Do you know the joy of visiting church members on Saturdays?
|
|
|
 15081 |
 |
November 29, 2009 |
|
|
|
Even Long Term Absentees and Discouraged Members Are Brought Back
Through the Visits of The Third and the Fourth Division of the 2-3 Men's Mission
Leading a successful religious life requires prayer, the Word, service, volunteering, visiting members, evangelism, and so on. One can be a healthy Christian when all these elements are in good balance. Among them, visiting members is very important. Why?
There is a mission group causing quite a sensation with their passion toward visiting people and evangelism. They are the third and fourth divisions of the 2-3 Men's Mission. Its members are 45-year old men, who were born in 1965. Strangely enough, until last year, they weren't as active. But the way they were able to become one at heart, and experience revival through visiting church members.
Since February of this year, they've taken every Saturday to visit long-term absentees and discouraged members. So as of now, they have recovered 27 lost souls. Not only this, the members are experiencing overflowing blessings in their families, workplaces, and businesses. Let us find the secret to their revival and blessings.
Meticulous Visiting Preparations
 Members of the 2-3 Men's mission are very busy on Saturday. At around 12 noon, when they should be resting with their families after working all week long, they gather at the house of Deacon Jungkeun Lee, the fourth division leader. They greet each other by saying, "Welcome, happy Saturday!" Then they shake hands, with bright smiles on their faces. When all are gathered, they have a simple lunch of noodle or shredded dough soup. Then, once they've set the schedule for all their visits, prayed, and remembered the registration cards, everything is ready.
"Lord, as they drive, please take the wheel and guide them safely to their destination. Please protect Your children and those around them."
They receive Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer for driving via audio cassette tape and happily leave for their destinations.
"In the beginning of the year, only three or four members participated. But as more and more started to participate, we had to separate into a couple of groups in order to visit several different neighborhoods. All of this is because of the grace of God," mentions Deacon Euljong Kim, the third division leader.
Skills for Bearing Fruitful Visits
 The members of the third and fourth division of the 2-3 Men's Mission make sure they report the weekly results to the Senior Pastor and receive his prayer. They acknowledge that all things are only possible through God's power, not their own power, and receive prayer with faith and humble hearts. They not only focus on new believers, but long term absentees, members who are discouraged by various problems, and those who need love and care while adjusting to church life.
They review the list of members that they received from the Registration Office and pray together, after which, they attempt to contact each member. And if the number is not correct or they fail to connect, they ask people who first led them to church or their families and retrieve information about them. New believers and long term absentees rarely await visits with an open heart. One member finally returned to church, but only after receiving over 10 visits. There needs to be patience toward those kinds of members until God works in them.
"When we pray for their souls, we are filled with joy and happiness. Before, we prayed only for ourselves and our families most of the time. But I am now even more filled with the Spirit while praying for other souls."
They all say together, "We make sure we offer worship while visiting members' homes except for special cases. This is because we experience the works of God's power when we share His Word and pray with the handkerchief (Acts 19:11-12). Sometimes, we'd even worship in the car. And often, there were people who wouldn't open their door at first, but after being melted by our love and care, they finally accepted us. When we would say to them, "Let us worship so you can be blessed," even those who were red in the face with anger and irritated by our visits, were touched and attended the worship service. God works when He sees our love toward souls."
Cases of Abundant Blessing
These members of the Men's Mission feel happy and rewarded when they visit other members. Because of them, members who wander aimlessly because of constant discord in the family find peace. Members who suffer from diseases are healed and lead a happy life. Members who suffer from business failure are blessed and stand up again, and needy families receive material blessings.
Not only this, but because of the heartfelt and earnest devotion of the workers, they are experiencing overflowing spiritual and worldly blessings in their own families, workplaces, and businesses as well. Deacon Byungno Yoon, 9th group leader of the third division, was awarded the first place prize for revival for the third quarter of the year.
"We are thankful for not only the recovery of so many long-term absentees and discouraged members, but also the changes we are experiencing. We have awakened from our stagnant lukewarm life of faith. Our families have become evangelized and we are leading a happy life with great material blessings," shares Deacon Euljong Kim, the third division leader.
"When I first moved into a house in Seoul from Daejeon to attend Manmin Central Church, I lived in a single room. But now I've moved into a new and big house, which is used as the meeting place for our members. I've been blessed enough to pay over one million won (over $1,000 in US dollars) as monthly tithes, and do what I can to help save souls by donating expenses used for visiting members. I am really happy to share what I have," says Deacon Jungkeun Lee, the fourth division leader.
We at Manmin hope that everyone will spread the good news and receive overflowing love and blessings from God, just like these members of the Men's Mission!
▶ The members of the third and the fourth divisions of 2-3 Men's Mission united as one through the visiting of members. Shouting "Let's go!" with Deacon Dalyoung Lee, President of the 2-3 Mission, and members who were previous absentees.
* The above testimonies were a compilation of testimonies from Deacons Euljong Kim, Jungkeun Lee, and Byungno Yoon
|
|
Manmin News 
