A man who sought Money and Honor became Campus shepherd

Key verse 
Matt 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these 
things will be given to you as well.

I. I sought Money and Honor.

I was born in Kangwondo Eastern mountain region of Korea in 1972 as the youngest 
among two. My father was a miner. He had a big accident in his working place 
when I was 8 months in my mother's womb. Due to this accident, He couldn't walk 
anymore for the rest of his life, so He lost his desire to live. He tried to 
commit suicide several times. My mother was always tired because she had to work 
in the day time and take care of my father at night in the hospital. so I was 
alone. I became timid. and I eagerly longed to be loved by others because I 
didn't receive much love from my mother. One day, I found out that my father 
couldn't get a surgery due to the lack of money. I was shocked deeply. From that 
time on, I thought that Money was the most precious thing. I always thought 
about money even in my dream. I thought that If I had a lot of money, I could do 
everything and I could be happy. Then, I set my life goal to making a lot of 
money to make my parents happy.

I applied for the Korean Naval Academy in 1990 to pursue Money and Honor. 
However, I failed. I was so disappointed. I was depressed with my broken dream. 
I applied to Kyungnam University Department of civil engineering to be a rich 
engineer. My parents promised to pay only for the first semester tuition and I 
had to take care of everything else. One day, I sat on a bench on campus 
worrying about how to survive by myself. On that day, God heard my inner agony 
and sent his servant shepherd Abraham Kim from Changwon UBF in Korea. He 
counseled me on how to solve my money problem and invited me to 1:1 bible study. 
Through the study of Genesis 1:1, I confessed that God created all the world 
including me, and He was the Lord of my life. God taught me for what and for 
whom I have to live. He showed me my life purpose and direction clearly. Through 
Matthew Bible Study, He gave Matt 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his 
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.". Through this 
word of God, I depended on God for my practical daily problems and I could 
overcome my money problem by faith. I also learned that I have to live by faith. 
When I sought God's Kingdom first by faith, God gave me enough money to live and 
to register for school each semester. Moreover, He gave me a victory over my 
study and gave me a scholarship during all the semesters of my college years. 
Through this event I met the Lord deeply who gives all necessary things when I 
sought God first by faith. In 1991 summer, God invited me to Kumnamsan Summer 
Bible Conference. Through this conference, I accepted Jesus' death on the cross, 
his love and forgiveness. I accepted Jesus' prayer in Luke 23:24, which says 
"Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." 
When I heard Jesus prayer of forgiveness, I repented of all my sins such as 
lust, fatalism and complaining before Jesus' Cross. All my sins were washed away 
and I could be clean. Jesus bore all my disgrace, sinful mind and all the 
thinking of fatalism in the past 20 years and gave me heavenly peace. While 
serving Jesus during my college life, God has led my parents to the church. God 
gave his mercy to my father who had lived with fatalism, agony and sorrow. My 
father now goes to church every week on a wheelchair with a sincere heart. I 
thank and praise God who has made me as a source of blessing even to my family.

II. I became a Campus Shepherd

God has trained me to be a campus shepherd for 7 years since 1993. During my 
shepherd life, I was always concerned about achieving my dream and desire in the 
world. However God has always been concerned about making me a man of God who 
first seeks his kingdom and feeds his sheep on campus. So God gave me a training 
name 'First' which means the man who first seeks God and his glory. Through the 
name training, God remolded me to seek the kingdom of God first and to serve his 
mission. He also planted in me a spiritual desire toward God's kingdom and God's 
righteousness. Through the training of doing Daily bread and Sogam each week, 
God taught me how to serve sheep with the word of God. Especially God helped me 
to give up my own plans and to put the word of God ahead of me and obey the will 
of God. In addition, God gave me a chance to serve the Center and common life 
Team as an intern shepherd so that I could learn Jesus deeply who came to serve 
others. I was the youngest son so I was selfish. Also during my military life as 
an officer, I was usually served by other enlisted soldiers. I got used to 
giving orders to others with authority. God changed my unclean mind and attitude 
through humble trainings. Through serving a Fellowship, Center Network 
Administrative works and sing along , God gave me faith to overcome my ego and 
to serve our coworkers with a humble mind. God has trained me through serving 
his precious flock. Though God has sent me many sheep, I couldn't produce fruit 
of disciples. Through this event, I can see myself clearly as one who is lacking 
a shepherd hearts. I thank God who gave me prayer spirit to serve some brothers 
named Bro.  Hyungsak Yoo and Daesan Sohn. Though I was a selfish man before God 
like Jacob, I thank God who is really sincere to lead my life with the word of 
promises over the last 7 years as a campus shepherd and bible teacher with the 
hope of God. 

God gave me a vision of world mission through world mission report. God 
especially gave me a prayer topic for Washington ministry after finishing my 
military service. While receiving trainings as a missionary candidate, God gave 
me Romans 1:14, "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise 
and the foolish." Through this word, God led me to know that I am a debtor for 
his love. He helped me to have a clear gospel faith to live as a gospel witness 
of his love. I thank God who called me and saved me to live for the Lord and for 
the gospel for his name's sake. I pray that God may lead my life as a fruitful 
missionary who can glorify God's name. I have prayed now for 7 years to 
participate in world mission. Also, since M Jacob shared his world mission 
report in Korea several years ago, I have prayed for the work of God in 
Washington UBF.

In June 2000, God granted me admissions to the computer science department at 
UMCP as an answer to my prayer for world mission. God gave me a student Visa 
with one trial though it looked impossible to get it. Through this event, I 
could realize God's hope to really use me in his World Mission work, and his 
love which he sincerely leads his chosen one like me. Most of all, I thank God 
for letting me attend the last wonderful Summer Bible Conference. I praise God 
who has led me for the last 10 years with his hope and vision for me to be a 
good shepherd for UMCP student. I also praise God who sent me to America as a 
missionary. I pray that God may give me a humble heart to learn the God of 
Washington UBF and make me a good coworker for Washington ministry. I pray also 
to conquer English within a year by faith.

One Word : shepherd of American students

I want to share my prayer topics for my mission life in America.

1. I pray that I may get use to the new environment and the work of God in 
Washington UBF. 2. I pray for a good coworking with Isaac team and each one of 
them. 3. I pray that by faith, I may Conquer English within a year.