After giving birth to goodness and love in my life, I can now see
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May 28, 2007 |
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 ~ Min-gu Kang
(1-1 Parish; Sub-district Leader, 1-3 Men's Mission)
In anguish from discord at home
After marrying my wife Deaconess Mi-jin Choe in 1999, we had many troubles and arguments from early on in our marriage stemming from the differences in personality, including her preference to have things neat and tidy in contrast to my clumsiness, her desire to experience emotional love compared to my indifference, and even our different sleeping patterns. My wife eventually ended up suffering from insomnia and depression and losing 7 kilograms (about 15.4 pounds) and we even contemplated divorce. We were not able to go through that, however, and continued to live together in mutual indifference towards each other.
My wife, who desperately sought to live in faith in God, attended a variety of worship services and began a prayer life. I, on the other hand, was going to church reluctantly and when things came up, I did not think too much of missing church on the Lord's Day. When I quit my job, which hadn't been paying me all that well anyway, I became wholly dependent on my wife. Indecisive, lazy, and anything but resolved, there was little I could do with my own might.
Discovering and transforming myself while taking care of weak souls
I was unable to go to church one Sunday in February 2006 from cold-induced fatigue and a couple of members of the church soon paid me a visit soon afterwards. When 1 Men's Mission Assistant United Mission Leader Deacon Kyung-suk Ko and Sub-district Leader Deacon Jae-dong Han visited me at home, I told them honestly that my faith had remained the same from 10 years ago.
Then Deacon Han suggested, "If you come with us when we visit other members, your life in Christ will change. Let's try it for a year." I agreed to it unwittingly and began serving every Saturday as a driver when visiting weak souls.
An opportunity through which I discovered myself came to pass. I visited many a married couple who for years used different bedrooms, who for years stayed together in marriage because they had no other choice. I began asking myself, 'Is that what I look like? Have I been a faithful and trustworthy spouse to my wife?' As I thus looked back at and examined myself, I was grateful for my wife who had stood by me for a long time.
Unceasing laughter at home upon realizing the importance of my wife
When I visited a weak member whose home was quite messy, I felt the importance of my wife who usually kept our home neat and tidy, and who ran our household very efficiently. When I thanked her and apologized to her for not having been much of help in and around the house, I could tell her ill feelings were beginning to dissipate and her heart was touched.
My wife rejoiced as I now got up on my own on Sundays without her intervention since I was entrusted with bringing to church a fellow member. As I spoke with my wife about a weak soul who had not come to church for over 10 years and others like him, there were now less conflicts and confrontations between us. As we created such a joyous and peaceful family, I came to trust and love my wife all the more and developed a habit of seeking her opinions in making decisions big and small.
In the middle of April 2006, I met as usual with Deacon Kyung-tae Noh during a Saturday afternoon session of visiting church members. On that day, Deacon Noh, president of an insurance company, asked me if I would be interested in working in the insurance industry. I came home and discussed the proposal with my wife, who in turn told and encouraged me, "I know that business is a place of God's blessing from Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee's interest and prayer. You can also keep the Lord's Day holy. Why don't you give it a try?" Thus, I began a career in the insurance industry.
Adjusting to a new workplace, living by faith
As I was passive and introvert, however, I was shown the door many times even before I could begin introducing the services my company offered. I had not had a sale even after a month of working there.
One day, I went into a municipal office where I was received so coldly by its manager that in shame I couldn't keep my head up. I thought to myself, 'I cannot do this. I am not fit for this kind of work and have not even had a single sale. I'll go back to the office and tell them I'm quitting.' Then I caught in the corner of my eye one of the clerks in the municipal office and got the sudden urge to go up and speak with him. Soon after I began introducing the services, he said he would like to sign up for them. To plant a seed of confidence in my heart, God had moved that clerk's heart.
I found out later that when I began working as an insurance sales agent, my wife had received Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer so that I would adjust well to a new line of work. After this experience, I began to believe that if God took charge, I could do anything.
I prayed, asking God to send me clients. I began each working day after receiving the Senior Pastor's prayer recorded on a telephone voice recording system. Once a month, the rest of the employees and I sowed offerings and received the Senior Pastor's prayer for blessing. I soon had wondrous experiences as people and places work I would've never expected signed contracts with me. People who had called earlier to cancel their policies called back, saying that they could trust me and wanted to keep the policies.
Financial blessings as well as spiritual prosperity
Ten months after I started working in the insurance industry amidst God's blessings, I now give Him over $1,100 a month in tithes. Looking back, I am certain God was pleased with the devotion of my wife who did her very best in giving God mission offerings every month and increased the tithes by faith.
I am also grateful for His blessings as, from the position of Group Manager, He has elevated me to the position of Mission Sub-district Leader this year after my faithfulness in visiting weak souls on Saturdays and Sundays.
I give all thanks and glory to God and would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to Dr. Jaerock Lee for his heartfelt prayer.
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