"Lord, Thank You for Welcoming Such a Prodigal Daughter as Me"
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 12902 |
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February 15, 2015 |
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Sister Chunggeum Shin, age 40, Parish 14
Sister Chunggeum Shin, her father Deacon Jungho Shin, her mother Deaconess Boksun Choi (Though she had lived like the prodigal son, Sister Shin spoke with thankfulness to God Who had accepted her with love)
At the age of 15, I started to attend Manmin Central Church. I once experienced the power of God through Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer by which a lump inside of my nose disappeared. But I still loved worldly pleasure. I often skipped church to go skiing or travel. I eventually left church in 2000.
I lived as I pleased, drinking alcohol with friends. My mind and body became weak and my life got twisted upside down. I frequently suffered from nightmares and sleep paralysis. My mother put a Bible at my bedside and soon I became peaceful.
I had uterine fibroids, which developed into uterine cancer ten years ago. I had surgery for it. I was hurt and even swindled out of my property by people. Nowhere could I find true peace and happiness. I was dependent on alcohol to sleep. My parents felt sorry for me and advised me to go to church but I didn't. However, as I became wearier of my life, I recalled the time when I had attended church and began to miss it.
I was especially moved by my mother Deaconess Boksun Choi who had changed a lot. She had been so opinionated and harsh, but she was renewed. She repented in front of me, saying it was all her fault that I had left church, lived in pain in the world and closed my heart towards church. Since then she has used an honorific manner of speaking towards my father and me. She became a new person. Seeing my parents who were at peace in the Lord, I felt grateful before God for His grace.
On October 12 in 2014, when the church celebrated its 32nd Anniversary Sunday, I eventually returned to the bosom of God. My heart had been hardened such that I had stopped my parents from even bringing up the church issue to me. But at one point my heart turned soft, and now I am thankful to God. How amazing! I am also thankful for the Senior Pastor who prayed for me with tears to come back and he awaited me with love just as the father waited for the prodigal son with love.
As the grace of God was given to me, I began listening to Senior Pastor's messages on the way to work and on the way home again. I listened to many sweet sounding messages that include 'The Message of the Cross', 'Lectures on Revelation', and 'Lectures on Genesis'. I also made up my mind not to go back to my past life.
I also enjoyed watching the series 'Reminiscence' on GCN that covers the overseas crusades Dr. Lee had conducted beginning in 2000. It was wonderful! When I attended church in the 1990's, he often said that the church would accomplish the world mission. All his words were fulfilled, and the related stories are put in the program. I was thrilled to watch his words come into being. He boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ is our only Savior, manifested great powerful works of God and led countless souls to salvation in the crusades. Seeing them, I was proud of my identity as a Manmin member.
I am very happy these days. I left God's warm bosom and lived in pain, but I came back to Him and came to live under His protection and blessings. How thankful I am! I give thanks to my God of love for Your love, the Lord for saving me, and my Senior Pastor for letting me know about the true and eternal happiness in Heaven as well as happiness on the earth.
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