“Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” (Romans 1:5)
Part 1. 2009 Annual Review
1. The work of Annual review
God was gracious to us in spite of our sins, shortcomings, and mistakes. He began to revive our 1:1 and discipleship ministry especially since the fall semester 2009. He also gave us a vision for greater revival. I tried to list the details of God’s work in Lehigh UBF in following passages.
2. The personal Bible study
Throughout the year, I was not consistent with Bible reading although I tried to be. I felt I was becoming old wineskin; the word of God was not as sweet as before. One of great hindrances was to overcome my head knowledge. Having been in UBF several decades, I think I know many stories in the Bible and what spiritual instructions they are supposed to give me. It was not easy for me to approach each passage of the Bible with a fresh heart. This problem still remains as homework for me to solve.
My whole Bible reading was poor. But anyhow near the end of year I decided to choose one book of the Bible to study and meditate on deeply. It was the book of Revelation. Satan (I think it was he) frequently taunted me, saying, “Look at your ministry. It does not look as fruitful as many others. Look at you. Why don’t you have a PhD while many other do?” I was discouraged and even depressed. I opened the book of Revelation and read it carefully. I wanted to know clearly what all these things will lead to eventually. I began to learn the glorious victories of those who are faithful to God and damnation of His enemies. I pray for God’s blessing on my study of Revelation and other books after that.
3. The ministry of 1:1 Bible study and invitation for campus students
God has answered Lehigh coworkers’ crying out prayers for boldness in preaching and faithfulness in inviting students to Bible study. In answer to their prayers, God sent several faithful Bible students who soon took stewardship for the ministry in Lehigh campus like Lydia in the book of Acts. With God’s help the number of our weekly 1:1 studies grew to 12. In the fall semester, God multiplied American attendance to Sunday worship service from mostly one, Dr. Bill, to five, which means 400% increase. It sounds I am exaggerating but actually I am not. I am just remembering the God of Abraham, who saw a nation through one person Abraham.
4. The Bible Academy and conference
The Washington UBF and Penn State UBF were gracious enough to host Summer Bible conference and Easter conference respectively and invited Lehigh UBF to join them. We contemplated having our own independent Bible Academy or conferences beside those regular conferences. But we stopped short of taking actions. But we will keep praying for it this year.
5. Self supporting and studying of local language
I was greatly inspired by Jesus in Luke 5. Jesus not only taught the Bible to the crowd of people but also taught Peter how to catch fish. As a human being, we should know the Bible and how to fish. As servants of God, we should teach the Bible and fishing (real fishing) techniques. I am thankful to God for Dr. Bill who is doing exactly that. He teaches the Bible and teaches computer skills—equivalent of fishing in 21st century. He started a business, which created several jobs for UBF coworkers—full time and part time. I have much to learn from him in this area. Since I resigned from my high school teaching position, God has been faithful in providing my family through my wife’s full time job, and my part time teaching position in a community college, tutoring, and taking care of a couple of Korean high school students, renting rooms, etc. I am still struggling and praying to depend on God and learn fishing techniques and work hard.
We have a new missionary family, Missionary Isaac and Rebekah Shin, who struggle to learn English. They have been doing language study mostly independently and making progress. We pray to support them and help them master the language and begin to teach the Bible.
6. Co-working and raising and educating 2nd generation
God has been gracious to us in the area of shepherding 2nd gens. They have been wonderful in the ministry. They made very few troubles. But mostly they have been great coworkers. Annie went to Mongolia as a short term missionary and was accepted to a medical school. Danny and Charles have been praise worship leaders. Susan served as a spirited Sunday worship service presider until she was transferred to Washington UBF to start a PhD program in University of Maryland. Becky and Jessica Pottenger are growing spiritually through attending a campus ministry in Princeton. Jessica is preparing to go to China as a short term missionary. It is only God’s grace they are doing well. But as adults, we need much wisdom and prayer to raise and educate them in order to advance their spiritual growth.
7. The Europe and World mission: Regional co-working and serving guest.
Wesley and Sarah Jun attended Argentina summer Bible conference and the engagement between Wesley Jr. and Ester Jan. 2009. Dr. Bill and his daughter Becky Pottenger, Susan Hong, and Wesley Jun attended 2009 European Bible conference. Annie served as a short term missionary to Mongolia for two months. Charles Jun visited Germany UBF in the fall.
We are grateful to God for wonderful co-working and encouragements of regional coworkers—M. Jacob Lee, Dr. Joe Schafer, Dr. Daniel Lee, Chris Kelly, Dr. Moses, and many others. M. Jacob and Esther Lee visited Lehigh UBF and attended Susan and Annie’s graduation, which was great encouragement.
8. Special thanksgiving topic
They are too many to count. To say a few,
Many signs of God’s blessing on 1:1 ministry, Annie admission to Medical school, Susan to admission to PhD program at U of Maryland, Charles’ admission to graduate school in Lehigh, Wesley Jr.’s engagement and admission to PhD program in University of Chicago, Becky Pottenger’s one year stay in London UBF, M. Susy’s master degree in economics from Lehigh, and so on….
Part 2. 2010 Vision and Strategy
1. 2010 Key verse and prayer topic
Dr. Bill Pottenger: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isa 43:18,19)
Wesley Jun: “Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” (Romans 1:5)
Prayer topic:
1. Double the ministry.
2. 2010 Bible Academy and conference Agenda
We are not yet definite on this yet, but praying for God’s guidance.
3. 2010 strategy of 1:1 and making disciples and double ministry
Strategy #1. To be persistent in prayer for boldness and faithfulness in reaching out to students in campus.
#2. To mobilize all the coworkers to participate in 1:1 ministry.
– To help new missionaries with English study.
– To help young woman missionaries find baby sitters.
– To help other woman missionaries to free up their time and energy in cooking, cleaning, and other house chores that they may engage in 1:1 battle.
4. Special prayer topic and strategy
I need to build a network of coworkers from other chapters as well as in Lehigh UBF to learn wisdom and be mutually encouraged. I need to have mature servants of God as mentors.
