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2014 UBF- Springfield, MASS

2014 key verse: Acts 1:8 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.

In 2014, the UBF-Springfield, MA continued to study the book of Acts with the aim of understanding how our forefathers started churches. Almost every weekend, missionary Gideon Shin delivered a short message and had a discussion with missionary Hannah Shin. In addition to weekly acts bible studies, the UBF-Springfield, MA had a special bible study based on Acts 28 with Pastor Abraham Kim, missionaries Sarah Kim and Paul Shin during their east coast chapter visits.    

Through a year and half Acts bible study, they were able to see how the LORD has loved his people regardless of their nationalities both for the Jews and the Gentiles; Jesus came down to earth and died on the cross to wash our sins. And he was resurrected from the grave and ascended into the heaven. Jesus also sent his people the Holy Spirit who empowers them so that they will be his witnesses. With her power, God raised his people to share the gospel of the good news. Especially, he appointed a sinner like Paul to be a great apostle. Paul believed what he had experienced, heard and seen. God sent Paul to the outside of Israel to
share the gospel and the gospel even reached to Rome. In this story, the LORD demonstrated how he accomplished his promises through a sinner like Paul. To start a church is not about what we can do, but how God uses his people who believe.

The UBF-Springfield, MA was established since Gideon and Hannah Shin moved to Springfield, MA in July, 2013. At the beginning of 2014, they recognized unmet friendships and communities although they had been going to a local church (Evangelical Covenant Church at Springfield). They contacted UConn UBF at Storr, CT and decided to join their worship service once a month. Since then, the UBF-Springfield, MA has been having Sunday worship service together with UConn UBF more than a year. They have been really thankful for UConn UBF family’s warm heart and hospitality, and all bible studies.

From time to time, the UBF-Springfield, MA was invited to several worship services and events from Boston UBF. They were able to share the words of God with brothers and sisters at other UBF chapters. When they thought they were alone, the LORD provided people of God and communities. Thank God for his amazing Grace and mercy.

For their regular sunday worship services, they have been attending ECC-Springfield. In this local church, they have been able to meet brothers and sisters in Christ, study Mark gospel and Acts, and now studying Philippians. It was also great to meet new friends.

For 2015, they starts the year with the key verse of Philippians 1:6:  “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

They pray that they may be confident in Jesus and his words, and believes God who will complete what he has begun as he has been doing it through Paul and his people. They are also praying for the following topics:

• Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon studies followed by Acts bible study 
• Godly community and collaboration with UConn UBF, Boston UBF and ECC-Springfield
• Serve 1:1 Bible student
• Baby
• RECASH: Read the Bible, Carry the Bible and Share the Bible

Thank God who is the LORD.

In Christ,
Gideon Shin