Winner, Second O2 Resort National Snowboard Technical Championship - Snowboarding Towards Heaven
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March 28, 2010 |
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 Gayoung Ryu (1-1st Canaan; 3-31st District)
I entered Manmin Kindergarten, an affiliation of Manmin Central Church, when I was four years of age, and grew up in Christ. Without huge ups and downs in life as a believer, there were many things I wanted to do and my curiosities only grew during middle-, high-school, and college years. Carefree most of my life, I had to plan my life but there also seemed many obstacles. Also, after having had a taste of the world, my life in Christ was not in earnest and I did not take my life as a whole that seriously, either. I had always liked sports and longed to enter the world of entertainment so naturally, my focus was placed on those two fields. As I prepared go to college, I had to decide whether I was going to pursue a degree in sports or in performing arts.
A life of continued compromises
I entered Duksung Women's University as a Life Sports major. Graduation requirements included obtaining five sports-related certificates. Currently, I have six certificates including one in emergency treatment; one in sports massage; two in windsurfing; and associate and formal instructor certifications in snowboarding. Still, in the corner of my heart was a hope to enter the entertainment industry.
Then one day in 2009, a magazine contacted me, asking if I would be interested in a photo shoot. As I had always dreamed of making it to the entertainment industry, I agreed without thinking twice. On Sundays, I attended only the Morning Service and went to the shoots in the afternoons. I began rationalizing my actions convincing myself, "There's no other way." When I stayed in different parts of the country in order to train and to earn the snowboard instructor certificate, I only attended the Morning Services at branch churches even when I could have easily attended the Evening Services as well. I either practiced or spent time with friends on Sunday afternoons.
Realizing that there is a wall of sin between God and me
In February 2009, I entered "The First O2 Resort National Snowboard Technical Championship" and expected to do well. The Technical Championship is a competition among snowboard instructors in theory, form, and technicality. A formal snowboard instructor certification verification also took place at the Technical Championship and a participant with an average score of 90 or higher could pass and earn the certificate. However, my score was 0.06 points shy of the passing mark and I was disqualified.
At the time at the Church, countless members were receiving blessings amidst positive confessions of faith and deeds under the motto, "The impossible will be possible, the possible even better." By a whisker, however, I fell short. I was stunned, to say the least, and began asking myself if this was indeed the future for me. At that moment, I realized there was a wall standing between God and me. "I fell short not by a lot but only by 0.06 points. That's right! I fell short because I did not keep the Lord's Day holy." I looked back at my life and began making a greater effort towards my life in Christ.
Then came a turning point in my life as a believer. In April 2009, I was offered the position of reporter on the "Manmin Magazine" program produced by Manmin TV and airing during the Friday All-night Service every week. I wasn't sure if I could do well but as I gave my all to it, thinking of the opportunity to increase my rewards in heaven, God began to transform me.
Moreover, whenever I faced crises, Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee strengthened and encouraged me and I was thoroughly touched by his love. I thought that the only way to recompense for such love and interest in me was to not to waver but to live only by God's Word.
A believer acknowledging God
One wintry day in 2009, a professor who had taught me how to snowboard contacted me. He asked me to participate in "The National Snowboard Technical Championship." I could not bring myself to it, however, so I told him, "Professor, I am trying to fulfill my vision in television." But he said, "Think of this as an experience and try again. Who knows in what directions your dreams will unfold?" and kept insisting that I enter the competition.
At his earnest urging, I decided to enter the Championship and devoted myself to training. The competition, Korea's largest, is an event hosted by the Korea Ski Instructors Association and participated by ski and snowboard instructors from throughout the country. Most participants stay in a camp for training for three months.
As I would be unable to keep the Lord's Day holy if I stayed in a camp for training, I decided to train on my own, a contrast from the previous year. Naturally, the amount of my training was significantly less than that of other athletes who were camped together to train. So even on rainy days, I took to the slopes and practiced. During the week, I attended the Tuesday Praise Services and Friday All-night Services after practices, and wholly kept the Lord's Day holy, all the while training for the competition.
In the previous year, because I had not been confident before God, I could not ask for the Senior Pastor's prayer. However, as I recognized and put God first all else and gave my all toward the preparation, I could ask for his prayer in confidence. Then something remarkable took place.
Winning the Technical Championship
The competition took place February 24-26, and on the first day of the Championship, it rained so much in the Taebaek region in Gangwon Province to warrant a heavy rain watch. Many athletes began to complain and voice concern. "Could the competition go on as scheduled? The condition of the snow is poor!"
I prayed to God in earnest at that very moment. As He had known in advance the weather for the first day of the Championship, He had led me to take my board to the slopes and practice even on rainy days, thus preparing me for such poor conditions. Remembering how I had practiced even in the rain, I participated with great confidence. Through the Senior Pastor's prayer that is backed by God Himself, I was able to showcase my skills without any errors. I was confident of the first-place finish. Knowing that God was right beside me all the way through the last day of the Competition, I could finish it off in gladness and come in first place. Hallelujah!
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