2015 U.S. Canada Staff Meeting Report Part I (by Msn. Jose Ahn)

Msn. Jose Ahn wrote in his email dated June 24, 2015 from Denver Colorado  saying:

Dear world mission prayer coworkers,

Thank you for praying for NA staff conference.

The following is a Brief update of NA staff conference by 6/19

God blessed around 160 North America staff from 110 chapters of Canada and USA from June 18-20 at the beautiful, spacious and quiet Colorado State University which is located an hour and a half hours away from the Denver airport. We saw some parts of Rocky Mountains, vast green fields and clear sky with magnificent pictures of the clouds.

The high lights of this conference were: The intensive Bible Study of the whole book of Philippians to learn “The surpassing knowledge of Christ Jesus” to prepare 2016 school year in 5 Group Bible studies. We also had 5 plenary sessions to listen to the 6 messengers (David Miller, Philip Wong, John Baek, Russel Kille, Helen Rarick and one special outside lecturer pastor Stephen Lutz), 3 Chapter reports: Miami, West LA, Humber (Canada) and 3 mission reports (Dr. William Altobar (Philippines), Paul Kim (Chun Cheon, Korea), Isaac Choi (Kangreung, Korea). Edward P was introduced as a NA conference coordinator to succeed Mark VC who had served last 30 years. Edward gave a video presentation about the next NA international conference-place-candidate. We prepared prayer topics for NA and 6 continents so that NA staff serve not only their own ministries but also world mission by praying and raising shepherds and missionaries to the whole world. 

Tomorrow morning we will share testimonies and another plenary and will finish with P. Abraham Kim's Prayer topics and announcement.

Tks for participating in our prayers

Bible Mozambique, World Campus Mission - A new house church for the poineering work of Mozambique

Missionary James Lee of Pretoria UBF of S. Africa UBF, wrote in his email:

Here is the good news of Sara (Portugal) and Thapelo (South Africa) by M. James Lee.

There was the Wedding Ceremony between Sh. Thapelo and Sh. Sara Neusa at our Bible House on 13 June 2015.

The guests came from Portugal and Botswana and from all other chapters in South Africa. We could share together the vision to pioneer many other African nations bringing to them the word of God. 

Sh. Sara Neusa is from Portugal UBF, and she has the vision to study Bible with the youth of Mozambique after marrying to Sh. Thapelo. 

Sh. Thapelo has the plan to stay with his bride in Portugal for six month period in order to study the Portuguese language, because Mozambique people speak Portuguese. Afterward the couple will move to Mozambique for campus mission. 

It is the historical event because Portugal UBF sent a shepherdess to Africa, and to raise a house church with a shepherd from Pretoria UBF, South Africa. It is God's wonderful work that Sara Neusa made up the decision to build up the House Church with our member and then go to another country in Africa to pioneer.  

Missionary Daniel Rhee officiated this marriage based on Genesis "Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." The word encouraged us to carry on the work of God in Africa. 

Thank you for all your prayers and other supports. 

James Lee

The Day Job Was Born Again

In Job 42, Job said "My ears have heard of you, but now that my eyes have seen you, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Job was a good person, yet while he did not meet the Lord in person, he remained unsaved. The words that flew from his mouth in response to the three friends that were visiting him evidence his lost condition. Here and there he said something which sounded that he was 'saved', such as saying, "I know my redeemer lives and in the end  he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25 But what he said in Job 19:25 falls short of conviction of the salvation, just as was the case with one thirsty woman in Samaritan area when she said to Jesus, "I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming; when he comes he will explain everything." John 4:25

The Lord had mercy on him, sent and spoke through Elihu three times. Just like John the Baptist preaching, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for  him" Mark 1:3, Elihu helped Job prepare for the Lord speaking. The Lord indeed came and spoke once, twice and the third time. Then there was an encounter:  Job met the Savior in person. "My eyes have seen you." In the past he used to know the Lord only by 'hearsay', just as he said, "My ears have heard of you". But now it was different. "My eyes have seen you!" After personal encounter with the Savior a man born blind said, "I was blind, but now I see." John 9:25

The signs of new birth came right away:

1. I despise myself. He found himself no longer worthy. He stated no longer 'self righteously'. As the Apostle Paul said he opened his eyes on the deadness of his old self for the old self is going to go only from bad to worse. Opening the eyes of the old self comes with the bestowal of the new self which is created to be like God  in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:24

2., I repent in dust and ashes. Dust is where a sinner is to go. Ash refers to nothingness (or lifelessness). Repentance "in dust and ashes" is a synonym for the throwing up one's hands to the Lord, giving up the life that relies on himself, choosing to live by full faith in the Lord. It was the sign of total surrender to the Lord, just as Peter said, "Go away from me, for I am a sinful man." Luke 5:8

From this day on Job could live a new life in the Lord, just as was said, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone; the new is come."

The Lord blessed the life after conversation so to speak twice as much as before. (Job 42:12 et seq)