Genesis 12:2
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
First, a promising young man with no direction. I was born and raised in a Christian family in countryside of the southwestern province of Korea. I received military training and discipline for four years at the Korea Military Academy, and was commissioned as an Army officer. My future should have been bright, but I wandered off, not knowing the truth in Jesus and haunted by sinful lusts and selfishness. By Jesus’ grace and mercy, I was invited to one-to-one Bible study with Dr. Abraham Kim and received one word of Luke 3:8a, “Produce fruits in keeping with repentance.” I repented with many tears and made a small decision of faith that I would give my life to the work of God. God blessed me to establish a house church with M. Mary and to serve military cadets with joy and compassion.
Second, God sent me as a missionary to Kansas City. Though receiving the Army scholarship was competitive, I could get it without competition because I was the only one who showed up in the final interview. In this way, God provided for me to attend UMKC as a graduate student. School study was difficult, but by God’s mercy, I could not only receive the Masters’ degree, but also continue to Ph.D. study. I almost had to return to Korea without a Ph.D., but six months of extension were granted when the director of the Army Personnel Staff Department (a two-star general, whom I never knew before) reversed the original decision of the committee. It was a miracle from God. In this way, God blessed me to finish my Ph.D. in three and half years. God also blessed Rebekah Martin who was an education major student at UMKC to establish a house church with Andrew Martin of Cincinnati UBF.
Third, Wharang chapter pioneering. The Almighty God opened a door for me to teach at the Military Academy and the National Defense University in Korea as a professor and to serve the campus students for thirteen years. I was full of the world mission vision and presented a prayer topic that all of us including my family would be sent out as missionaries in ten years. God blessed Wharang chapter to send out over 20 missionaries to America, Canada and Europe, and raised up two professor shepherds in the Military Academy.
Fourth, I was sent out as a missionary again. When my military obligation was over, I began to search for a way to go out as a missionary. There were so many options before me such as teaching position, IT business, ‘Hongsam’ business, research center, or Kumon franchise. It was not easy to choose what to do and where and when to go out. I intently sought after a sign from God, but the Lord was silent. Instead, I accepted one word of Joshua 3:13, “And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” Trusting in the promise of God, I resigned the tenured professor position and God sent my family to DuPage in 2007.
Fifth, visa application and job search. We had B-2 visas which allowed us to stay in America for 3-6 months. First of all, I got an H1-B visa and then F-1 and F-2 visas to extend our stay. I met or talked to a dozen lawyers to process the visa application. I needed to find five referees of whom I hadn’t known before professionally to process the visa successfully. Thank and praise God! I found three referees in UBF: Dr. Bill Pottenger (Lehigh), Dr. Harvey Siy (Omaha) and Dr. Abraham McIlhenny (West LA). God graciously provided two more, and we could receive visa approval on April 22nd, 2008. Upon receiving the work permit, I applied to over one hundred colleges for a teaching position and to numerous IT companies. In return, I was bombarded by rejection after rejection. Out of desperation, I interviewed at Target, but was not accepted. My faith of being hired almost dried up and I lost all hope to work again. However, God is merciful! Some missionaries told Dr. Alan Wolff that I had no job and no money and no food. He helped me to get a job at Northwestern. I am so thankful and happy that I don’t feel tired at all though I drive three hours round-trip. It is so good to have a place to go to work when I wake up in the morning!
Sixth, Buffalo pioneering. I had two final campus interviews: one in northern California and the other in Jamestown, NY. My first choice was California. Jamestown was not a candidate because it is a small town. However, I was not selected by the first, but was invited by the second. I was not serious about the interview, thinking it was good practice. Then the interview with the president and dean was like a meeting between friends, without any tension or nervousness at all. And they offered me the position. Thank God for his merciful providence and opening the door for pioneering Buffalo when I just set foot in the Jordan. The University of Buffalo has 25,000 students. M. Peter Cho and his family came to Buffalo six years ago and M. Abraham Choi joined three years ago. M. Peter got a job at Brunswick, GA from this fall. As you know well, there is Niagara Falls in Buffalo, and Toronto, Canada is only one hour away. Please pray for Buffalo pioneering that I may build the early morning prayer faithfully. I pray that God may raise up one Abraham of faith and twelve disciples of Jesus from University of Buffalo.
