New souls in Seoul
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — Deciding to be baptized was difficult for Park Donghee.
Leaving the religious group he had been a part of for 20 years meant giving up friends – and his job, said Sang yang, dean of the Seoul Bible Institute, a ministry training facility. Nonetheless, Donghee was baptized last year and began studying through the institute’s correspondence center. Recently, his wife, Borah, asked to be baptized.
Supporting his family, including a new baby, is tough for Donghee, especially after losing his lucrative job, Yang said, but “he considers all of these things necessary for the cause of Christ.
“I am now dreaming of this committed and self-sacrificial young man proclaiming God’s to many souls – and hopefully someday to thousands of souls in North Korea,” Yang said.
BARBADOS
TRENTS
An increasing number of non-Christians has visited the Trents church in recent months, said Mark Selman, a minister on this Caribbean island and speaker for World Radio Gospel Broadcasts.
Sunday school attendance also is on the rise after a period of decline, Selman said, largely because of the dedication of coordinator Catherine Harris.
“Parents are lukewarm and inconsistent when it comes to ensuring that children attend Sunday school, but sister Harris … has not become discouraged,” Selman said.
BELIZE
COROZAL
Clayton Guzman, minister for the Corozal church, continues to coordinate relief efforts and rebuilding projects in northern Belize after Hurricane Dean.
The church provided aid to a member whose home lost its roof in the storm. The member had not attended church in some time, said Bob Wolfert, director of North Belize Medical Missions, a ministry helping with the relief efforts.
At a recent Sunday service, the member told the congregation that he was moved by the demonstration of love for his family, “even though they had not been ‘doing as they should,’” Wolfert said. The member told the church that he wanted to rededicate this life to Christ.
FRANCE
MARSEILLE
The Marseille church’s soccer team finished next to last in its league, “but we really scored high on spiritual matters,” minister Philippe Dauner said.
Playing in the neighborhood league allowed members to share their faith outside of the church building, and some of the other soccer players started attending Sunday services, the minister said.
“Here in Marseille, soccer is almost the official religion,” Dauner said, “but a team of people who play for fun and who share the same faith and love in Christ is a novelty many are intrigued by.”
GERMANY
KAISERSLAUTERN
When Greg and Brenda Larson arrived at their new mission point, good news was waiting for them at the airport.
“The day we got off the plane in Frankfurt, we were told there was someone waiting to be baptized at the building,” said Greg Larson, who formerly served as chaplain at the Village of Hope, a children’s home in Ghana. A woman named Claudia had studied the Bible with church members and had decided to be baptized, but she wanted to wait for the new missionaries to arrive.
“To say the least, we were very excited about our beginning and pray that God will continue to bring those who are seeking his love, mercy and grace,” Greg Larson said.
HONDURAS
TEGUCIGALPA
About 375 youths from five Central American nations were treated to three days of “spiritual rejoicing” at the sixth annual Encuento Juvenil, or youth rally, at Baxter Institute, said director Steve White. Students at Baxter, a ministry training school, organized the event, which featured presentations by ministers Roberto Alvarez of Guatemala and Arian Larin of El Salvador.
LATVIA
RIGA
Laurie Powell and the children’s ministry at the Mission Viejo, Calif., church made more than 400 green and purple “prayer bears” and shipped them to Latvia, missionary Victor Barviks said. Latvian church members will distribute most of the bears at a children’s hospital in Riga, Barviks said.
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND
About 40 children attended a recent Holiday Bible Program sponsored by the North Shore church, missionary Troy Robertson said.
The program was the result of church members teaching Bible in Auckland schools, Robertson said. The church’s youth group helped organize and coordinate the event.
ROMANIA
BUCHAREST
Boston psychologist David McAnulty and his wife, MarDee, conducted a recent marriage seminar at the Boulevard Mihai Bravu church. About 100 people attended.
“Our couples of all ages, and those that hope to be couples one day, benefited from this practical and biblical teaching,” said McAnulty’s father, Dale, who ministers for the church.
Leaving the religious group he had been a part of for 20 years meant giving up friends – and his job, said Sang yang, dean of the Seoul Bible Institute, a ministry training facility. Nonetheless, Donghee was baptized last year and began studying through the institute’s correspondence center. Recently, his wife, Borah, asked to be baptized.
Supporting his family, including a new baby, is tough for Donghee, especially after losing his lucrative job, Yang said, but “he considers all of these things necessary for the cause of Christ.
“I am now dreaming of this committed and self-sacrificial young man proclaiming God’s to many souls – and hopefully someday to thousands of souls in North Korea,” Yang said.
BARBADOS
TRENTS
An increasing number of non-Christians has visited the Trents church in recent months, said Mark Selman, a minister on this Caribbean island and speaker for World Radio Gospel Broadcasts.
Sunday school attendance also is on the rise after a period of decline, Selman said, largely because of the dedication of coordinator Catherine Harris.
“Parents are lukewarm and inconsistent when it comes to ensuring that children attend Sunday school, but sister Harris … has not become discouraged,” Selman said.
BELIZE
COROZAL
Clayton Guzman, minister for the Corozal church, continues to coordinate relief efforts and rebuilding projects in northern Belize after Hurricane Dean.
The church provided aid to a member whose home lost its roof in the storm. The member had not attended church in some time, said Bob Wolfert, director of North Belize Medical Missions, a ministry helping with the relief efforts.
At a recent Sunday service, the member told the congregation that he was moved by the demonstration of love for his family, “even though they had not been ‘doing as they should,’” Wolfert said. The member told the church that he wanted to rededicate this life to Christ.
FRANCE
MARSEILLE
The Marseille church’s soccer team finished next to last in its league, “but we really scored high on spiritual matters,” minister Philippe Dauner said.
Playing in the neighborhood league allowed members to share their faith outside of the church building, and some of the other soccer players started attending Sunday services, the minister said.
“Here in Marseille, soccer is almost the official religion,” Dauner said, “but a team of people who play for fun and who share the same faith and love in Christ is a novelty many are intrigued by.”
GERMANY
KAISERSLAUTERN
When Greg and Brenda Larson arrived at their new mission point, good news was waiting for them at the airport.
“The day we got off the plane in Frankfurt, we were told there was someone waiting to be baptized at the building,” said Greg Larson, who formerly served as chaplain at the Village of Hope, a children’s home in Ghana. A woman named Claudia had studied the Bible with church members and had decided to be baptized, but she wanted to wait for the new missionaries to arrive.
“To say the least, we were very excited about our beginning and pray that God will continue to bring those who are seeking his love, mercy and grace,” Greg Larson said.
HONDURAS
TEGUCIGALPA
About 375 youths from five Central American nations were treated to three days of “spiritual rejoicing” at the sixth annual Encuento Juvenil, or youth rally, at Baxter Institute, said director Steve White. Students at Baxter, a ministry training school, organized the event, which featured presentations by ministers Roberto Alvarez of Guatemala and Arian Larin of El Salvador.
LATVIA
RIGA
Laurie Powell and the children’s ministry at the Mission Viejo, Calif., church made more than 400 green and purple “prayer bears” and shipped them to Latvia, missionary Victor Barviks said. Latvian church members will distribute most of the bears at a children’s hospital in Riga, Barviks said.
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND
About 40 children attended a recent Holiday Bible Program sponsored by the North Shore church, missionary Troy Robertson said.
The program was the result of church members teaching Bible in Auckland schools, Robertson said. The church’s youth group helped organize and coordinate the event.
ROMANIA
BUCHAREST
Boston psychologist David McAnulty and his wife, MarDee, conducted a recent marriage seminar at the Boulevard Mihai Bravu church. About 100 people attended.
“Our couples of all ages, and those that hope to be couples one day, benefited from this practical and biblical teaching,” said McAnulty’s father, Dale, who ministers for the church.
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