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Korea UBF

May 28, 2013

The spring staff conference was held on April 15-17, 2013 at Sangroc resort in Chunahn, with a total of 80 people attending, including four missionaries.

We studied Genesis in groups and shared the grace of the word of God with each other. Through Genesis Ch. 10-11, especially “The Tower of Babel,” we learned how much God disliked the pride of human beings. We also learn about the greatness of God’s calling and the obedience of Abraham through Genesis Ch. 12, and this study enabled us to revive God’s calling on us.

The emphasis of this conference was on special lectures. We used to have special lectures from speakers of other organizations. However, this time some of the staffs devoted themselves to preparation of special lectures. The first special lecture was opened by S. Changwon Kim of Kwanack I UBF, entitled “reformed understanding of the Holy Spirit for healthy unity of Christians.” As health became the most significant value of life after 50 years of age, he suggested that forming healthy unity among us should be the top value since UBF has already passed 50 years. For the healthy united Christian community, he pointed out that the first step is to establish a true and full understanding of the Holy Spirit. He presented a biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit and prepared Bible study materials for his lecture.

The second special lecture based on Leviticus was prepared by Elijah Kim from Incheon UBF. It would not be easy to deal with all the offerings in detail. However, he made a precise table of the offerings and a self-explanatory table with it that helped us very much. He explained the difference between the offerings and how they related to the cross of Christ. We could strengthen our insight and knowledge of God and be challenged by it.

There were three mission reports. First, Daniel Kim from Chicago (NEIU chapter) presented his life testimony. When he was a child, he had to face his parents’ death due to leaking gas that leaked into the room where his they were sleeping. He studied hard enough to enter Seoul National Univ. majoring in diplomacy. However, he suffered under fatalism knowing that human beings would die anyway, thus making life meaningless. By the help of his sister, he came to UBF to study Bible, and met Jesus as his Savior. He became a missionary to the U.S. for 36 years since 1976. His life testimony was so moving and made us think about what the beautiful life was. May God bless him and NEIU ministry.

Second, David Kang (Honduras) presented on the living God. Honduras is well-known as a dangerous country in the world. He was attacked by gangs twice, including recent gunshot wounds. He was hit twice while sitting in his car-- one to his head and the other was on his wrist. Surprisingly, both times the skin was only scratched. Doctors seeing his condition confessed, “It was just as if angels blocked the two bullets.” They were so amazed by his case. It was also moving when he decided to press on to do world mission work sacrificially after experiencing God’s steel protection on his life.

Third, David Kim (Chicago Dupage chapter), shared his mission report. He was a political activist who once joined in a movement to save Jaekyu Kim who assassinated President Junghee Park in his college life. He had to run away with extreme fear and trembling, and vowed to God that he would serve God forever if God saved him from this situation. God led him to UBF and made him a missionary. He sacrificially served DuPage ministry and bore much fruit. He helped another American shepherd to be a staff in his chapter and decided to pioneer a new chapter in Indianapolis. His life example greatly shown what the spirit of pioneering without being settled meant and all of us were challenged.

We had a prayer vigil every night all together. We prayed for the ISBC 2013 and 5000 one to one ministry in Korea with one heart. We had sports games; we enjoyed sports fellowship through soccer and baseball games.

Director David Kim said that he was so moved by the special lectures which the speakers’ devotion was poignant. He suggested all to study Bible deeply and share their lectures in other conferences. May God raise staff members to be servants with the word of God for this generation and use them preciously.

By Abraham Seo.