In Our Lord, Laughter is Heard at Home Again!
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Manmin News
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 12123 |
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January 23, 2006 |
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"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24).
 Deaconess Soon-im Kang (4-12th Parish, 2-1 Women's Mission)
Led to Manmin in the Midst of Family Discord
After many years of courtship, my husband and I married in March 1989 with our hearts full of hopes for a blissful marriage. After the wedding, however, my husband and I had to live with his sister in a one-room apartment and the stress I was under from the conflict I had with my mother-in-law ultimately brought me to gastroenteropathy.
My husband also loved spending time with his friends so that he either often came home really late or brought his friends back home for more drinking and gambling. As all my hopes for a blissful marriage were beginning to be shattered and I was searching for a true church and a true shepherd, from the owner of a nearby supermarket, I came across truly good news.
"I remember you told me how you used to go to church before. At my church, people call out to God in prayer every night and God's works of signs and wonders are visible all the time. Why don't you go there with me?" I couldn't believe my ears! There really was a kind of church I'd always been longing to go!
Tasting True Happiness by the Word
On September 9, 1990, my husband and I followed Deaconess Yeon-hee Kim, the owner of that local supermarket, to Manmin Joong-ang Church and became registered members. I was comforted in the heart and felt like I had gained a guidebook of life as I listened to the messages of Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee. For my husband, however, it was a little different.
On one Sunday, I saw a family sitting in the pew and worshipping together and it was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen.
"Lord," I prayed. "I would be most grateful if I can worship You with my husband at my side!" As I began diligently praying for family evangelization, I tried to understand and embrace my husband even when he came home late and tried to serve him even more faithfully.
I visited the Men's Mission group to which my husband belonged, paid the dues on his behalf, requested their visits, and did all I could for his salvation. The Men's Mission did visit us many times and prayed for our family.
 My Husband Gains True Faith
Then one day, there was an opportunity by which my husband could come to possess faith. When he coughed up hard and began vomiting blood, we went to see a doctor, who in turn told us that my husband was suffering from the 3rd stage of pulmonary tuberculosis. As my husband found himself in utter despair, I made sure to testify to the almighty God the Healer and tell him testimonies of countless people who'd experienced healing after receiving prayer from Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee by faith.
My husband, who at first had relied on medication, now began clinging to God by rending his heart in repentance for not having believed in Him. He stopped taking the medication and, as we attended the nightly "Daniel Prayer Meeting" and called out to God in prayer, he came to believe that he, too, could be healed.
After receiving the Senior Pastor's prayer, he has been completely healed of his pulmonary tuberculosis. Today, my husband not only attends all worship services but he's also become a man of prayer and a faithful worker. That illness served as a precious opportunity of blessing for him to gain true faith and become a new person.
Our two daughters are growing up well in the Lord and are leading faithful lives. Our older daughter Shin-hye has recently received an "Exemplary Student Award" from school while Yea-eun is magnifying God as a member of "The White Stone Choir." Giving thanks and praising God never stop at our home and we are further giving glory to God as our neighbors and many others in our lives often speak of us as "that family filled with joy."
Extended Family Evangelized = More Joy!
In a sincere desire of spreading this kind of joy and peace to members of my extended family, I prayed all the more earnestly for family evangelization and at every opportunity I had, I told them about the works of God's power taking place at Manmin. Upon hearing such news, they began opening up their hearts one by one.
My mother Keumi Yoo, now senior deaconesses at Manmin, who is the wife of the only son of nine generations in the head family, practiced ancestor worship 12 months of the year. Thus she could not think of believing in God itself. She was subject to constant difficulties and at such times, I preached the gospel to her all the more boldly. "Mother," I would say. "If you believe in the Living God, you can lead a blessed life!"
As I visited her frequently, helping with her work around the house, and served her diligently – just as I had learned from the Senior Pastor – my mother ended up registering at Manmin. She had been confined to a wheelchair after breaking the bone of her ankle, but after receiving the Senior Pastor's prayer and subsequent healing, my mother is now leading a faithful life in Christ and serving as Group leader in the 4th Women's United Mission.
After witnessing our mother thus transformed, the family of my younger sister Deaconess Soon-hwa Kang has come back to the arms of the Lord. This was followed by the families of the older brother of my wife Deacon Jea-heung Koo and my younger brother Deacon Sung-hee Kang. Even my in-laws have been evangelized. I shall forever be grateful for this. About 20 of our extended family members now attend Manmin Joong-ang Church and most of them have become faithful workers in various capacities. I am also serving God as sub-district leader in my parish, sub-district leader and group leader in Women's Mission, a member of the Perfume Chorus, and usher.
I give all thanks and glory to God and also give my heartfelt thanks to Senior Pastor for his earnest love.
Caption
With her extended family whom she evangelized
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