My Mother-in-law Who Had Been Committed to Shamanism said, "Can I go to church with you?"
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March 07, 2010 |
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 Deaconess Hyung-yun Lim (Gwangju Manmin Church)
In 1993 when I was attending a Presbyterian church, I married my husband with a condition that he would attend the church. But actually, he hardly went to church, and my mother-in-law called in a shaman for exorcism and often visited fortune-tellers. In this environment, I could no longer go to church. I was so distressed that I wanted to commit suicide many times.
Being sorry about walking away from God, I had to spend each day in agony. When I pleaded with my husband saying that I wanted to move out, he allowed it. I moved downtown from the suburban area of Gwangju, but I still became increasingly mentally and physically distressed. Meanwhile, my little sister Geumsun Lim, who is now a pastor at Manmin Central Church, called me in April, 1996. She said, "Sister, it's about time you should go to church. All your problems can be solved only in God. Please visit Gwangju Manmin Church. We are going to have a Two-week Special Revival Meeting soon."
I was visited by Pastor Hyung-ryul Park ministering to Gwangju Manmin Church and went to Seoul to attend the Two-week Special Revival Meeting. As soon as I entered the main sanctuary of Manmin Central Church, I felt like I was in Heaven and I was overjoyed and happy while listening to the sermon preached by Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee.
* Dreaming of Family Evangelization
As my faith grew more and more, I tried to evangelize my husband and my mother-in-law. When I asked her, "Mother, would you go to church with me?" she answered saying, "Over my dead body!" She tore Manmin News and the Bible to pieces. She hated me even more as I became passionate in church life. She even said, "Leave our family and ask your parents to teach you more!" To make matters worse, my husband's business faced bankruptcy twice during the Korean Financial Crisis. My mother-in-law blamed me saying that I was bringing misfortune to the family. Pushing my husband to get divorced, she tried to find fault with everything I did. However, I felt pity on her soul as she denied God. I knew about Heaven and Hell and I had only one thought. That was that I had to accomplish evangelization of the family any way I could.
Even when I was persecuted, I didn't stop praying and offering 3-day or 7-day-fasting. I made the utmost effort in carrying out God-given duties as a sub-district leader and a group leader.
I always treated my mother-in-law with goodness. Even when she rebuked me, I didn't talk back but answered, "Yes, I will do better." And I did my best to do my duty by calling and visiting her. I bought her food that she liked or I made Kimchi for her. Most of all, I prayed for the salvation of my mother-in-law and husband, and I also didn't forget to receive Senior Pastor's prayer every month. One day she began to open the door to her heart. After she realized my heart trying to serve her with love, she called me first rather her own sons when something happened in the family and there wasn't any persecution any longer. But still, she wouldn't go to church.
* 'Am I in a Dream?'
I received a wonderful blessing during the Lunar New Year's holiday. I eagerly wanted to receive the prayer of blessing from Senior Pastor, but I also had to visit my husband's parents. So, I decided to send some offerings along with prayer titles and called Pastor Geumsun Lim. But she said, "I think it would be better for you to come and receive Senior Pastor's prayer directly." Fortunately with my husband's permission, I could go to Seoul with other members on Friday, February 12. At 12 PM, I attended the New Year's greeting with Senior Pastor and listened to his message directly for the first time since I registered the church 15 years ago and I was overjoyed thinking, 'Am I in a dream?'
When Dr. Lee said, "As one of the blessing of this New Year's greeting, God will move the heart of people," I was touched. I had always been praying for the salvation of my mother-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law and my husband. After receiving his prayer of blessing, I returned to Gwangju with a happy heart.
* I Won't Perform the Ancestral Rite Anymore."
When I arrived at my husband's family's home on the following day, my mother-in-law had already prepared all the food to put on the table for the ancestral rite. My husband and I persuaded her not to prepare the table saying there wouldn't be people who would eat the food. At the moment, a miraculous thing happened.
When I asked her, "Mother! Why don't you come to our house and dine together?" she just answered, "Sure, let's do it, and I won't do the ancestral rite anymore." Very surprised, I asked her again, "Really? Then how about going to church with us tomorrow?" She said, "Can I go to the church tomorrow? Is there a service during the holiday?"
On the following day, February 14, with my mother-in-law and my husband, who was a long-term absentee, and I went to Gwangju Manmin Church and attended the service together. My mother-in-law later registered in the church. My husband and I rejoiced and exclaimed saying "Praise the Lord!" We became even happier with the rainbow that God showed us that day. She again attended Sunday Service on February and said that she felt comfortable. Just as Senior Pastor said at the New Year's greeting that God would move the hearts of people, and solve our various problems and accomplish the family evangelization if we receive the prayer by faith, God moved the heart of my mother-in-law. Hallelujah!
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Manmin News 
