Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

When I was asked to write about my fishing ministry, I didn’t know what to write. The only thing I could say about catching Bible students was that it was by God’s mercy. 2 and ½ years ago, I struggled to fish one sheep and to have one, just one Bible study each week. But it was so hard to catch even one sheep. But when the Holy Spirit moved sheep’s hearts to say “yes” when they were invited to Bible study last year, fishing was fruitful, easy and exciting, not a burden or frightening or frustrating.

So, the key to have a fruitful fishing ministry is to move the heart of God so that He can send the Holy Spirit upon campus students and us. The question is that how we can impress the Holy Sprit so that the gracious hand of God may be with us and make us fruitful. Frankly speaking, I don’t know. He works as he pleases. But I would like to share my experience on how He worked mightily through fishing ministry last year.

First, I learned that when I repented of my sins and asked his mercy on me humbly, God mightily showed his grace on me. One day God struck my heart with Isaiah 66:2b which reads, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” On the day we had the Look Fair for students last spring, I had an argument with someone. I felt awful and terrible that day. And I didn’t feel like going to the Look Fair to meet students. I was full of complaining spirit toward God. Meanwhile, despair overwhelmed my heart because of my sinful nature and weaknesses. I thought I had faith and I was a pretty good Christian. But I discovered myself as an ungrateful and unfaithful sinner before God. I thought nobody would come to the person like me. I thought God would not bless such a sinner like me. So I didn’t want to go fishing. I just wanted to lie down on my bed and sleep forgetting everything. But gracious hand of God was upon this sinner. I simply remembered God’s forgiving grace and calling upon this sinner. God didn’t save or call me because I was a good person or I was righteous. And I came under the cross of Jesus, asking for his mercy. Although I didn’t deserve to serve God and his flock, I could have courage to go to campus as his least servant. And amazingly I could feel the Holy Spirit working mightily as I talked to students. I didn’t expect that. I just went fishing by God’s mercy to obey his calling for this sinner. But God showed me his great mercy that day when I repented holding on to the blood of Jesus and when I humbly asked his mercy on me despite all my sins. On that day for a few hours, I made 7 Bible study appointments, not just getting phone numbers. Praise God who is not only merciful but also mighty. Thank God who shows grace on him who is humble and contrite in spirit. I also learned personally that it is God who wants and can save people. He will surely work through us mightily to bring the Gospel to people when we are repentant and humble.

Second, I learned God had mercy on me when I held on to His Powerful Word and prayed to Him based on it. I sometimes missed Kwangju U.B..F. in Korea where God’s word was so powerful that young and fresh students were saved and raised as Jesus’ disciples as many as 60 or more each year. I wondered why it didn’t work here. I began to doubt God’s power in disciple making ministry. And I despaired. Although I prayed to raise disciples of Jesus, there was no hope or faith in me. And there was no powerful word or spirit in me. I was spiritually dead. I was called as a missionary but that calling became burden to me when I thought about myself who didn’t trust in God’s power. But gracious God helped me to hold on to his word, “Have faith in God” as a year key verse last year. And he reminded me of his word whenever I doubted his work on campus. This one verse began to drive out doubt and despair from my heart gradually. Whenever American campus mission looked impossible and students looked invisible and arrogant, I just wanted to sigh and give up. But this word, “Have faith in God” turned my heart from myself to the almighty God. Slowly, I could depend on God who is almighty and powerful. To this powerful God I could pray to show me his mercy and power by sending 12 Bible students last spring semester secretly by faith. As I neared my full term pregnancy, I doubted I could have 12 Bible studies. But God’s word “Have faith in God” again drove doubt from my heart and made me pray depending on Him in whom nothing is impossible. And miraculously, He sent exactly 12 sheep right before my delivery. Also as I prayed to deliver on Tuesday after Spring Bible Conference, little Luke arrived on Tuesday afternoon. Praise God who planted his Word into my heart and helped me to depend on Him. Thank God who showed his power by using this most unlikely person. After little Luke arrived, I was not sure I could again go out fishing and serve students as before. I had to struggle between little Luke and God’s work. I felt terribly sorry for Luke whenever he was not calm and crying a lot unlike most babies. I thought I should take good care of him as a full time mother. When I took him to a babysitter for fishing or Bible study, I cried inside asking, “Am I doing the right thing?” But merciful God helped me to overcome my human thought and provided me with godly and loving babysitters such as Jay, Andy, Maria P and many other coworkers. And Luke became very calm and happy with others’ love and care. God surely took care of him and grew him under his love when I put God’s work above my human feelings toward my baby. And M. Luke’s salary tripled by God’s grace. I repent of my lack of faith and trust in Him who cares for my family and me. And this God again showed his mercy by sending 11 new Bible students through fishing last Fall semester. My handsome, shining and able husband not only physically but also spiritually could get sheep while having dinner at home. And at the end of the semester, 11 students came to Christmas worship service from New Wineskins fellowship. I render glory to God who does wondrous and mighty work.

Third, I also learned God rewarded persistent and faithful fishing ministry with never giving up spirit. The more I went out to campus, the more chances I had to meet sheep. Psalm 126:5, 6 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with song of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” M. Grace Park and I have been praying and fishing together for many years. Sometimes we went fishing everyday whether we caught sheep or not. Many days, we caught nothing. But whenever we went fishing, our spirits were joyful. And we planted the prayer for fishing ministry and God began to answer our prayer by sending his sheep one by one. Sometimes, I didn’t want to go fishing and wanted to make all kinds of excuses such as “ I don’t feel like going, It’s raining there would not be many students, It’s cold, It’s hot, I’m sick, It is hard to find a babysitter, I can go next time, I won’t get sheep today and so on.” But before M. Grace, a most faithful servant, I couldn’t skip fishing appointment. So we went fishing whether it was cold or hot, whether it was raining or snowing whether we were in a good mood or not. And God used this faithful and persistent fishing and prayer to bring many students to Bible study. One winter day, it was freezing. But as usual we went fishing overcoming a bad weather. When we got to campus, we couldn’t find a parking spot. But we didn’t give up. Rather, we parked the car in front of the Union and began fishing sheep. And God sent April in front of the car. And as I went to campus and met many students, I had several chances to meet students again and again. Although students were not interested in Bible study at first, when I invited them again, the gracious hand of God was upon them. For example, when I met David Bonilla, he didn’t even say a word to me but gestured me to go away. But when I met him one or two weeks later again, I smiled a crocodile smile like Sh. Bruce and greeted him. “Hey, How are you? I remember you. What’s your name again?” And guess what? He willingly started Bible study. Another person is Esther who began Bible study recently. I met her 1 and ½ years ago and contacted her via email a few times. Then I forgot about her. But when I met her again on campus, surprisingly, she remembered me and wanted to have a Bible study right on that spot.

Fourth, I learned some strategies for an effective fishing. The first month of the semester is very imperative. Students are more open to try many activities and join interesting groups on campus. Therefore, it is easy to catch sheep in the first month of the semester. I met most Bible students right after a semester started. But God always works and He tells to go out in and out of season. For example, April and Lena started Bible study at the end of the semester while they were having their finals. Also, it is best to make an appointment on the spot when a student shows an interest. It’s good to have a phone number of a student. But it’s hard to
ntment. When I was not only smiling and friendly but also confident and bold about what I was doing, students were more positive. I could be courageous when I thought about how important mission I had. I was bringing the good news of Jesus Christ which gives people life and peace.  The most important things in the world.

In conclusion, when I look back on fishing ministry last year, I render glory to God. He has done a great thing for this least qualified sinner to show his almighty power and mercy. However, I was not a good shepherd for sheep whom God entrusted under my care. Because of my lack of broken shepherd heart and prayer, I couldn’t serve sheep wholeheartedly. Many sheep left without committing their lives to God and mission. And I suffered and asked “what’s wrong with me” whenever it happened. But my gracious God didn’t take my mission away from me. Rather, he cheered me to move on and give something to sheep continually. Now He promises me that it is He who does his work and He will use me as an excellent Bible teacher and disciple maker this year. And He gives me a new vision and courage to go out campus to find new discipleship materials. And I know He will be with me and bless me richly. Praise God!

Dear most gracious father. Thank you so much for your gracious hand upon this sinner last year. Thank you for showing your power and mercy on me. Thank you for your hope and vision for me this year. May I grow in your love, shepherd heart and powerful word for Bible students so that I may take good care of them as a good shepherd like Jesus. Father, please make me an excellent Bible teacher and disciple maker. Please use all of us here to be fruitful in fishing and disciple making ministry by your Holy Spirit this year. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word: Mighty and Merciful God