Covid continued to the year of 2021, and the members of the English congregation were like wet firewood. The vision of the English congregation was not fully rooted within the college group and the Korean congregation. However, Michael was not disappointed with the way the situation was unfolding. Instead, he held strongly onto the Lord-given calling and vision. He began to cultivate on the frozen desolate land. He plowed up the ground of the hearts, sowed the seeds of the Gospel, watered with prayer, fertilized with sacrifice and devotion, and covered with warmth of love. Holding onto the Lord’s heart and His mission, Michael completely poured out his body and heart for the mission of the Lord. The year of 2021 was spent doing such; plowing up the hearts and drying the wet firewood.
Out of his devotion and through the grace of the Lord, buds of life started to sprout among the English congregation; the congregation began to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit just like Michael did. Joshua Cho was the first to be touched by the grace of the Holy Spirit, then the fire of the Holy Spirit began to rain on the English congregation. We could feel the heat of the fire spreading gradually throughout the English congregation.
Now we are in the year 2022, and dreaming a new dream with prayer. We pray that the work of the Holy Spirit will spread to each and everyone in the English congregation. We pray that we can taste the same grape that Jesus had picked for Michael in his vision. Once again, I want our church to focus on praying for it this year. All of this started from the Jericho prayer campaign. Hoping that the same grace will dwell on the English congregation once again, l will set aside some time for our church to focus on prayer. Please embrace the same vision, gather your hearts and pray together with the same heart. I pray that in this new year, both the English congregation and the Korean congregation will put our hearts together and open Heaven's gate.
Yes, I admit that we still have a long way to go for the Tree of Life congregation to grow and become the oaks of righteousness full of life. The English congregation’s Mokja, Michael, himself is probably also feeling the need to grow more in God as well. However above all this, I think that faith needs to precede everything we do. Now is the time we need faith in the words of the Lord and His promises, as well as the obedience growing out of such faith. Now is the time to believe in the words of God not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen and share the same dream. I pray that this journey together will bear another testimony in our church, and that we all can experience the work of God and enjoy the privilege of walking together with God.
From, Pastor Jiwon Choi