Remembering My Missionary Work in Kenya

 

Remembering My Missionary Work in Kenya

Author: Pastor Park Ok-Soo (Good News Gangnam Church)

By the grace of Jesus, I have often traveled abroad. One day, while looking through my phone gallery, I came across photos taken during my first visit to Kenya in Africa. Memories began to surface—my first time stepping onto the unfamiliar African continent, unable to speak the language, and the brothers and sisters I met there, as well as the events involving the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

It Felt Like a Dream

As I counted the years, I realized with surprise that more than thirty years had already passed. Time truly flies. Before I knew it, I had become an eighty-year-old man. I was startled and thought, “I’m already this old.”
By the grace of Jesus, although many things felt unfamiliar and awkward during my first trip to Africa, we preached the gospel through interpreters, and people began receiving salvation one by one. Later, we sent missionaries to Kenya. Several missionaries preached the gospel there, built a large church, and many saints received salvation and began living new lives in Jesus.

Thinking back on all of this fills my heart with gratitude. Young gospel workers grew up there, boldly preaching the gospel. Even now, the gospel continues to spread to new cities, where churches are being established. Looking back on all the works God has done, I can’t help but feel amazed—it all seems like a dream.

Hearing the Testimonies of New Believers

Before receiving salvation, most of us lived difficult lives. Although each person’s circumstances differ slightly, we all struggled in sin and fought against the hardships of life. In such lives, by the grace of God, we discovered the truth that the blood of Jesus had washed away all our sins, and we were saved. From that moment on, Jesus entered our hearts and led us into a new life.

I, too, was forgiven of my sins through the blood of Jesus while wandering in deep sin, despair, and darkness. From that day forward, I began living an unimaginable, amazing life. Jesus not only worked for me but also established the Mission School, through which gospel workers are being raised. Countless gospel preachers trained in the Mission School have gone out into the world. Today, we constantly hear reports of “amazing gospel works happening everywhere.” For this, I offer endless thanks to God.

At times, there are brothers and sisters who once worked for the gospel but later left the church, and we no longer see them. Thinking of these people inevitably brings regret to my heart. But just as in the book of Acts—when Paul preached and Satan worked in people’s hearts to stir up persecution against him—such unfortunate things are bound to happen as long as we live in this world.
Even so, we continue preaching the gospel to new countries and new places without ceasing. Whenever I hear testimonies from these places about people receiving salvation one after another, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude.

Though part of me feels regret, the brothers and sisters who have received salvation and rejoice in it bring a new heart to me, filling my soul with joy and thankfulness. For me, whether until the Lord returns or until I stand before Him, being able to continuously hear joyful testimonies from newly saved brothers and sisters is something I am truly grateful for.

Though I Am Aging, My Heart Remains Full

The years have passed, and I am now very old—aging is impossible to hide. Yet in my heart, newly saved brothers and sisters continue to appear, and joy and gladness never cease. To God, who fills my aging life with joy and gratitude each day, I offer endless thanks.

回忆着肯尼亚宣教

 

作者：朴玉洙（好消息江南教会牧师）

 

蒙耶稣的恩典，我经常去海外旅行。一次，在看手机相册时，我看到了我第一次访问非洲肯尼亚时拍摄的照片。我回想起了第一次去语言不通的陌生非洲大陆肯尼亚时的事情。想到了在肯尼亚见到的弟兄姊妹，以及工商部部长的事情。

 

就像是在做梦一样

我计算了一下，那是什么时候的事情，没想到已经过了三十年，时间过得真快啊。一晃，我也已经是八十岁高龄的人了，不禁吓了一跳，“我都这么老了。”蒙耶稣的恩典，第一次去非洲时，有很多陌生、尴尬的部分，但我们通过翻译传了福音，得救的人一个两个地出现了。之后，我们向肯尼亚派遣了宣教士。几位宣教士在那里传着福音，盖了很大的礼拜堂，很多圣徒得救，在耶稣里过上了全新的生活。

想到这些事情，我心里不知有多感谢。在那里，年轻的福音传道者们成长起来，有力地传着福音。直到现在，福音不断地向新的城市传播开去，并在这些城市里建立着教会。回想着神所做的这一切，不知有多惊人，感觉就像是在做梦一样。

 

听到新得救的弟兄姊妹们的见证

得救前，我们大部分人都过着困难的生活。人和人之间，有些许差别，但都在罪恶中受着苦，与生活中的难题做着斗争。在这样的生活中，蒙神的恩典，我们发现了耶稣的宝血洗净了我们所有罪的事实，得救了。从那时起，耶稣临到了我们心里，使我们过上了新生活。

我也是在深深的罪恶与绝望中，在黑暗中徘徊时，藉着耶稣的宝血罪得赦免了。从那天起，我过上了难以想象的惊人生活。耶稣不仅为我作工，还建立了宣教学校，培养着福音工人。在宣教学校接受训练的无数福音传道者，走向了全世界。现在，我们能听到“在各个地方都兴起了惊人的福音工作”的消息。向神献上无尽的感谢。

有时，一些为福音工作的弟兄姊妹离开教会，在教会里再也见不到他们。想到这些弟兄姊妹时，我心里难免会感到惋惜。但就像在《使徒行传》中，保罗传道时，撒但总是在人们心里做工，让这些人逼迫保罗一样，我们生活在这个世界上，不可能不发生令人遗憾的事情。但就算这样，我们也片刻不息地向新的国家、新的地方传讲着福音。当听到从这些地方，源源不断地传来人们得救的见证时，我心里不知有多喜乐、感谢。

我心里一方面也有遗憾，但得到救恩、欢喜快乐的弟兄姊妹们给我带来了全新的心，使我心里充满了喜乐和感谢。对我来说，不管是直到主再来时，还是我站在主面前时，能够一直听着新得救的弟兄姊妹们喜乐的见证，真是太感谢了。

 

岁月轮转，我的年龄已经很大了，衰老是掩饰不住的。但在我心里，得救的弟兄姊妹们不断出现，开心和喜乐永不止息。向每天都在年老的我的人生中添满喜乐和感谢的神，献上无尽的感谢。