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Thankful instead of Regrets
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Thankful instead of Regrets
Someone said that time flies so fast and regretting and fretting that someone is stealing the time instead.
I reflected upon my ministry as I look at the remaining month of this year. It truly was time-chasing year. I look at my calendar to see how many times I had been away from home, and about 1/3 of this year, I was away. It was incredible how I was able to manage all of that this year.
When I look upon the year, I could only say, ‘regrettable’. I have tried my best in my ministry, but the path is long and hard – with so many things to do but so little in time.
I had read a long time ago a short writing called “The Viciousness of Emergency” and swore to manage my time well. But as a superintendent in the Korean District, there were so many moving around here and there because of different areas of churches in requirement. The hardest thing during this time to do was to meditate deeply in the Gospel, and to receive the blessing from the Lord, to gather in strength and to be able to trust in the Lord in ministry work. During that time I would always have an overcast shadow of regret. When I reflect upon my ministry, I would sometimes wonder if this was willed by God or not, and if it was indeed for him or not, and would chastise and regret about my decisions.
But when I look once again, there are so many things to be thankful for during this time, and many times of wonderfulness. Seeing that God had chosen someone lacking like me into be a superintendent, and through the prayers of other fellow ministry workers, it was a grace of God, and I thank everyone involved in it. Whenever I visit churches, I noticed something inspiring seeing the churches’ prayers in flames. Especially when the members of the churches say, “we always pray for the Korean District and you pastor during our early morning service”. Whenever there is a meeting for the superintendents’ or extended education, they would pray in unity for God’s guidance, and whenever I hear that, it gives me so much strength.
I was encouraged again and again when I see many of the pastors working in faith. One of the newly planted church’s reverend had collected all the offering one week and had sent to the Great Commissioning Fund. He had used the Check number 1. Some reverends have had for the last few years had commented “Why should we support the missionaries when even our church is running short?” but now those churches would gladly give offering in the Great Commissioning Fund. I see that many churches had participated and pray that in the coming years, many more would join. As of November, compared to the last year, there was a 60% increase in the funding. We could not forget missionary Junho Yim and his wife, and support them and not forget about the missionary rally.
I wish that there is more aggressive support to planting churches, and to cooperate in it more aggressively. I give thanks that many of the stronghold local area committees and church planting committees are being contacted in urgency, to plant new churches within key areas. I pray the each of the members would be more active in church growths.
I thank everyone that had attended and had participated in extended education. It was the meeting to “Unify unto the Spirit and fight on”. Many of the members of the body of Christ had united in maturity. I could not thank especially enough to those who had come all the way from Korea and Japan as well... After the Korean District General Meeting, there were a newly joined pastors / pastors to be ordained who had extra learning for denomination and leadership. Everyone in that class said learning was indeed very useful. I give thanks to those who had given out the lectures and those all that had attended.
I hope that the passion that is currently continues on in flame. I would be thankful that all the associated churches within the C&MA ministry would partake in the Great Commissioning Fund and to “Kingdom of Heaven”. The Korean District’s ministry specializes in “healthy church growth”. I hope and pray that the next year, all the pastors and associated family members would grow in spirit continually.
For every church and their families, I hope that everyone would be faithful to the Lord, as Carol Rand of Family Education said in her book, “Positive Mother’s Power”, the 7 most powerful ingredient in raising a great child is through “Encouragement, prayer, attitude, relationship, example, ethics, love, and finally forgiveness”.
I would like to add on that, “Power in the Spirit, in the Word, and etc.” to raise many mew workers into Christ.
I give thanks to everyone who had worked so strongly in faith, and leave you now with this prayer:
“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3John 2)
(Christmas, 2002)
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To Fly Over 
Thankful instead of Regrets