UBF Europe » Anja

UBF Info

Anja — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:37:24 +0000

Who we are: The University Bible Fellowship (UBF) is an international evangelical student church. We want to help students to experience the love of God, which he revealed to us through Jesus Christ and his word (the Bible). We invite you to study the Bible!

History: The work of UBF began 1961 in South Korea. Sarah Barry, an American Presbyterian missionary and Samuel Lee, a Korean pastor in Kwangju, began an evangelistic outreach to Korean university students because they knew about the difficulties following the Korean War. They decided to invite students to study the Bible. The students, who started to believe in Jesus Christ, established small group Bible studies and fellowship meetings in universities, first of all in Kwangju, then in the nearby provinces and finally countrywide. This movement soon became an independent Christian student movement.

What we believe: The basis of our faith is the Bible. We believe that the Bible is the word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible represents the standard of faith and act to us. We affirm the Apostle’s Creed.

Activities:

- One-to-one Bible study or in groups by agreement.

- Sunday worship services in our churches.

- Bible meetings, journeys and international conferences, on which we are able to praise God and think together about the word of God.

Czech Spring Conference Report (by Hanna Shin)

Anja — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:46:34 +0000

World Mission News: Czech Spring Conference Report

Praise and thank God, who blessed our Spring Conference with 35 attendants. We held our conference from May 29-31. All together, there were 17 missionaries from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Croatia, 14 second-generation missionaries, 3 Czech students, and 1 leader from German. We decided to begin preparing for the European SBC by praying and preparing a dance representing seven nations in Central Europe where UBF has chapters. Dr. Peter Chang came from Germany even though he was very busy, to help us prepare for the upcoming summer conference. Because Elijah Park from Poland recently received special recognition from his work, he could come to our entire conference and serve us with the word of God. Joseph Bae from Croatia got days off by faith even though he just got a new job at Samsung, and he and his wife Maria had to drive ten hours to get there. James Han from Austria came with his six children and served group Bible studies. Esther Chang from Slovakia served sing-along programs and every other need that came up during the conference. Ezra Yoon from Austrawa served this conference wholeheartedly. Alesh Macha, an Abraham of faith from the Czech Republic, spoke on John 3 for the opening message. Stephen Elshoz of Bonn, Germany gave the main message on John 19. Msn. Hannah Shin delivered John 2 as the Sunday message, and also gave the closing message. Through this conference, I learned how God is pleased by our co-working. God accepted our togetherness and sent Christina, who is a Ballet major at the Czech National Opera House, as our dance teacher. She taught us wholeheartedly. She and Michael registered for our European SBC and made a decision of faith to attend our Sunday Worship Service. All of the missionaries there were very encouraged through this conference, as we practiced the Central Europe dance for the European Summer Bible Conference with one heart and spirit.

Reopening of ESBC Registration

Anja — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:43:50 +0000

Thank and praise God for blessing the ESBC ‘09 registration through 1,000 times of prayers from all over the world. We heard that God allowed more than 1,000 people to register, including more than 200 in our North American journey team, who have already registered by June 1, the closing date of our first registration.

However, there are still several members who would like to register for the ESBC as well as the ESBC tour program. Therefore, we will reopen both the website for ESBC online registration as well as the ESBC tour payment site this coming Monday, June 8th.

If you wish to register, please go to ubf.org and register for ESBC (now with a 20% late fee between June 8-13 for new registering members). Those who have already paid partially, however, may pay their remaining fee without having to pay the additional 20% charge.

For the late ESBC tour payment, click ubf.org and then go to “ESBC Tour Payment” (lower left-hand column), between June 8-13. There may be a very slight amount charged, due to the changed currency exchange rate.

*Additional France visiting and Greece visiting will not be allowed, since they have more than one bus tour fully occupied by members already. We will discuss with the ESBC tour coordinators the possibility of accepting more members, and we will know the outcome around June 8. If they still can accommodate you, we will reopen the payment site. If it is not possible, you will see that the program is closed.

** For the North American journey team’s travels, Pastor Kevin Albright will now be in charge. He will talk with the 7 journey team leaders about how to serve the European house-churches we are visiting. The 7 journey team leaders will contact with each of 7 journey team members to share these guidelines.

*** The final ESBC messengers’ camp will be held in Bonn, Germany in June 22-27.

Swiss Genesis Bible Academy News

Anja — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:00:02 +0000

Missionary Paul Lee of Geneva UBF held first Genesis Bible Academy on January 24. His lecture using power point revealed the mystery of God’s creation so impressively. S. Noemi sang a graceful song and M. Sarah Lee shared her testimony full of faith and grace. Noemi’s father brought many pictures about the beautiful nature and blessed the Academy.

We thank God for brother Byung Su Shon, Paul and Sarah Jr. who served this academy with stewardship. We praise God for renewing our faith in the Creator God through this Academy. We will have our second Genesis Bible Academy on February 21st. Please pray for our second lecture about “God who created man”.

With love,
From Geneva,

Paul Lee

Romania Mission News by M. John Jung

Anja — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:05:40 +0000

God of Immanuel who gave us the sign of recovery

"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer." (2.Timothy 2:3,4)

2008 was a year of hardship and training but a year in which God gave us the sign of recovery for our house church. After coworker gave birth a stillborn child in her last pregnancy in Nov. 2007, she suffered very much from mental shock and hypochondria and also from respiratory distress which seemed to be an aftereffect of caesarian section. I struggled to endure this time of hardship hoping God who works for the good of those who have been called according to his purpose in all things taking desperately hold of Romans 8:28 and 8:32 putting these verses on my office desk. Bonn UBF coworker’s practical serving of love and prayer support and comfort from many senior missionaries encouraged us a lot in that period. Especially when I was just about to give up solving coworker’s respiratory distress problem because any hospital in Bucharest couldn’t explain clearly the reason and solution, coworker recovered suddenly from her breathing problem without any medical treatment thanks to God’s servants’ prayer support from all over the world. I could understand a little more the heart of God who had to sacrifice his one and only son instead of me and I made up my mind newly to hope only the kingdom of God and to serve this mission more purely with fear of God putting down all human hope on my coworker and son. But meanwhile there was works of Satan that Bogdan whom I served four years and who swore many times to be good coworker for Romania UBF pioneering ministry got marry to one sister and informed to me later and M. felt in human love with one American by internet and planed to emigrate to USA after graduation in Feb. in 2009. But I couldn’t help them absolutely because I was tied down to coworker’s health problems and passing through spiritual depression period. I was suffered in and out of house and company due to the failure of delivery of 1st child, coworker’s breathing problem, burden on ministry, difficulties in raising disciples, power struggle and human conflict in company and loneliness in mission field to be exhausted spiritually and physically.

On the other hand God allowed coworker to remain pregnant again in May, and coworker started to recover spiritually and physically very rapidly. I started to pray that God help my house church with easy birth this time to experience God who works for the good in all things in spite of training from time to time and to recover fully from hurts and failure due to the stillbirth of first baby more than son itself. And God gave signs of recovery in many sectors of my life. God blessed my life in company to promote to manage level in an abnormal way, and will send back wicked human-centered boss who gave me many stresses to hinder ministry to Korea and will send Christian bosses and a boss with good character from same hometown. Through this God is allowing more free office environment decreasing unnecessary stresses to serving ministry well. In March God allowed us small but well located apartment near Univ. of Agriculture (Verterinary Medicine) campus as bible center and front line camp for pioneering ministry. In the beginning stage of pioneering ministry I used to try to evangelize company colleagues and friends. Bogdan and Madalina are among them, but from 1st semester(autumn) of 2008 we decided to get new students sheep through visiting campus of Univ. of Agriculture (Verterinary Medicine) and dormitory (where also ASE(Univ. of Economy) students are living) and fishing once a week. Then we could meet some students with spiritual hope such as George (Business Administration 1), Lucian (Veterinary medicine), Nicu (Environment protection 5), Alina and so on. And God allowed us students from Republic of Moldova such as Diana (Univ. of Politics/ public relations 3), Marina (Univ. of Politics/Political Science 3) and Mariana (high school 1) who is Diana’s younger sister. On the other hand in the company I got an opportunity to evangelize Eduard (Univ. of polytechnic / graduated) who is new staff in my department and praying for the invitation to Spring Bible conference and Summer Bible conference in 2009. And when I try to invite Toma(Univ. of Economy/ graduated) who is colleague in the office and Irinia, his wife to 2009 summer bible conference, God granted him spiritual desire to read carefully some instruction books of UBF and they promised to participate. And Edy who is one of my old Romanian friend and attending Baptist church decided to participate to summer bible conference and to save money for expenses. May God invite at least 10 young people to 2009 summer bible conference. When I look back 2008, I thank God specially for Bogdan’s and Madalina’s participation to Macedonia Spring conference to learn God love and mercy through the parable of the lost son and have fellowship with coworkers from Bulgarian, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece. On 13 and 14 Dec. we arranged Christmas Bible cafe for the first time in our pioneering ministry and tried to invite students. God blessed this Bible cafe to bring 3 students (Madalina, Bogdan and Nicu) and one Christian family (George and Laura) helped voluntarily this ministry with special songs and we shared the joy and grace of Jesus’ coming for our sins. Through this Christmas Bible cafe there was a work of Holy Spirit in Bogdan and Madalina to decide to continue again 1 to 1 bible study regularly. While I serve Christmas Bible Cafe I could notice that God is intervining in Madalina’s life to have personal relationship with her. At fisrt, when we were worried with the number of sheep to come, Madalina couldn’t enter her new apartment because of 10 month delay in construction and registration and finally had trouble with her worldly friends with whom she was living together and she cannot help but to request help to us to live together in our apartment not only to participate in Bible Cafe but also to help this ministry with ownership. Secondly, she tried to get visa to emigrate to USA seeking human love with one American but failed to get visa as we prayed and cried all night. In this process Madalina accepted that even though she plans her path, God is the one who leads her life finally and decided to continue 1 to 1 bible study and house church bible study with shepherdess Monica JUNG. May God save Madalina who is fluent in Spanish and French also and let her live as bible teacher and shepherdess of students.

Romania UBF planned to serve invitation for Bible Cafe, Spring conference in Serbia and Int’l summer bible conference under basic direction of visiting campus and fishing once a week for the Univ. of Agriculture (Veterinary Medicine) and dormitory of ASE(Univ. of Economy) to get new sheep with spiritual desire and serving 1 to 1 bible studies with current sheep. Especially we pray for new bible students such as Alina, Marina, Diana, Mariana, Nicu, Lucian to study bible regularly. Among them Marina, Diana and Mariana are from Republic of Molova where official language is Romanian. May God use them preciously for salvation work in Republic of Moldova. And May God have mercy on Bogdan and Veronica’s family so that they may be used for pioneering ministry preciously as coworking family. May God of Immanuel be with us also in 2009 to show his grace abundantly. We start 2009 with key verse, 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.” May God help me to deliver heart moving Romanian message and raise up one responsible and voluntary Romanian leader for this ministry.

Prayer topics:
1) At least 1 house church for 84 universities (56 public / 28 private) by 2020
2) New bible students from Univ. of Agriculture and Veterinary Medine and ASE(Univ. of Economy) by evangelization every Saturday
3) To raise up disciples among student in Romania and Republic of Moldova through 1 to 1 bible study, GBS and Bible Café
4) Shepherdess Monica JUNG’s easy birth (Mar. 2009)
5) 2009 summer bible conference (to invite at least 10 students)
6) Spiritual growth Bogdan/Veronica, Madalina, Diana, Marina, Mariana, Nicu, George, Eduard

Denmark Mission Report by M. Caleb Lee

Anja — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:49:41 +0000

You give them something to eat

Mark 6:37a “But he answered, you give them something to eat.”

The main direction of the ministry in Denmark UBF for 2008 was to give spiritual food to Danes. After returning from Bible conference in Germany we invited Sang Hee Lee and her Danish husband Rune to our fellowship. In February God sent a mission coworker as Au pair to Denmark. Since then we had Campus prayer meeting and inviting Bible students together. We had Early Prayer Meeting and Group Bible study faithfully. We studied Exodus. Through Exodus Bible study I have realized that God has helped and blessed us for the last 14 years in Denmark for the ministry of God. In March we had Easter Bible Seminar attending Ole and Eun Kyong Lee and her Danish husband Allan and Torben, our neighbor. We attended North European Bible Conference in Norway in May 30th and June 1st. And we attended Purdue International Summer Bible Conference in USA in July 24-28. We saw that the almighty God is working in the whole world. Especially I have received Numbers 14.9 and decided to have Caleb’s challenging spirit. We had Autumn Bible Seminar in October 18-19. For this we invited messengers from abroad, Msn. John Park from Ireland UBF and Shep. Louise from London UBF. Msn. Grace Joo and Cristina from Sweden UBF and Zussana from London UBF and Ole, Thomas, Sang Hee Lee, Eun Mi Park from Denmark attended at this Seminar. We had another Bible Seminar in November 22. Ole invited Thomas to this Bible Seminar by himself and we had a long Group Bible Study in Danish. May God help me to have faithful Bible Study with Ole and Thomas. We had Christmas Sunday worship service with Thomas and Carina in December 22. I praise and thank God for He used and blessed us to give some spiritual food to Danes during the last year.

I entered Copenhagen University as a freshman in 1999. Last year I finally finished my study and got Master Degree in Economics. I thank and praise God for He helped me to finish my study even though I had a lack of knowledge and language problem. I thank Msn. Pauline who supported me fully and faithfully. Through studying Economics in Copenhagen University I could learn the high level of Danish language and got Master degree which is well known in Danish society. God helped and blessed Msn. Pauline Lee, too. She started to study Education in Copenhagen Education University. After working in Embassy she studied four times a week even until 21:00 pm. Though this may God help her to learn the high level of Danish language and to meet and have relationship with Danish students at Campus. May God help her study so that she can get Degree in Education after 4 years. Then she can work as a teacher in Denmark and be used a counselor for 2nd Generation missionaries.

During the last 13 years we have served ministry in Denmark as one missionary family. Last year God sent the first mission coworker to Denmark. By God’s grace Shep. Josephine Cho came as missionary, officially as Au pair. Then we started to have Early prayer meeting and Group Bible study and Camus meeting together. After she has returned back to Korea God sent Eun Mi Park, my niece in September. May God bless her to meet Jesus through 1:1 Bible study with Msn. Pauline and then to be a good mission coworker in Denmark.

The key verse for 2009 is Numbers 14:9. “Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” The Danes seems to be happy without any troubles because they live in the country which has a good welfare system. Because of this I have felt that I could not serve them through 1:1 Bible study. However I learned Caleb’s challenging spirit in Number 14:9. Two weeks ago the people in Copenhagen Area has experienced the first earthquake ever since 1930. I believed that there will be a spiritual earthquake in 2009.

The prayer topics for 2009
1. Matthew Gospel Bible study and Sunday Worship service.
2. Danish Daily bread translation and edition.
3. Reading Danish Bible
4. To have Danish Bible study with Ole and Thomas
5. Getting new Danish Bible students
6. Financial Support for study of Msn. Pauline after her resignation in Korean Embassy.
7. Attending 10 people from Denmark in European Summer Bible Conference

Norway Mission Report and Prayer Topics by M. Joseph Shin

Anja — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:47:05 +0000

A spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

The beginning of 2008 Kim Eu Sun short time missionary came to Norway as babysitter. She was bible student of missionary Maria Chin. She took care of our children very well and was good coworker of house church. There were a lot of good things happened after she came to Norway, so we said to her “Wow! You are really source of blessing” One of the good things was that M.Josef Chin was released from long times babysitter working. And He could prepare couple of exam and North Europe summer bible conference in Norway.

In March M.Josef Chin got first job in Norway as Korean language teacher and guitar instructor in Norwegian primary school. I was so thankful about that. But it was wired to me that 10 years boy called me neither sir nor teacher, but called me as my name. “Hey Josef can you help me?” And I could begin another job as translator. I was the first official Korean translator in Norway. Through this job I could help some North Korean refugees in Norway, and have many different kinds of mission in hospital, school, TV station. Through that I could improve my Norwegian language. This kinds of job experience gave me joy and confidence because I was no longer just babysitter but I could participate in self supporting work.

In late May It held North Europe S.B.C in beautiful mission center on the mountain in Bergen. Title of conference was “Jesus, God’s love” and it was 37 attendances with children. Bonn UBF and Kyungsung UBF served us devotedly. During preparation and serving this conference we could learn Mark 6:37 “You give them something to eat!” We gave Him just little faith and heart, but God blessed all of us abundantly. After S.B.C we began Genesis group bible study with some brothers and My friend Mauricio and Jarle family could understood our fellowship and vision in God. In autumn semester I got admission to foreign medical doctor course in Oslo university. I had to move oslo in one month and had studied hard because I forgot almost about medical knowledge. If I had failed, I had to take one month course again. So it was little stress. I just only asked God’s grace. After written and oral examination I felt that I would be passed. I was so joyful and ran that I lost my jacket. I must take medical national exam in this year. It seems like high mountain to me but I pray that I could pass with God’s grace so that I glory God and put self supporting ministry on solid foundation.

When I look back last year, I must give testimony about God who cared about us. God gave us our daily bread in last year. M. Maria Chin reduced her job as 75% and in September she had one month leave of absence without payment. I worked part time but it was not enough. We needed money because of babysitter missionary invitation, SBC host, and my studying in Oslo University. And God helped us in every time when we needed. Through this experience we could trust God Our Heavenly Father who takes care of His children like us. And I thank God who gave us permanent residence permit in last year. 2008 passed away so quickly we got many thanksgiving topics and repentance topics. We were not faithful our campus mission in last year. We prayed that but we were so lazy and week about fishing and gospel preaching in campus. So we lost a lot of opportunity which we could enlarge our relationship with campus students. M.Maria Chin was tired because of her job and household affair and I was tired because of studying and babysitter. So if we got little time we just wanted to have rest. Some times we were seized with fear that we would do nothing as missionary in Norway, and we felt drained of our heart and love to campus mission and campus students. But God let us renew faith and heart with His word and Christian books and encouragement from coworkers and let us knew how beautiful shepherd life is how glorious missionary life is.

Key verse 2009 is 2.Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” We pray that we serve our campus mission with faith to God who give us a spirit of power and we serve lamb of Jesus with God’s love.

Prayer topics
1. Norway will be holy nation and kingdom of priest.
2. God may open a door for gospel, to serve campus mission faithful
3. Give Msn. Josef Chin powerful Matthew message, to pass medical national test.
4. Msn Maria Chin will be mother of prayer in Norway

Special Lecture for 2009 European Directors Conference (by Dr. James Suh)

Anja — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:46:44 +0000

Special Lecturefor 2009 European Directors Conference

EFFECTIVE ONE TO ONE MINISTRY

(Dr. James Suh, Kyungsung UBF, Korea)

John 21:15-17

Key Verse: Luke 12:42

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?”

Praise and thank God for giving me this opportunity to share God’s grace with the precious missionaries in Europe at the beginning of this year 2009. The topic given to me for this special lecture is “Effective One to One ministry.” I do not feel fully qualified to discuss this topic in a comprehensive manner. Rather, the focus of my presentation is to share the lessons God has taught me over the years in the course of living as a Bible teacher. In the course of prayers and reflection, it dawned on me that God has been very gracious to this unworthy sinner. While preparing this lecture, God helped me to repent me to restore my first love for Christ Jesus overcoming the lukewarm spirit of this generation. Most of all, may God grant all of us faith, love, strength and wisdom to serve this challenging generation. May God bless each of us to be a very faithful and fruitful one to one disciple-maker in 2009.

[1] God prepared me to be a one to one Bible teacher

First, “Do you truly love me more than these?” (John 21:15-17).

I met Jesus Christ personally in my third year of the Medical School at Seoul National University, Korea. So it was a late start for me. I was quite ignorant of the Bible. God trained me to study the Bible and even speak at various Bible academies and summer conferences with the texts from Genesis, Exodus, and Romans. This was hard and burdensome; somehow God helped me to do so. In this way God prepared me to lay a good foundation to be a Bible teacher. My initial Bible study experiences were not so good. Almost all of those who studied with me stopped even before coming to the third chapter of the book of Genesis. Probably, without ever hearing about Satan in Genesis chapter 3, they fell into the temptation to quit. Sheep without a shepherd is pitiful as well as a shepherd without even one sheep. God in his good purpose trained me in this way so that it was clear to me that my own diligent and sincere effort alone is not sufficient to raise any disciples for Jesus.

Anyway, while experiencing sheep that studied for a while and fell away like falling leaves in the fall, I lost the meaning of shepherd life. My body and spirit became very tired. Out of desperation I sought advice from Dr. Samuel Lee to understand how to serve God’s mission. He gave me two specific advices. One was to learn faithful intercessory prayer and the other was to learn to co-work, instead of trying to do it all by myself. This spiritual counsel has become a very important foundation for my shepherd life. Afterwards, God allowed me to be a shepherd without a sheep for almost ten years before starting a new pioneering ministry for Kyunghee University in Seoul. This was the period when I received humility and faith training.

By God’s grace, my wife and I established a house church. Since my coworker had already finished her preparation to leave for America as a missionary doctor, she left for her mission field six months after our marriage. I stayed in Korea and became a man without his wife, which was so-called ‘Hudson Taylor Training’ in that Hudson Taylor, renowned English missionary to China, lived many years in his mission field without his wife. Throughout this period of training, God molded me as an independent servant who depends on God, not on any people whom I easily count on. However, my sheep showed no mercy to this man without his loving wife. Many of them left one by one finding whatever reason they could think of. In the year I was receiving ‘Hudson Taylor Training’, I invited sheep wholeheartedly for the Summer Bible Conference in Jejudo. Even at the conference they were not interested in God’s words at all, but missed meetings to go fishing and swimming whenever the chances allowed them.

I wondered why God gave me such bad sheep all the time. I complained to God. I condemned myself for not being faithful to my family. I despaired with the sense of failure as a shepherd, too. I prayed in tears, “Lord, I sent away my wife as a missionary in obedience to you. I am now receiving this ‘Hudson Taylor Training’ by faith. Why then don’t you send me even one good sheep?” At that time, through one of the conference messages the Lord came to me, “Jintae, son of Hagyun Suh, do you truly love me more than these? Feed my lambs”(John 21:15). I had nothing to say before these words. God exactly pointed out my sin problem and challenged me to repent. Jesus wanted me to love Him the most, not worrying about the outcomes of my sincere shepherd life. He wanted to grow in my love relationship with him first. I was a sinner who merely struggled to feed sheep even for my small glory and satisfaction. In the name of feeding sheep I loved myself and this world more than my Lord.

When I served sheep with this attitude, they somehow recognized it and left me with no regret. God had compassion on me, helping me repent. I resolved to be a good shepherd that loves the Lord and feeds his sheep for his glory and for their wellbeing. In this way, this conference was a truly memorable one, since I learned what it means to be a good shepherd for Jesus and his sheep, not for myself.

Second, Bind up the testimony (Isaiah 8:16)

When I developed this absolute love relationship with Jesus and renewed the spiritual order with him, my ‘Hudson Taylor Training’ was over. My coworker returned to Korea from New York. God blessed us to be a wonderful family of mission. Through the fruit of this precious training, both of us have learned the independent and responsible life before God. Besides, God has established the solid routines of daily bread and intercessory prayers together for God’s flock before the end of each day. With my firm decision to feed sheep based on the love of God, many sheep all of a sudden attended the Summer Bible Conference of that year. My fellowship grew very big. At that time, God sent my house church from Chongro Headquarters to Anam Center. It was to pioneer Korea University with Shepherd Mark Yang. However, even with the passing of time, my fellowship had no college students from Korea University. Those who had joined with us for the pioneering ministry all except one left for one reason after another. Once again, I merely complained and despaired in deep disappointment over my unfruitful shepherd life.

At that time, Dr. Samuel Lee gave me Isaiah 8:16, “Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples.” This was God’s word for the prophet Isaiah who was despairing over the wicked Israelites. Dr. Samuel Lee urged me to grow up and become a servant of God’s word first—being fit to raise disciples of Jesus. I had no real word of God that was deeply planted in my heart. Instead, I served his sheep with my own will and hard work. Naturally, many sheep neither tasted any real joy nor experienced God’s grace through my ministry. In reality, I was driving them away with my legalistic and moralistic demands. God’s training was to help me accept God’s words deeply in my heart. I repented my useless sense of despair. Instead, I made up my mind to do first things first: constantly reading the Bible, doing Daily Bread, prayerfully meditating weekly message and faithfully writing testimonies.

Around that time, I was serving a three year military duty as a medical officer. For the last two years I was assigned in Pusan area which was about four hours away from Seoul by train. This was a very precious period for me to meditate and store God’s words in my soul deeply. During the weekdays, I stayed in Pusan; during the weekends, I came to Seoul to participate in Anamgol pioneering ministry. While I was alone, I wrote testimonies deeply and read the Bible prayerfully. Gradually God helped me to taste the power of God’s words and help me prepare one-to-one Bible materials. With no sheep I did not waste my time by indulging in vain thinking. Rather, I took it as the most precious “wilderness” opportunity to prepare myself as an independent and responsible Bible teacher. While spending more than these ten long years without sheep I learned to be content and rejoice in the Lord. Therefore, I was able to provide comfort and hope for anyone who struggled without any sheep. Through this period of training God taught me the essence of faith—it is to keep absolute faith in God with great patience, even though there might be neither real visible fruit nor tangible rewards. The lessons are very clear to me: God prepares his servants to be responsible and capable Bible teacher first before they experience any fruitful work. God trains his servants to love him most and devote to the ministry of God’s word and prayer with great faithfulness.

[2] God helped us pioneer Kyunghee University

First, God raised up one father of faith

After completion of my military duty God led me to the Kyunghee University Hospital as a faculty. At that time, we had an earnest prayer topic to raise up “Peter” team brothers who might bless the faithful “older” sisters who need to form Christian families. God graciously answered with our prayer and sent Abraham Han to us as one-to-one sheep. He was a somewhat older student in his fourth year at the Medical School and already completed his army service. Amazingly, he even said that he was praying to find a good bible teacher for a long time. God answered both my prayer for one-to-one sheep and Shepherd Abraham Han’s prayer for one-to-one teacher. God led us to meet together dramatically, which was the beginning of pioneering ministry for Kyunghee University.

God accepted our earnest and sincere prayers for the “older” sisters and used them as our ‘five loaves and two fish”(i.e., a concrete instrument of God’s blessings) for Kyunghee Campus Ministry. The fruitful one to one ministry in Kyunghee University was possible as God blessed our shepherd heart for even one person. God called one person, Abraham, and served him one-to-one for a long time, to accomplish the world salvation purpose. Eventually, Abraham became the man of faith and obedience. God blessed Abraham, so from him, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Through the pioneering ministry of Kyunghee University, we experienced that God sends many sheep through one father of faith.

Second, “Who will give them their food allowance at the proper time?” (Luke 12:42)

It was not easy for busy medical students to find time for intensive Bible studies. However, when the Holy Spirit worked, many medical students came to study the Bible. Then, sheep invited their friends. At the Summer Bible Conference of that year, there was a great work of God among students from the school of Medicine, Dentistry, Oriental Medicine, and Nursing. We called those who grew to be shepherds as ‘Lions’ Team, named after the symbol of Kyunghee University–Lion. This pioneering ministry grew year after year and many pioneering leaders were raised for each year. Among them, Missionary David Cho, now pioneering North Western University in Chicago, invited many students for Bible study and helped them faithfully. But all of them said good-bye to him without completing even three lessons. He also probably needed a similar training like me.

One day he invited one student for Bible study thinking that he was a medical student. He was in fact a student from Kwangwoon University. Fortunately, he moved beyond the “impossible” first three lessons of Genesis and continued to engage in one to one regularly. We encouraged Shepherd David to bear fruit in one-to-one ministry no matter what university the student was from. But the student, as a non-medical student from another university, felt somewhat uncomfortable with the center environment where many “smart” medical students were studying the Bible. Therefore he did not want to come to the center. So Shep. David went to the campus of Kwangwoon University and studied the Bible there instead. For the sake of Kwangwoon University, we acquired a Bible center nearby the campus and many students came for Bible study, rest and fellowships. In this way, the pioneering ministry of Kwangwoon University started. We just encouraged Shepherd David to serve one sheep and bear fruit in his shepherd life. It was God who blessed his shepherd heart to begin the pioneering ministry at Kwangwoon University.

Following the Kwangwoon ministry, the work of the Holy Spirit spread to Dongduk Women’s University as well. The sheep from Kwangwoon University were mostly brothers. Our leaders were concerned about their marriages in faith. So, we prayed for pioneering Dongduk Women’s University that located nearby Kwangwoon Campus. We prayed to find one woman of God from this campus and many leaders went to the campus for one to one invitation. God was certainly pleased with our prayers and raised up many great full-time shepherdesses as the mothers for many nations through this campus.

We also praise God who began his good work at the Medical School of Catholic University of Korea. One pioneer shepherd in the ‘Lions’ Team’ volunteered to pioneer the Medical School at Catholic University of Korea after graduating Kyunghee Medical School. He applied for the resident program at the Catholic University Hospital. At that time, my oldest daughter Jin-soon entered Catholic University Medical School. With this, God granted this school as our third pioneering field. Building on the pioneering ministry at Kyunghee Medical School from 1981, God granted us very prosperous ministry within 7-8 years extending our tents of mission and raising up the faithful prayer servants for each campus.

At the beginning of pioneering ministry for “Lions’ Team” we simply did not have enough shepherds to feed the sheep. A few leaders had to bear many students who wanted to study the Bible. Since I have been a shepherd without sheep for many years, I thought I should give God’s words to all of them. I tried to help them in groups—instead of several one to one studies. At that time, Dr. Samuel Lee advised me that we should focus on disciple making ministry through one-to-one bible study. He gave the name of our center to be ‘Kyungsung’, which means ‘stay awake,’ which has become the spiritual direction for us to serve the pioneering ministry for Kyunghee University. I was concerned about how to serve disciple making ministry since I had been a lay shepherd and not received any formal shepherd training.

Then, Dr. Samuel Lee gave me Luke 12:42, “The Lord answered, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?’” Based on this, he planted faith in God and inspired me to feed sheep with conviction that God’s people will grow if I live as a faithful and wise servant to give God’s word to his people at the proper time. By this word I was free from the unnecessary burdens of doing something special for his people. Rather, I decided to present myself as a servant of God’s word and trust God for the results of my work. I changed the direction to devote to one-to-one Bible study, not group studies. I served two teams of one to one in the early morning and the other two teams in the evening each day.

One early morning in the winter, I left home for one-to-one Bible study. There was so much snow and no taxi was available. I thought that the sheep would not come to have a Bible study in such a cold and snowy day, and I planned to return home. All of a sudden I remembered Luke 12:42. I thought that even though the sheep might not come but as a shepherd I should go to the center to pray for the sheep. Then, I saw a taxi just coming toward me. To my surprise, there was the sheep in the taxi who promised to have one-to-one. He said that he also hesitated to come, wondering if I would really come in such a bad weather. But he decided to come anyway thinking that he should keep the Bible study appointment. In this way, God helped me obey to Luke 12:42.

Giving the spiritual food allowance at the proper time does not require any special know-how and techniques. Neither was it about outstanding ability nor smart methods that mattered. But I experienced that the sheep would grow when I feed God’s words to them responsibly, as a faithful and wise manager. Our leaders did not know what and how to serve the pioneering ministry. But we prayed for the sheep God entrusted to us three times a day. And we worked hard to be the faithful managers to give them their food allowance at the proper time. Indeed, God himself raised many leaders and missionaries and then sent them to pioneer three chapters in Korea and sent out 70 missionaries to 17 nations.

Third, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37)

Medical students are very busy. At the ordinary time they were faithful to one-to-one study. But at the time of exam they would stop all other things and only concentrated for their exam preparations. When they did well in the exams, they came again for the Bible studies. But when they did not do well in their exams, they blamed for the time investment they made for Bible study and then quit studying the Bible as of first importance. While trying to live by faith according to God’s words, they have little time with their “old” friends. They felt alone and alienated. As their minds are filled with worries and concern for their future, they stop being open to God’s words. To overcome this challenge we came up with some special measures. We were seeking a practical way to help these students overcome their stress during exam periods and further develop good love relationships. Our women leaders and full-time shepherdesses prepared gourmet foods–lunch set, whole baked chicken, and hamburgers before the exam week. We also had special prayer meeting every day to support them and feed them physically as well.

Then, not only those who were doing one-to-one studies but also many hesitant sheep attended the meeting and shared Daily Bread, enjoying the gourmet foods. Shepherds gave them God’s words and students shared their prayer topics and prayed together. In the course of such serving life sheep experienced God’s grace. They developed trust and love relationships with the leaders who love them with sincere and pure love of God. They saw how eagerly these Bible teachers fed them with good food and prayed for them in spite of their own financial and practical needs.

In this way, many students tasted the grace of God and opened their hearts. They shared their life issues, asked for help and grew in faith through sincere and mature Christian fellowship. Many students grew in faith just as little children are happy in the environment of love, continuous prayer support, active fellowships, regular meetings and close friendships based on love of God. After all, faith, hope and love remain but the greatest of these is love. Amen!

Fourth, United prayer (Matthew 18:19)

As the number of sheep grew, the number of people suffering from various problems in lives increased, too. When we were not sure how to help all of them with various life issues, we decided to pray. We had engaged in early morning prayers. Fulltime shepherdesses had united prayer meeting in the every morning. On every Friday, we had prayer all night, depending wholly on the prayer. In the evenings on Sundays, staff shepherds had team conferences to discuss and pray for spiritual needs of key leaders. We were seeking God’s direction holding onto their prayer topics. After having the united prayer, the night was gone and there was a bright early morning. God listened to our prayers and blessed our ministry with the returning work among those who had left before. God helped us to have prayer support for the missionaries sent out from our chapter and beyond. We earnestly prayed with the prayer topics that our missionaries provided, calling each and every name in the early morning prayer and Friday vigil prayer. When we did so, God answered our prayers and accomplished great salvation ministry in the foreign mission field.

Fifth, the ministry of special bible study program, ‘The Lecture Hall of Tyrannus’

Medical students had no rest in their heart and usually felt tired and weary because of constant exams and tests. To raise them up as Bible teachers, we had to use the school break periods. We followed the example of Apostle Paul’s ministry at the Lecture hall of Tyrannus. When the summer or winter school break time came, we organized the special Bible Study teams, we had various group Bible Study to teach students Genesis, John, Romans, and Exodus. We set up an overall schedule to finish the study during the school break periods. We also helped them have in-depth Bible studies and had them prepare Bible study materials. Through these focused Bible studies, they could have confidence and conviction to be Bible teachers of fishing and teaching the bible to the students. And we are praying to raise up 300 capable Bible teachers till 2010.

In conclusion, God raised up the Fathers of faith—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob–through one to one follow-up care for many years. One to one ministry is the beginning and the very foundational work of gospel ministry. God has also granted us the spiritual wisdom and faith to adopt one to one ministry for the world campus pioneering work. However, this work does not necessarily bring about magical and desirable results; therefore, some people question about its continuous effectiveness. Many are very concerned about the increasing challenges and even poor state of disciple-making ministry among us. Some even feel about a real sense of crisis of our work.

However, in the course of preparing this lecture I am convinced again that most effective and powerful ministry of God’s word is through one to one ministry. I deeply repent of my lack of dedication to one to one studies. The lack of recent growth in my ministry is mainly about lack of one to one studies. The primary reason is that I, as the chapter director, has not been faithful to this main work. Like a fire fighter it is easy for us to try to go after many “urgent” problems among us. Instead, we must restore our first love, richly store the words of God in our hearts and faithfully provide the words of life in season and out of season. May God help us to devote ourselves to the ministry of God’s word, not merely involve in many activities of busy work. May God bless our one to one ministry abundantly this year—even here in Europe and around the world.

2009 European Directors Conference

Anja — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:02:35 +0000

2009 European Directors conference was full of the word of God, full of tears, full of joy and love restoring our first love for God and God’s flock. Altogether more than 100 attended. (25 directors and 15 directors’ coworkers, 18 native shepherds, 5 from Korea, 8 from USA and around 30 German coworkers).

Dr. John Jun’s message, “Restore your first love” (Rev C2) touched all attendants’ hearts to repent with tears. Dr. Peter Chang’s opening message titled, “You give them something to eat” challenged all directors to have compassionate heart, life giving spirit, shepherd’s responsibility for Europe students through one to one Bible study. S. Samuel H. Lee gave a message titled, “Love one another” (John 13). For evening messages P. Walter Nett gave a message titled, “The double portion of your Spirit” (2 King 2) P. Paul Ridge’s message was titled, “Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem!” (Nehemiah 1,2.). Dr. James Suh gave a special message about, “Effective one to one ministry” based on his own failures and successes through his KyungSung UBF ministry. Dr. Paul Hong encouraged all attendants to pray earnestly and never give up in world campus mission through his closing message (Lk 18).

The highlight was the testimony sharing among directors. They were full of repentant tears. The directors’ coworkers claimed that they shed more tears than the directors. 25 director’s report of God’s work in each nation was so precious. Outwardly what they reported seemed very insignificant in numbers and quantity. But we could see that Europe has hope to be restored from her spiritual declination through UBF missionaries burning love for them.

We also had a presentation for 2009 Eringerfeld European Summer Bible conference by M. Elijah Park, M. Andrew Kim and S. Schweitzer. Even though we had such a packed schedules in short time, we did everything with plenty of time for sports for soccer, table tennis, Jokku, swimming, snow walking, aerobics, singspiration, quality music performances by region by region chorus team, by Bonn 2nd music servants and women coworkers special report for each country during meal time. It was so beautiful to see Abrahams of faith of many nations; Alesch (Czech), George (Bulgaria), Stamatis (Greece), Noemie (Swiss). Many native shepherds, Paul, Abraham, Reiner, Schweitzer, Stephen, Bruno Aussant, participated as stewards of the conference. Bonn native coworkers and missionaries prepared good environment as well as abundant snacks.

Dr. John Jun gave the following prayer topics:
1. 1000 attendants through 1000 united prayers for 2009 European SBC, celebrating 40th anniversary of Europe and German pioneering.
2. Double European ministry by 2010.
3. To pioneer 1700 campuses by sending one house church for each campus of Europe. Pioneer Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia, Finland by 2012 and 45 all European nations.
4. Send out 100,000 missionaries by 2041 including NK, China and Muslim nations.

Restore your first love (Message by Dr. Jose Ahn)

Anja — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:05:08 +0000

RESTORE YOUR FIRST LOVE

Revelation 2:1-11

Key Verses: 2:4

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.”

Revelation looks difficult to understand. But today’s lesson is easy and clear to understand. Jesus tells us two things. First, restore your first love. Second, be faithful even to the point of death.

First, restore your first love (1-7)

Let’s read v1. Here seven stars and seven golden Lampstands represent seven churches in Asia. They represent also all churches of God.

Jesus speaks to the church of Ephesus. Ephesus was famous with the temple of Diana. Immoral sex. A center of commerce too. Here many evil things were practiced. The city was a stronghold of Satan. There Paul ministered for three years (Acts 19:1, 20:31).

What was Jesus doing? Jesus was holding the seven churches in his right hand. It means his perfect protection. In John 10:28-29 Jesus said. “No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all.” I believe this Jesus is holding UBF Bonn and all the churches of God in his right hand too.

Jesus also was walking among the Lampstands. This shows Jesus is a good shepherd. He walks among his sheep. He knows and cares what they need immediately.

Let’s read V2-3. Now V6 too.

First of all, Jesus complimented their many good deeds. They worked very hard: Fishing and feeding sheep etc. They also persevered. To persevere means to overcome many hardships by faith. There were false teachers, but they discerned and kept pure doctrines. They did not compromise with worldly ideas. They endured all hardships and still have not grown weary. They looked pretty good in all ways.

Secondly, remember your first love. (4-7)

But Jesus did not stop there. Let’s read v4. Men look at only outward appearance. But God sees the inner hearts. The church of Ephesus looked good outwardly. But Jesus saw that they had forsaken their first love for God and for others.

What does it mean to forsake their first love for God? It was God who loved them first. He gave his one and only son. He forgave all their sins. When they believed this love of God, love began in their heart too. Their first love for God was burning. They wanted to do all God want them to do. To love God meant also to love others as themselves.

A good example of this first love is Jacob’s love of Rachel. Out of his burning love Jacob willingly volunteered to serve Laban 7 years, freely. Then another seven years, no problem, with free of charge. His service required hard work. Yet for Jacob 14 years were just like a few days! He was joyful, happy. Hard work was not so hard at all.

Paul is another example. He served God and God’s flock with the same burning love. He never forgot how wretched sinner he was. Out of love for God and for his sheep he traveled many places. He wrote many letters. When he had no more place to go in his old age, he did not stop there. He said in Romans 15:28 “after all… I will go to Spain too….” His love was still burning.

Therefore to forsake the first love means to do things with no love for God and for others.

This means, we may come all the meetings, writing and sharing testimonies well, going fishing and doing several one to ones, playing orchestra etc. Yet we may miss such willing spirit. No more sacrificial and volunteering spirit. Avoid hard work. Come late to the meetings. Feel burden and do all God’s work out of obligation. No joy in doing God’s work. No peace and no happiness in heart.

Here Jesus teaches each of us and our church. It is not enough that we look good, just work hard, persevere and keep UBF doctrine, but to love God with all our heart, soul and strength. Yes, it is more important to do with love for God and for others.

How then can we restore our first love for God and for others?

Look at V5a “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Here three things Jesus suggested. Remember. Repent. And Do what you did at first.

When I tried to remember, my first love for God was like 100 Celsius degree. God’s love for campus students were boiling in my heart. I ran out to the campus and did many bible studies. I even became a missionary! Going alone even without my family almost 10 years! But after many years of UBF missionary life, I began to do many things out of obligation. I worked hard for my name’s sake. I used sheep to keep my one to one numbers. I persevered to reach our goal for the conference or Christmas worship number.

Could this make Jesus happy? Could this make sheep grow? Could this make me happy? No! No! No! One day I found I fell from high to low, very low, even below zero.

After remembering my fall, the next thing was to repent! At first instead of repenting, I wanted to complain about UBF hard life. I wanted to complain about Dr. Lee’s severe training. But Jesus helped me, no, no, “you should repent!.” So I began to repent. I confessed I worked hard with no love of God and others.

The next thing was to do the things I did first. After repenting, I returned to love one person through one to one Bible study. I did not care whether I may be rebuked by not bringing many sheep. I wanted to live before God saying I love you Father and I love your flock.

Then the joy and happiness returned to me. Willingness for God and volunteer to suffer for sheep filled my heart again. Like Jacob who worked 14 years with no charge and like a few day, that life returned to me again. That was beautiful. Soon God also sent many, last Christmas almost 80 came from my fellowship and 180 came from NEIU too.

But if we do not repent, what will happen? Jesus says in v5b “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” It means there will be no more Ephesus church on earth.

But to those who repent what will be given? V7b says “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” God will give eternal life in the kingdom of God. We will not only be fruitful on earth but will go to enjoy paradise with eternal life too.

Second, be faithful to the point of death (7-12)

Look at V8. Here Jesus introduces his faithful character. He is the first and the last. He kept his faithfulness to God even to the point of death. Then God raised him back.

Look at V9 “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Today we have world economic recession. Many become poor. But at that time the Christians lost all possessions just because of Jesus. Yet Jesus considered that they are rich in the kingdom of God. To lose for Jesus is to be rich in his kingdom.

Look at verse 10, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.” Jesus foresaw the suffering they were supposed to have.

Policap was from Smyrna. He suffered but he did not surrender. The judge finally gave one more chance. If he just say that Caesar is the Lord, he will be released. But Policap answered, “I served my Lord last 86 years and he never denied me. How can I deny my Lord! Jesus is my Lord!” So he was burned to death. Jesus foretold that these kinds of persecutions would happen.

But Jesus challenged them. Let’s read V10 “Be faithful, even to the point of death!”

What does this faithfulness to the point of death mean? First of all, be faithful to a very small thing. If we are not faithful in a small thing, we cannot be faithful in great thing either. Dr. John Jun was very faithful in small things. Once he had one sheep, he served him faithfully all his life time. So much so that God charged the whole UBF work of God.

David was a shepherd boy. When a wild beast comes and takes his sheep, he ran after the beast, struck its mouth, and took the sheep out of their mouth. When the bear or lion tried to attack him, David did heading as well as punching its nose or eyes. In that way he was faithful to take care of even one sheep. That was why God charged the whole Israel.

Secondly, we must be faithful to the end. In UBF work of God you see how many young people come fascinated by God’s word and his world mission vision. They all want to give their whole life. They share great testimonies. But sooner or later one by one disappears and finally just a handful of people remains. Yes, it is not easy to be faithful even to the point of death.

By God’s grace I have been 43 years of world campus mission as a self supporting missionary since my college sophomore year. I have been up and down. Now Jesus wants me one thing. ‘To be faithful to the point of death!” He says “I gave you warming up last 40 years in UBF. Now is time to begin to serve God and his flock really.”

Actually we can say that UBF just began for the real world mission. We have 150 more nations to pioneer, and hundred and thousands of campuses in each country. UBF Bonn Germany worked hard but there are many campuses to pioneer from now as the prayer topics show. We must be faithful to the end, to the point of death.

To the point of death also means to continue even though it is so difficult to continue. Jacob served 14 years for Rachel. But we UBF must serve God joyfully and willingly and voluntarily for 40 years, 50 years, and to the end. Even though world campus mission by self supporting missionaries through one to one bible study are very difficult task to do. Yet it is worthwhile to die for this mission.

Then what Jesus will give? He will give us the crown of life. Not the crown of olives! The leaves wither, but Jesus would give us eternal crown.

Those who overcome and win the victory will not also taste second death. Look at v11. He had passed from death to life forever.

In today’s passage Jesus taught us two things “Restore the first love for God and be faithful even to the point of death.” In 2009 may God bless each of us to love God and others and be faithful to Jesus to the end.