liar, you believe in yourself. Although you are dirty, you think that you can be good. Although you are evil, you think that you can believe in God well. Spiritual life cannot be formed in such states. When you one day discover yourself, no matter who you are, you can distrust and be freed from your filthy and evil self. When you have the faith to believe in yourself, you will believe in your thoughts more than the Word of God when they differ from each other. On the other hand, when you distrust yourself, you can believe in the Word of God. You Also Need Genesis Chapter 17 When Abraham threw his thoughts away and entered the faith to believe in the Word of God, he was circumcised and changed his name from Abram to Abraham. From then on, God began to work

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thoughts and reach the level of God's thoughts. They then have the heart that God has cleansed them. “No matter how filthy I am, who is greater: God, who washes sins, or I, who commits sin? No matter how many sins I have committed, I am clean because the power of God is greater than my sins. My sins were all washed away at the cross. I am sanctified.” This is the heart they are able to gain through faith. Abraham believed his own thoughts and judged everything. However, there came a time when his heart had changed. This was in Genesis chapter 17. You also need such an incident. “I was wrong! My judgment was wrong! I cannot trust in myself! I should believe in God!” Right then, no matter what you think, you can believe in God. The heart of God and your heart must become one in order for you to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit working powerfully. Abraham was a man just like us. And just as he received the grace of God to become the father of faith, when you become freed from your thoughts and accept the Word of God, you, too, will become a person of faith. Then the power of God will overflow in your life.

New York Times

inside of Abraham. Sarah gained faith as well. When the words that she will have a son took root in her heart by faith, the power of God was delivered, and this old woman gained new strength to conceive and bear a child. Our spiritual life is exactly the same. You cannot create the earth with man's wisdom. You cannot create a human being with man's wisdom. A woman can have a child, but she cannot create one. All of this was done through the wisdom of God. When the wisdom and heart of God, which are beyond man's wisdom, take place in you, you can have a new heart of God that you have never had before. And when you have the same heart as God, He accomplishes His will. Even with receiving the forgiveness of sin, we cannot crawl out from the pile ofww sin through our own strength. "We eat and live amidst sin. How can we be as white as snow? How can we be clean?” With your own thoughts, you can never become freed. However, God can free us from sin. People are unable to have faith in the forgiveness of sin because they only think at their level. “Jesus was crucified, but I sin every day. How can I be righteous? I cannot say that I am clean.” But everything changes when they become freed from their own

Gospel Lesson

The Sin Offering of the Old Testament Era Pastor Han Gyu Lee | Good News East Seoul Church

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The Tabernacle Given with the Law Sin entered the world through Adam, and God gave us the Law to have us realize what sin is. Then, through Christ, He established His will to save us from sin. There is no one who can be justified through the deeds of the Law. If God only gave the Law to the Israelites and did not open the way for sins to be washed when people broke the Law, then what would happen to the Israelites? Everyone would’ve been doomed. God did not give the Law merely so that man would be cursed and doomed, but when man broke the Law, God wanted them to realize that they were under the curse and to come out to God for His grace and mercy. People cannot keep the Law, but they can go out to God’s throne of grace to receive His compassion. That is why when God gave the Law through Moses, He didn’t only give us the Law, but He also gave us the Tabernacle together with the Law. The Tabernacle was a mobile sanctuary that God told Moses to build on Earth, after showing him the image of the Tabernacle in Heaven on Mount Sinai in 1500 BC. The Israelites always lived centered around the Tabernacle throughout their lives in the wilderness. Why did God tell Moses to build the Tabernacle? It was a place for the Israelites to have their sins washed, and to avoid death through giving sin offerings in order to wash their sins at the Tabernacle when they break the Law. When you look at the background of how God gave the Tabernacle to the Israelites, God already knew that people would not keep the Law from the beginning. Instead of being cursed and destroyed from not keeping the Law because people are too weak, God wanted them to come to the Tabernacle to receive the forgiveness of sin and come out to God without hesitation. Therefore, it is not because people have defied the Law and committed sin that they are

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Gospel Lesson

cursed or ruined. It is because they have not gone toward the grace of God, who already knew their weaknesses and opened the way to the forgiveness of sin.

Sin Offering of Common People When you commit sin after the Law has descended, how is that sin washed? When you read Leviticus chapter 4, verse 27, it is written in detail about the Law for a common person to wash away his sin. And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; (Lev. 4:27)

In order to receive the forgiveness of sin, one must come to know of their sin. People who have not realized their sin have to first discover that they are a sinner through the Word. Here, the commandments of the Lord indicate the Law. If you go against “any” of the commandments, then death will come because of that sin. The Word that says, “any” of the commandments of the Lord, represents God’s perfect unbiased view and judgment, which cannot overlook even one single sin. James chapter 2, verse 10 reads, or whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Even if you offend one law, you cannot avoid God’s judgment. And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance. (Leviticus 4:27) Nowadays, there are many unmanned cameras installed on the roads. Even if you speed unconsciously, the camera captures everything. Just because you committed sin without knowing it, it doesn’t mean it will be overlooked. You must still pay the fine. We

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have become sinners through ignorance inside of Adam regardless of our actions. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way… (Isaiah 53:6) These words apply to all the descendants of Adam. Then what should we do? Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge… (Leviticus 4:28) In order to receive the forgiveness of sin, one must come to know of their sin. People who have not realized their sin have to first discover that they are a sinner through the Word, instead of just hearing the Gospel. People do not go to the hospital to get treated just because they have a sickness. After they realize they have a sickness and know the results, they feel the need to get treated and then go to the hospital. Likewise, although all men have sin, not all receive the grace of the forgiveness of sin. That is because not all people realize that they are in the position to go to hell and receive eternal suffering because of sin. Some people try to “feel” sin, but God said to “realize” sin. God did not say to receive the forgiveness of sin when you “feel” sin. You do not feel sin, but have to realize sin through the Word. It is not that you are a cancer patient by feeling that you have cancer. However, if you go to the hospital and get tested and the results reveal proof of cancer, then you accept the fact that you are a cancer patient. It is the same thing with sin. Now can you say, “Amen,” to the Word that says we are under death because of sin? True repentance will follow after those who say, “Amen,” to the Word. God definitely opens the door of Heaven to sinners who’s hearts are humbled after realizing their sin. God never teaches the pathway to Heaven to those who do not have the earnest heart to receive compassion before God’s wrath and judgment. Nowadays, there are many false prophets who do not explain about whether people have sin or not, but only talk about blessings. True servants of God need to teach people about the sin that is leading their souls to destruction, and help break sinners’ hearts. This is because the grace of forgiveness of sin is bestowed upon those who realize the image of their own soul.

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Gospel Lesson

The Laying On of Hands and Death of the Atonement Offering When you read Leviticus chapter 4, verse 28 a person who committed sin has to bring an atonement offering, such as a female goat or a lamb without blemish, to a priest at the Tabernacle. Then he must lay his hands on the head of the offering. This atonement offering is a live animal that gets killed as a sacrifice for the sin of people who committed sin. Jesus Christ came to this world to wash the sin of all mankind. As the sin offerings died for people’s iniquities and blemishes, the wages of sin will have been paid for, and the person who committed the sin receives the forgiveness of sin and becomes righteous. This lamb or goat is an offering that sinners rely on to go before God. And hath given himself (Christ) for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savours. (Ephesians 5:2) There is one very important procedure here: the concept of the “Passover,” onto the head of the offering. The passover indicates the ceremony of placing the hands onto the offering, and it carries the meaning of, “passing over, being in charge of, and/or becoming one.” It is the same when we perform hands on prayer on patients who are ill. In the act of laying on of hands, the power of God in the person who is laying the hands passes over to the other person. I become one with you, my power goes over to you, and your disease becomes mine. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat…concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat… (Leviticus 16:21) This is the “promise” that God established for us. That is why through the laying on of hands, the sin passes over onto the head of the offering, and transfers to the offering. ...concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat... (Leviticus 16:21) Sin is not something we can see with our eyes or feel with our senses. That is why we cannot see sin pass over with our naked eyes or feel it with our senses. But when we lay our hands on the offering, whether the lamb is pitiful or not, whether you remember the sin or not, the sin surely passes over. That is because the promise of

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God is greater than the feelings or the memory of the person who is laying on the hands. That promise cannot change. When you feel bad and guilty in your heart after you lay your hands on a flawless young lamb, has your sin passed over to the lamb or has your sin not passed over? If you feel guilty in your heart after you lay your hands on the offering, that is merely guilt. It does not mean sin still remains. Once the laying on of hands is done, the sin surely has moved over onto the lamb according to God's established promise. In other words, this sin offering is an offering of promise. Since the person who lays his hands on the offering is doing this with the faith to believe in God's promise, this offering is also an offering of faith. Inside the act of the laying on of hands, the faith to believe in God's promise accompanies it. After the laying on of hands, the sin offering and I become one. My sin passes over to the sin offering, and the righteousness of the sin offering becomes mine. Now, after laying hands on the sin offering, the hands are taken off. Then my sins have surely passed over to the sin offering, and I have no sin. Now, the young lamb without blemish has taken responsibility of the commoner’s sin. That is why that young lamb must follow the Word of God that, “the wages of sin is death,” and die to pay for the sin of the commoner. Since the sin actually passed over to the young lamb, death comes directly to the young lamb. The person that kills the lamb is the priest inside the Tabernacle. When the priest takes out a sharp dagger and stabs the lamb's neck, the lamb sheds blood and starts dying. As the commoner sees the death of the lamb and the blood, he will have the heart, “Sin is scary. The wrath of God towards sinners is great. This is how I'm supposed to die, but the lamb is dying like this for me. God sees it as me dying like that. But because the lamb died, I am able to live. Since the lamb became one with me through the laying on of hands. The lamb's death is my death, the lamb's life becomes my life.

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Gospel Lesson

Blood That Atones Sin Next, the priest at the Tabernacle dips his hand in the lamb's blood and puts it on the four horns of the altar, and then pours the rest of the blood below the altar. Why did they have to put the lamb's blood on the altar's horns and pour the rest of the blood below the altar? When we look in Jeremiah chapter 17, verse 1, our sins are recorded in two places. One is on the horns of the altar, and the other is on the tablet of our hearts. If we take and use something from a store on credit, the price is recorded in the store's book and in my own record. The altar's horns, where our sins are recorded, can be seen as God's book. The ground under the altar is like my own record of sin. Why do we put blood there? God said in Leviticus chapter 17, verse 11: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

The wages of sin is the giving of a life, which is blood. That blood has the power to cleanse sin. That blood makes sinners righteous. The blood and life are one in the same for all living things (Leviticus 17:14), so the shedding of blood means that life has paid for the wages of sin. According to God's promise, the power to atone sin is in the blood. This means that when the offering's blood is shed, his sins are surely washed. Whatever sin it may be, sin is surely forgiven by the shedding of the blood and the death of the offering, not by man's good deeds, prayers for repentance, or confession. Sin only disappears when the price declared by the Law has been paid. The wages of sin is the giving of a life, which is blood. That blood has the power

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to cleanse sin. That blood makes sinners righteous. There are four horns on the altar, and these horns are located high above the ground. The sin offering's blood put on the horns actually represents Jesus shedding His blood and dying on the cross in order to forgive our sins. The number 4 in the bible represents, “suffering,” and through the suffering that Jesus received on the cross, it is showing us beforehand that He will wash away our sins. Furthermore, through the shedding of the offering's blood on the altar's “four horns,” the blood washes the sins of all people, whether they are in the “north, south, east, and west,” for “men and women of all ages,” and for the “rich and poor,” regardless of where they are in the world’s hierarchy. We become righteous in front of God through the blood. Now God looks at us through that blood. So that's why we are righteous, holy, and without sin in God's eyes. The blood of the sin offering is placed on the altar's horns and the rest of the blood is poured below the altar, in other words, the ground. The “ground” in the Bible means our heart. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is heaven… (Matthew 6:10) means that the will of God to send Jesus Christ to this world to forgive the sins of mankind is already standing in God's heart, and He wants that will to be fulfilled in the hearts of man. Pouring the lamb's blood out onto the ground means that I am accepting the fact that the lamb's blood has washed my sins clean. So this means that the offering's blood has completely blotted out the sins that are recorded in the records of my heart. The sin offering that washes the commoner's sins is completely finished when the fat of the lamb is taken and set on fire. Then the sins that the person has committed are forgiven. This commoner had entered the Tabernacle as a sinner who committed sin, correct? But after he gives the sin offering, does he come out as a sinner or a righteous person? He comes out as righteous. Then did this person become righteous by not committing sin? Surely, the person committed sin, and went against the Lord's prohibition. But how did he become righteous? Having no sins? He did not become righteous because he did not

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Gospel Lesson

commit sin, but because his sins were forgiven. When you look at Romans chapter 3, verses 23 and 24, it reads, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. If you agree that all have sinned, then the conclusion is that there is not a single person on Earth who does not sin. That is why no one can become righteous by not committing sin and enter Heaven. But Romans chapter 3, verse 24 contains the words, “being justified.” All have sinned, but how could all become justified? It is because the process of redemption is “in Christ Jesus.” Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross to forgive the sins of everyone, and that blood cleansed us all of our sins. This was how the commoners gave sin offerings, and this was how their sins were forgiven during the period of Law. Do you believe people will sin or not sin after they have given their offerings? Of course they will commit sin again. Then what must they do? They have to give the sin offering again in the same way. So this offering can only forgive one sin of a single person. Therefore, people had to give this offering the same way every time they committed a sin. Approximately 3 million Israelites lived under 613 laws, so sins were frequently committed. So countless offerings were needed, and a river of lambs' blood flooded from within the Tabernacle. The priests gave offerings daily with almost no rest inside the Tabernacle. So rather than using the method of killing a lamb to wash sins whenever sin is committed, God gave a sin offering law, in which a year's worth of the sins of the Israelites could be washed in one day. That offering is called the Offering of Atonement. It's as if the sin offering washes the commoner's sin at retail, and the atonement offering is a way to wash sin at wholesale. How amazing is it that a year's worth of sin is forgiven in just one day? The rules and regulations regarding the atonement offering are recorded precisely in Leviticus chapter 16, and I will discuss this in the next issue.

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T e s t i m o n y o f P a s t o r Oc k S o o P a r k

The Lord Opened Doors for the Gospel to Be Spread in Prisons

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One day, I received a call as I was holding a Bible Study session with our missionary students. The person on the phone asked me, “Is this Pastor Ock Soo Park?” When I answered that I was, they replied, “This is the Suwon Prison.” It seemed strange that a prison was asking for me when I had not committed any crimes. However, the person on the line told me the reason for this phone call. “Pastor, I’m calling from the Office of the Warden of Suwon Prison. A while ago, I heard your sermon through a broadcast. It was so graceful, but I did not have any of your information, so I didn’t know how to contact you. However, this morning, someone mailed one of our prisoners a magazine called, “The Good News,” and I saw that your name and address were printed on the magazine. I was so happy, so I decided to call you. Pastor Park, would you be so kind as to come and visit our prison?” As I have been working for the Gospel, the truly amazing thing is that before God begins the things He wants to bring to fruition, He stirs my heart ahead of time. At that time, I had already received the heart to preach the Gospel to the inmates in prisons. That was when this man from the Office of the Warden called me.

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Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

There is a hymn that reads: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight,” which comes from David’s poetic Psalm 19, verse 14. There were many times I wanted to change the lyrics to read, “I clearly believe that the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart have been accepted by the Lord.” The very next day, I visited the Suwon Prison. The front entrance was a huge metal gate, and when I said to the guard, “I’m here to meet the representative from the Office of the Warden,” he brought a worker from the registrar department. He led me to the person who called me from the office, and we greeted one another. “Hello, I am Pastor Ock Soo Park.” “I’m Warden so-and-so.” After greeting each other, the Warden asked me for a favor. “Pastor, I have a favor to ask of you. March 1st is a national holiday. Could you preach the Word to the inmates on that day? Please lead a Bible Seminar here.” “Alright,” I answered. Then, the Warden gathered everyone on staff in his department, and asked them if they could help out with the Bible Seminar for

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March 1st, even though it was a national holiday. Everyone readily agreed. And so all the department staff came to work on March 1st, so we were able to have a Bible Seminar the entire day, beginning at 9 am. Other than a short lunch break, we continued to preach the Gospel. That day, many people received salvation. The Warden was so happy, and asked me, “Pastor, how about April 5th?” March 1st, April 5th, May 5th, July 6th- I went to the prison to preach once a month for four consecutive months. That’s when I realized why there’s at least one national holiday every month. All the department workers could not take the day off on any of the national holidays for four months. I was so thankful to them, that I decided to buy them a meal. God worked in such a way where many people received salvation. As I heard some of their testimonies, I clearly felt that God opened the doors for us to preach the Gospel in the prison for those inmates. When I saw how the released inmates came to live differently, with a new life within the church, I have truly been thankful to God. Brother Jae Yong Yoo murdered his sister-in-law and was arrested and incarcerated before he could attempt to kill two more people. He had been happily married, but his sister-in-law introduced his wife to dancing. As she began going to cabarets, there was trouble within the family. He begged his wife many times to stop dancing and care for the family, and he even asked his sister-in-law to help stop his wife from dancing, but he was treated coldly by both of them. His wife would not stop going out to dance, and the family began to break apart, causing hatred to arise in his heart. Eventually, a fight broke out at his sister-in-law’s home. He tried speaking to his sister-in-law, but she despised him, saying, “You uneducated fool.” This enraged him so much that he grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and swung it around in a craze. When he came to his senses, he had a knife in his hand, and his sister-in-law was lying on the floor. As he was attempting to kill the remaining people of his family there, he was caught and arrested. As resentment and hatred accumulated towards those who caused his happy family break apart, he vowed to kill the rest of

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Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

those people once he was released. The misery and hatred in his heart had not disappeared. However, during the Bible Seminar, the Gospel entered his heart. Once he received God’s words, which said, “Jesus was crucified for him to wash away all of his sins, and that Jesus continues to love him,” his heart changed and all of his hatred and misery changed to thankfulness and happiness. He acted as a model inmate in order to reduce his sentence in order to get out as early as possible. He tried to be acknowledged as a good person in order to achieve his goal of taking revenge. However, he had changed inside of Christ. Now, he truly came to love his neighbors. Jesus’ heart that loved him was established in his heart, and a heart to love Jesus arose in him. Once his heart was changed, he was released on parole. As soon as his in-laws heard that he was on parole, they filed a petition. “This person will commit an even bigger crime if he’s released.” His in-laws were so afraid that he would be freed that they did not know what to do. He was released from prison after having been imprisoned ten years by the grace of God, and the first place he visited was our church. He cleaned the church vehicles and lived volunteering in the church. Seeing his changed lifestyle, the pastor of the church he was staying in got him a job, and he is now living a new and happy life with a wife and family within faith. Anyone will change once the precious love of God is established in them. As the Words in Genesis 1:2, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep, there are many people, today, who have no happiness and are suffering in a life filled with emptiness and without form. Brother Yu was such a person, but God, who changed the Earth, also changed his heart beautifully.

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AS WITH VOLUNTEER OVERSE

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