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I’ll give you my credit card number.
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Chapter 34 - I’ll give you my credit card number.
After finishing my Saturday meeting with the Youth Born Again Mission in northern California I would drive straight down to southern California during night time. At that time I was not afraid but now it is. When I took off from my house I usually could not stop praying. For my newly opened church, and working with young adults I couldn’t afford a new strong car. My wife was working at a cafeteria and the church was paying me very low salary. I was not paid for the YBA meetings. The main prayer was that the car would not stall while I was driving. If my car stopped somewhere in highway during night time it would be catastrophic.
Specially driving alone I would get very sleepy. I would wet my face with ice, or prayed shouting loudly while splashing water on my face or even say hymn on my way up and down California for about 2 years. After I had gone back to southern California the leaders in YBA held the meetings for while. With the change of dates I was now going to northern California twice a month. My car started to have a problem because I was driving up and down such long distances. There are areas of highway that has hills, but my car would not pick up speed. It was just barely crawling. Other drivers that were following behind me thought I would be driving about their speed but would be surprised; they would honk their horn and bypass me. During the night times when there are lot of transportation trucks going about. Whenever they honk their horns and turn their handle I would think I barely escaped an accident and would make me sweat. After these incidents I would come home and rest for a short time, then head to church to do my duty.
Deacon KyungSuk Lee heard my story of what happened and called my one day. “Reverend, I will give my credit card number. Use it to get a plane ticket to come to Northern California.” I was surprised. Who would give their credit card number away like that?! An airplane ride from Los Angeles to San Jose is about an hour’s flight time. It saved a lot of energy and time. At that time plane ticket price would drop down to $19 one way during sales. I had said it was ok but for my safety, church, and to help young adults, he insisted. After that I was able to buy many months worth of plane tickets to fly back and forth. I wonder if I would be able to give my credit card number as easily as Deacon Lee did if he ever needs it for an emergency. I give thanks to Deacon Lee for his sharing and care as a brother in Christ.
Youth Born Again Mission was active in group bible study, 1:1 discipleship, or even Quite Time sharing. Saturday evenings every member gathered and had a sermon, sang praise songs and prayed. All these things were through many leaders who had gathered in faith, which in turn gathered many more young adults who started to serve Jesus as their savior and obey his words. Several had turned in faith through the summer and winter retreats. Especially during summer retreat preparation many groups would meet in members houses early morning to pray. Some would pray for the retreat and some for their friends to invite. Summer retreats would be prepared with their hearts and minds and in faithfulness. I would be speaking the main theme. Leaders took charge of the early morning praise meetings, and special lectures were prepared by the leaders as well. Even though it was lacking, it was to raise new leaders. During the ‘Devotion Night’ it was a blessing and in happiness to see the young adults praise songs and pray for each other to live for God. There is no word to describe how happy when I see that.
In the area I currently reside there are many of the leaders from YBA. Out of that group 4 of them had became pastors and serve their churches faithfully. I heard several more are like that in Korea and in other areas of United States. Even those who didn’t became pastors still serve faithfully in churches. I give thanks that even in difficulties the seed was planted and bearing its fruit. A beautiful group does not form easily. It would not be possible without the selfless sacrifice, by offering one’s life to Jesus and live for his glory. I saw with my own eyes how God was showing his might with the leaders and all the YBA members.
I give thanks to all the leaders who had served faithfully to raise new members for the YBA America. I specially thank Deacon KyungSuk Lee who gave me his card number so I can fly around for YBA.
(February 2011)
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Epilogue 
I’ll give you my credit card number.