Deacon David Song's God of love allows man to reap what he sows!
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August 06, 2007 |
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God fills the estimated number of 240 registrants for the English camp;
Captivated by Dr. Jaerock Lee's messages of spiritual depths heard on the Internet;
God rewards Deacon Song's service to the Overseas and Foreigners Mission by making him the country's only elementary school English Department's Director and with financial blessings
 The most important task as the Director of the English Department at Korea's one of the most prestigious private grade schools, Hanyang Elementary School affiliated with Hanyang University, in any given year is the planning and execution of "The Summer Vacation English Camp." Among a variety of important factors that determine the success of each summer camp, the estimated number of participants is perhaps the most critical. If the number of registrants is below the estimate, the camp must be abandoned; the higher-than-anticipated number of registrations also creates all sorts of complex problems, beginning with the supplying of the necessary amount of native-speaking instructors.
While mapping out ideas for a summer camp one day, I was led in the heart to design a camp for 240 students - about half the size of the student body - and prepared the budget and programs accordingly.
As there are many other opportunities for children in Korea to learn English - including after-school centers, private tutoring, and studying abroad - their parents would select a particular program (camp) for the children only when they feel it is somehow better than other available programs. Furthermore, as many students attending Hanyang Elementary School come from affluent households, the cost of the enrollment does not play that big a role. For such reasons, many teachers were altogether negative about the idea of the English camp.
I began setting aside time to pray and my wife Deaconess Sung-hee Choi helped me with fasting and prayer. I was under tremendous pressure to successfully execute the English camp. As more than 300 students, instructors, bus drivers, and administrative staff members were involved in this project, I became all the more stressed.
June 18: Last Day of Registration
Each class sent in the applications it had collected.
"One, two, three..."
As I counted the number of applications, I began to tense up. All my focus was on how close the number of application would get to "240." The result was absolutely astounding. Exactly 240 students, not one more or one less, had signed up. Hallelujah!
Looking back now, I can only confess that everything was by the grace of my Father God. When my life was threatened by hepatitis in 1994, I was at a prayer center, constantly praying and fasting. Then one day in a dream, the Lord placed His hand on me and I was healed. From that point on, I developed a habit of praying for 2-3 hours each day, believing that God had prepared even for this generation someone, like Prophet Moses or the apostle Paul, who communicated with God in depths, and I prayed harder to meet that person.
Then I came across on the Internet the messages of Dr. Jaerock Lee at Manmin Joong-ang Church. His message series "God the Trinity," "God's Reasons for Having Placed the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil," and "The Garden of Eden" were of profound spiritual depth. God had answered my prayer! This must be to which the Psalmist was referring when he wrote that God's Word is "sweeter...than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb"! I rejoiced after tasting God's Word.
 ~ Teaching materials written by Deacon David Song
Ever since joining Manmin Joong-ang Church in September 2000, I have served as President and Department Director of the Overseas and Foreigners Mission. In addition, when visitors from embassies and abroad came to Manmin Joong-ang Church, I volunteered in serving them, thinking of myself one of the faces representing the church, and continued serving by simultaneously translating the proceedings of the nightly "Daniel Prayer Meeting." Whenever an opportunity rose for me to contribute and sow financially, I never hesitated. Last year, I was also given the opportunities to study abroad in New York and Washington, D.C., but I declined so that I could attend the church-wide summer retreat.
Also, I thought that as a Christian I should be more diligent than others and set myself as an example to nonbelievers in every aspect of life. So I came to work earlier than anyone else and actively looked for things that needed to be done.
Then the School rewarded me the position as "Director of the English Department," the only position to this day for any grade schools in Korea. While managing English instructors (6 native-speaking and 9 Korean), this post is also entrusted with the development of the School's own English program and teaching materials. Although I have been given my own office and the privilege to teach only 4 hours a week, I had never wasted time comfortably sitting in the couch.
As my faith dictated, "I shall reap what I sow," I have also received financial blessings; today, I give monthly tithes of anywhere between $500 and $800. While the salary of teachers is stable, it is also not that much. However, I receive more than many others as I produce teaching materials, problems for exams, and hold lecture sessions of my own.
I was recently featured in the June 2007 issue of "The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) Newsletter." After writing the "Let's Play English" series (Dongyang Books) last year, I reorganized a U.S. English textbook to be suitable for Korean children, and participated as one of the examiners of "The Test of the Skills in the English Language" (TOSEL), a government-approved, nationwide examination testing the English aptitude.
I find myself extremely busy these days while preparing for this year's English camp. However, joy overflows in my heart. More than anything else, knowing that the Lord is with me, that He has allowed me to possess true faith with the gospel of sanctification, and that He is in charge of my life, gives me the greatest joy.
I give all thanks and glory to God for giving me a life filled with blessings and I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Jaerock Lee for nurturing me with his messages.
~ With English class students
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Manmin News 
