"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
I am going to Belize this Thursday 21st of August 2008. I thank God for his hope and for your prayer support. Please keep on praying for me that God may lead me and accomplish his will.
I. Your Old Men will dream dreams
My new year's key verse is Acts 2:17 "In the last days, God says, "I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams."
I was a hopeless young man. I looked much older than my age. By his great mercy God saved me-a self seeking sinner-Chang Gwang, and gave me world mission vision. For a long time my mission life was not fruitful. I despaired and became a hopeless old man. But our God is the God of hope.
Acts 1:8b says, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." We began to pray for Latin America, our Samaria. I visited Peru with three other missionaries in 2003. Pastor Jacob Lee told us about 3rd country mission when we retire. Last year I retired and visited Belize after Guatemala Kimnet Conference. God gave me Belize mission vision.
II. You will be my witnesses
God gave me Chicago missionary training and gave me Act's 1:8 "But when you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." I want to live as Jesus' witness with the help of the Holy Spirit. God renewed his love for me and for the whole world including Belize through 2008 Purdue international Bible conference. I want to share this love of God wherever I go. 2008 Beijing Olympic is going on. Michel Phelps got historical 8 gold medals. Now I am going to Belize according God's world mission vision again. I have shoulder pain more than a month. I am not young like when I came to USA. My wife came to USA first, now I am going to Belize first. Like Abraham left his country at old age, I want to obey God of Abraham. God has been gracious to me. He has been faithful in spite of my unfaithfulness. I must remember his great mercy and provisions including his Son Jesus Christ and obey him with thankful heart. I want to be thankful in all circumstances and even to rejoice in sufferings in the hope of God.
I have some concerns about going to Belize; my children's personal faith and marriage, health of my old parents, also Washington UBF YDJs (Young Disciples of Jesus) to be powerful spiritual leaders with sense of ownership-this is one of reasons I am going for silver mission. But I believe God will take care of these matters as I obey him. Of course I have my personal concerns too. Shepherd David mentioned that men are weak in temptation when they are alone. I must pray, "Lead us not into temptation." Another big concern is a question about my motive. Is this for my own name or for the name of the Lord? I wanted to go quietly, but this mission became known everywhere. I am thankful for the prayer support, but I must be careful to be humble before the Lord. I earnestly pray that I may live life of mission for His name's sake. (Romans 1:5) I know I cannot do his great work, but he can. I must trust in him and obey.
Now you know that Belize is located east of Guatemala and south of Mexico and one of seven Central American nations. Official language is English. Belize was called British Honduras. Former British pirates and African slaves began to settle in the land. There are native Mayan Indians, Chinese and other peoples. It is a small country next to the smallest in Central America with population of about 300.000. It is like a quiet and sleepy town Nazareth. "Can anything good come out from there?" Sure, she has a great hope to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation from the nation of descendants of pirates and slaves.
My prayer topics are:
1) To keep God's hope and prayer for Belize to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
2) The word of God may work powerfully, and I may be an excellent 1:1 Bible teacher who plants the seed of God's word. And may God make it grow.
3) To raise up one Abraham of faith and twelve disciples of Jesus in five years.
4) To make an environment for co working with other missionaries.
5) For Washington UBF to be a world mission center like Antioch church
