Jesus’ Love Kept Me Alive

 

Jesus’ Love Kept Me Alive

By: Yoon Young-ha (Good News Suseong Church)

When I was deeply trapped in sin, unable to control my heart and wandering in despair, I heard the Gospel and was born again in 1990. When I heard the words, “Jesus died for the sins of Yoon Young-ha,” I thought to myself, “Ah, then I have no sin!” At that very moment, my heart became pure as white snow, and I was filled with gratitude. It was Jesus’ love that allowed me to live in the church for 34 years without change.

I am thankful that from that time on, I was able to live close to the church and the servants of God, receiving grace day by day. Without realizing it, 34 years have passed. During those years, there were times of tears and laughter, moments of happiness and hardship. But my beloved Jesus never abandoned me for a single moment—sometimes carrying me on His back, sometimes tightly holding my hand, and walking with me. Even though Jesus is invisible, He has guided me more closely than anything I can see with my eyes.

In August 2012, we began constructing the Good News Suseong Church sanctuary. At that time, Pastor Cho Gyu-yoon said, “I hope Brother Yoon and his wife can move into the church.” So as soon as our son was discharged from the army, we packed up and moved into a temporary container home on site. During the construction period, the work of God was truly amazing. Someone like me would have surely wandered aimlessly in the world, but in the church, God allowed me to be used like the Gibeonites, and I am so thankful for that.

In particular, I have been in charge of managing the church’s floor heating boiler for more than 10 years. Although there is always a risk of fire, I am grateful that God allowed us to manage it without even a minor accident or breakdown.

I was also entrusted with driving the church vehicles. God has protected us and kept us safe from any major accidents. I thank God for letting me participate in the work of the Gospel through this. Especially when driving the church’s big bus during Christmas Cantata tours, overseas volunteer team return events, classical music tours, World Culture Dance Festival, and large city Gospel gatherings, I always reminded myself, “Just as Jesus rode on a colt, it is not I who am driving, but Jesus who is driving.” With that heart, I was able to drive safely and peacefully.

Looking back, even though it seemed like I was doing these things, I know it was God who placed me in a safe and blessed place to save my family. I don’t know about other families, but for us, if we had not entered the church life 10 years ago, it would have been very difficult. It would have hurt our two beloved children as well. I was not someone who could have lived this kind of life, but now I see myself living happily, and both of my children are joyfully walking the path of evangelists.

On March 1, 2021, just before my children’s weddings, we were running out of savings, but I saw God fill every need one by one. It was truly amazing and filled me with gratitude. It was not me who raised my children—it was the fellowship and encouragement of the church and countless servants of God that nurtured my son and daughter into evangelists. To God be all the glory.

If it weren’t for God, none of this would have been possible. God has faithfully worked in everything. Jesus guided imperfect Peter with His love, and in the same way, He has let me live relying on the faith and love of His servants. I give thanks to God.

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If Not for Grace, I Could Not Stand

By: Park Yeon-sook (Good News Ansan Church)

When I was young, both my job and my marriage did not go as I wished. At my first job, my boss’s harsh words hurt me deeply. In 1998, I went through a painful breakup with my boyfriend. Suffering from the aftereffects, I attempted suicide by running into an oncoming subway train. Though my life was spared, I lost one leg and most of my fingers, leaving only three. I caused great pain to my family and became disabled.

I lived in despair until 2010 when I married my current husband. He introduced me to the church and invited me to attend services. In the spring of 2011, while attending a service at Good News Ansan Church, I heard the Word: “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10), and I received salvation.

After being saved, I was filled with gratitude. I was freed from the sorrow of “Why did I become disabled?” and came to realize, “Ah, God allowed this for the sake of saving me!” The questions I could not solve in the world were all resolved in my heart.

Later, I struggled a lot with the thought of having children. “My body is weak… How can I raise a child? Can I stop taking my medication?” But after talking with a missionary, I believed that I too could conceive and give birth to a healthy child. I stopped taking medication, became pregnant, and gave birth to a healthy son. He is now 13 years old, joyfully dancing in Sunday school and growing up healthy. I give thanks to God.

I once wondered how someone with my physical limitations could serve the Gospel. Every Christmas, I saw the sisters seeking sponsorships to provide Christmas Cantata tickets to underprivileged groups. I also wanted to try, so I started joining them. Walking with a prosthetic leg and visiting sponsors was difficult, but God helped me. I learned joyfully and was able to secure sponsorships.

Today, I serve as the Public Relations Director of the Ansan Region Supporters’ Association. With the donations and sponsorships we receive, we support multicultural families, the elderly, youth, and children in need. After several years, many companies now continuously support us. God has shown me great mercy and blessed me beyond imagination.

Pastor Jang Young-cheol, who previously pastored in Ansan, gave me the nickname “God of Sponsorship,” which gave me great strength. Now, Pastor Lee Sang-joon guides me, saying, “Sister Park, only when you work in the Supporters’ Association can you live happily.”

In the process of helping others, my heart was revived and became healthy again. When sponsorships come in, people often tell me that I look the brightest and most beautiful. Though my body is weak and I cannot do much, whenever I fall, God lifts me up and uses me. This world is so amazing, so full of gratitude and wonder.

Just like the song lyrics, “If not for grace, I could not stand,” I thank God for giving someone like me the grace to participate in the work of the Gospel. To Him be all the glory.

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God Gave Me Joy and Hope

By: Kim Eun-ha (Good News Wonju Church)

After receiving salvation in 2002, I began my life of faith. Although I learned the world of the heart that denies my own thoughts, in real life I always avoided burdens. After Pastor Yang Jeong-hak came to our church, I began facing more and more challenges to do things I didn’t want to do.

As the “100-year life era” approached, I started a weekly senior citizen class. I also prepared snacks with the sisters, took photos, and wrote simple reports. Even though it felt burdensome at first, I saw God helping me and felt deeply grateful. As the program grew larger, one day the pastor asked me to be the host.

“I hate standing in front of people the most. How could the pastor ask me to host…?” Even though I prepared thoroughly, I made frequent mistakes because I was embarrassed and nervous. But at some point, I stopped worrying about how well I did. Seeing the seniors enjoying themselves and being happy after hearing the Gospel, I realized that all Gospel work is accomplished through the unity of the church, the servants, and the members by the grace of God.

During last year’s senior banquet, I hosted a large event on stage for the first time. God gave me boldness with the assurance that “God is with me,” so I was able to host with a peaceful heart. This year, I played the lead role in a drama for the senior banquet and practiced every day. Even while taking care of my father who was battling cancer, God filled me with joy and hope, giving me strength.

Because it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, I give thanks to God for revealing Himself through me and letting me live a joyful life in the Gospel.

 

耶稣的爱使我活了下来

作者：尹英荷（好消息寿城教会）

 

当我深陷罪恶，无法控制内心，并彷徨的时候，我于1990年听福音后重生了。当听到“耶稣为了尹英荷的罪而死”时，我心想：“啊，那我没有罪了！”那一瞬间，我的心变得像白雪一样干净，非常感谢。耶稣的爱使我34年如一日地在教会里生活。值得感谢的是，从那时起，我就在教会和神仆人的身边蒙恩典地生活。虽然不知不觉间，过去了34年的岁月，期间有哭也有笑，有时非常幸福，有时也有困难，但是亲爱的耶稣一刻也没有弃我于不顾，时而背着我，时而紧紧握住我的手，与我同行。虽然耶稣是看不见的，但比眼所见的更亲近地引导着我。

2012年8月，我们开始建造好消息寿城教会礼拜堂。当时赵奎允牧师说：“希望尹弟兄夫妻能搬到教会里住。”所以，儿子从军队一退伍，我们就马上整理了房子，先搬到了集装箱（建筑临时住宿）里。在礼拜堂施工期间，神的做工非常惊人。像我这样的人，如果在世上，肯定依旧彷徨地生活，但是在教会里，能像基遍人一样在各种事上得到使用，真是非常感谢。特别是，我负责教会的地暖锅炉已经10多年了。虽然也有火灾的危险性，但是非常感谢神让我们在没有发生任何小事故或锅炉小故障的情况下进行管理。

此外，我们还负责驾驶教会车辆。在这件事上，神也保守我们，没有让我们发生过大事故。感谢神让我们能够一起参与福音的工作。特别是，从驾驶大巴开始，每当有圣诞节音乐会巡回演出、海外志愿团归国发表会、古典音乐演奏巡回演出、世界文化舞蹈庆典、各城市大传道聚会等活动时，我都会驾驶大巴。就像耶稣骑上驴驹一样，驾驶着我们宣教会宝贵的仆人们和师母们乘坐的大巴时，我虽然很紧张，但我并不认为是我在驾驶，而是耶稣在驾驶。怀着这样的心时，我才能安全、平安地驾驶。

回顾过去，虽然表面上看好像是我在做，但我觉得这是神为了拯救我们家庭，让我站在了幸福、安全的区域。虽然不知道其他家庭怎样，但就我们家庭而言，如果10年前我们没有进入教会生活，那将会非常困难，也会给所爱的两个子女带来伤害。我本来也不是可以过这种生活的人，但如今我看到了自己幸福地生活着，两个子女也都幸福地走上了传道者的道路。

2021年3月1日，两个子女结婚在即，存折余额几乎见底，但我看到神都一一填满了，令人非常惊奇和感谢。不是我养育子女，而是教会和无数神仆人的交通和劝勉，将儿子和女儿培养成传道者，荣耀归给神。想想看，如果不是神，很多事情都无从说起，但神在所有的事情上都信实地做工了。

耶稣用爱引导了不足和满有瑕疵的彼得。同样，耶稣让我也依靠相信仆人的信心和爱生活，感谢神。

 

 

 

 

若不是恩典，我无法站立

作者：朴莲淑（好消息安山教会）

 

年轻时，我的工作和婚姻都没有如愿以偿。第一次上班时，因为上司的恶言恶语，我的内心受到了很大的伤害。1998年，我与男朋友交往当中失恋了。之后，我因后遗症选择了自杀。我冲向奔驰而来的地铁，虽然保住了性命，但失去了一条腿，也失去了大部分手指，只剩下了三根。我给家人带来了很大的伤害，沦为了残疾人。

我生活在绝望之中，于2010年与现在的丈夫结了婚。丈夫向我介绍教会，并邀请我去聚会。2011年春天，我参加好消息安山教会聚会时，听到“我们凭这旨意，靠耶稣基督，只一次献上他的身体，就得以成圣”（来10:10）的话语，得救了。

得救后，我非常感谢。我摆脱了“我为什么变成残疾人”的悲伤，“啊，神为了拯救我，才允许我这样做的啊！”之前在世上没能解决的疑问都解开了。

之后，我在生孩子的事情上有了很多苦恼。“我身体也不舒服，怎么能养育孩子呢？我能停掉正在吃的药吗？”但是和传道士交流后，我相信自己也能怀孕，生下健康的孩子。后来我停了药，怀孕并生了个健康的儿子。如今儿子长大了，已经十三岁了。儿子在主日学校快乐地跳舞，健康地成长着，在神面前献上感谢。

我想身体不适的我该如何侍奉福音。每到圣诞节时，我看到姊妹们都为了给弱势群体送圣诞音乐会演出券而寻求赞助。我也想边学边做，便开始和姊妹们一起去做。我需要依靠假肢走路，需要打听赞助商，然后前往交涉，所以过程有些困难，但是神帮助了我，让我愉快地学习，也拉到了赞助。

现在我担任安山地区后援会宣传组长。收到赞助金和赞助物品后，我们会帮助多文化人、老人、青年、儿童等弱势群体。经过几年的赞助工作，现在很多企业都在持续赞助我们。神怜悯我，赐给了我莫大的恩赐，让我既惊奇又感谢。

之前在安山牧会的张永哲牧师给我起了“后援之神”的绰号，给我心里注入了力量。现在，李尚俊牧师引领我，说：“朴姊妹只有做后援会工作，才能幸福地生活。”

在帮助别人的过程中，我的心反而活了过来，变得健康了。获得赞助时，我经常听别人说我的样子最开朗、最漂亮。我虽然身体不方便，什么也做不了，但每当我摔倒时，神总是让我站起来，并使用我。这世界太神奇，太感谢，太惊奇了。

就像“若不是恩典我无法站立”的歌词一样，感谢神赐给像我这样的人恩典，让我做福音的事情。向神献上感谢和荣耀。

 

 

 

 

神赐给我喜乐和盼望

作者：金恩夏（好消息原州教会）

 

我在2002年得救之后，开始过信仰生活。虽然我学会了否认自己想法的心灵世界，但在实际生活中却一直逃避负担。自从梁正学牧师来到我们教会后，挑战我不愿意做的事情开始变多了。随着百岁时代的临近，我开始了一周一次的老年大学。我还和姊妹们一起准备零食，拍照片，还写了简单的报道。虽然心里也有负担，但是看到神帮助我，心里非常感谢。随着老年大学的规模不断壮大，有一天牧师让我做主持。“我最讨厌站在人们面前，心里感到非常负担，可牧师竟然让我做主持人……”即使我努力做了准备，但可能是因为尴尬和紧张，所以还是会经常出错。但是从某个瞬间开始，不管我做得好不好，看着老人们开心、听福音后感到幸福的样子，我明白了福音的所有事情都是教会、仆人和肢体联合起来，藉着神的恩典成就的。

在去年的老年大学孝宴上，我第一次在大舞台上主持了活动。因为神赐给了“神与我同在”的大胆的心，所以我带着平安的心主持了节目。在今年的孝宴上，我担任话剧主人公的角色，每天都忙于练习。虽然我父亲正在与癌症作斗争，我又要在家看护他，但神给了我喜乐和盼望，让我充满了力量。因为现在活着的不是我，乃是基督在我里面活着。感谢神通过我彰显神，感谢神让我在福音中过着幸福的生活。