"The grace of God renewed me who had seemed to have no hope of change"
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May 12, 2013 |
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From left, Sister Eunjung Kim (daughter), Brother Vision Kim, Senior Deaconess Sungsim Hong (wife), and Brother Joonyoung Kim (son)
Brother Vision Kim (1-9 Parish, 3-3 Men's Mission)
I had promised to go to church with my wife before marriage, but I broke it with excuses of being too busy and my family having been Confucian. Twenty-three years later, finally, I came to church by the grace of God. There were a few things that changed me.
In August 2012, my son Joonyoung was discharged from the army and preparing to go to college again. I saw he had changed remarkably. He stopped drinking and hanging around with friends late at night. He was focused on studying. Moreover, he armed himself with the Word of God whenever he had time and prayed at church every night.
In November, 2012, he suggested to me to let him offer up household services. I said yes right away because I was happy seeing his changes. Except for when there is a special occasion, from that time on we have had the service on Fridays.
In early 2013, my wife, Senior Deaconess Sungsim Hong, and my daughter Eunjung said that they had been praying for my salvation. At the moment, I was very touched by them. Ever since we got married, even though I have been an opinionated and hot-tempered man, my wife has tried to listen to me and serve me.
Seeing my son change and hearing about my wife and daughter's prayer, I decided to attend church. I started to study the Bible because I thought that I had better read the Bible at least once for I would go to church for the first time in 23 years, so I appointed three months as a preparation time for going to church.
I got up early every morning and studied the Bible. And I told my family that I would go to church from the first Sunday in April. My wife joyfully suggested me to go to church beginning on March 31 which was Easter Sunday of 2013.
At 4 A.M., on March 31, 2013, I was about to read the Bible, but my eye glasses were missing. I had left them at my office. I had not been able to read the Bible without my reading glasses. Right before I almost closed the Bible I saw the letters in it. The letters came to my sight clearer and clearer and eventually they became very clear. It was amazing!
On the day, I went to church to offer up Sunday Morning Service. At 3 P.M., I also attended Sunday Evening Service and the Holy Communion at my family members' request. During the service, I experienced an amazing thing. While Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee was praying for the sick after preaching, my heart began getting hot.
When I received the bread and ate it in the Holy Communion, a thought flashed through my mind; 'Am I eating the flesh of Jesus?' Suddenly, my body was burning and tears flowed down my face and I had a runny nose. I cried a lot for the first time in my life with my face buried into a handkerchief.
Later, I realized that it had been a thorough repentance and the Holy Spirit had descended upon me like fire. Afterwards, I stopped drinking and smoking and I have been listening to Dr. Lee's sermons on the church website at www.manmin.org. Now I am running with the goal to stand on the rock of faith and come into spirit and whole spirit.
I had not done anything for my family to lead a better Christian life, so from now on I want to help them with all my heart. I give all thanks and glory to my Father God the Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
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Manmin News 
