An Aroma Pleasing to the Lord... Lev 1:9

The first five books of the Bible can be summed up with Five "R", that is:

Genesis: Recreation (recreating one new man who lives by faith in the Lord)
Exodus: Redemption (redeeming slaves out of the bondage to the Evil One)
Leviticus: Road (road [or rule, or regulation if you will, for sinners coming to God the Father)
Numbers: Re population (repopulating the land with those armed with faith in the Lord)
Deuteronomy: Review (of the lessons from Genesis to Numbers)

In today's daily bread passage, Leviticus describes the burnt offerings which refer to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, that is, the Way of (and to) God for life. The offerings represent an aroma pleasing to God. The word 'aroma' or 'pleasing' indicate the relationship, that is, Jesus the Son of God who came to die for our sins and rose for our justification, re-establishes the once broken relationship between God and man. Speaking of this work, Jesus said, "No one can come to the Father except through me."

In Redding there is a nice place to visit called "Turtle Bay" where there is a bridge with a modern look. At night the color of bridges neon signs change as in the color of rainbows. Under the bridge there runs the Sacramento River. With the bridge one can cross the River on foot!

And today's daily bread presents our Lord Jesus as the Way, the bridge as beautiful as the rainbow reaching heaven! Thank and praise be to God the Father who invites his children to come to Him through Jesus the Son!

Meaning of "Clothe yourself with Christ"

In today's daily bread (Exodus 39) is found the meaning of the call  to "clothe" oneself with Christ (Ro 13:14; Gal 3:27), that is living by faith in the LORD who saves his people from their sins and makes them right with God the Father so they can live as his royal princes and princesses.

The Ephod was to be made of thin sheets of pure gold and cut strands to be worked into blue (holiness) purple (royalty) and scarlet (color of our sin) yarn of fine linen (made righteous with the sinless blood of the Lord). 

Upon sinning Adam and Eve realized that they were naked so they started to cover themselves. And they hid (from the Lord). They lost their identity as God's children.

But in Jesus the Redeemer God the Father restores the sinners back to Him granting them the standing of His children so they could live in Him without fear and serve Him with joy!

Bible Soon Cheon, World Campus Mission

On Feb 22, 2016 on the way back to Seoul we (I and Shepherd Timothy Ha) paid a visit to Shepherd Abraham Cho at the Soon Cheon UBF Center.

Abraham is a younger brother of
Missionary Stephen Cho of Bolivia. He started to pioneer Sooncheon National University 3 years ago.

Several students faithfully study the Bible and attend Sunday worship.

He majored in design but now as a pioneer he does a number things like (during worship service) presiding, leading worship services by playng guitar, making announcement, serving messages, singspiration, cleaning Bible center which he rented.

Bible Jeonjoo World Campus MissionMission

After attending the wedding between Sarah Brown and Joon Soon Kim, the next day (Sun)  Timothy Ha of Chongno and I moved to Chunjoo and attended worship service at Chunjoo (I) UBF Bible Center located across the street from the Jeon-Book University.

The worship started at 11:00 am. Shepherd Moses Park served a message, "Return to me" (Malachi 3:6).

In his message Moses exhorted the congregation to repent, turn to the Lord and serve Him with the sense of history and global mission vision in mind.

Shepherd Moses   became a believer from mother's womb. Yet during his young adulthood he fared without knowing the Lord "in PERSON". But one day when he tyrned 16, he stumbled into a prayer meeting where he met the Lord in person when he heard a message saying "...he was PIERCED for our transgression."
Around that time he suffered a lot due to the foot injury after he had accidently stepped on a nail.
The message pierced his heart. He met Jesus who made him whole through suffering and death on his behalf. While he was in collage at Jeonbook University he was led to UBF. At that time he was thirsty of the word. He had the desire to study the Bible deeply. The 'Bible study at UBF satisfoed his deep dedire to deeply study the Bible. Now he served the student ministry as a staff shpherd still working full time as an asset manager at a financial institution.
(Ytp2030@hanmail.net; 010-2279-2050)

There are 5 shepherd families in Cheonjoo UBF I.

I had a talking eating and prayer fellowship with leaders including Heekwan Lee husband (pass@camtic.or.kr; 010-8629-0064), Barnabas Hong (banabashong@hanmail.net; 010-9516-7122).

House Church for the Bible Maryland

There was a wedding in Kwangjoo.

# Feb 21 Saturday 2016
# 5:00 pm
# location: kwangjoo UBF Bible Center
# Bride: Sarah Brown (Maryland UBF)
# Groom: Joon  Soon Kim
# Solemnized by: Nehemiah  Kim
# Wedding sermon on: Genesis 15:5 "So shall your offspring be"

Sarah Brown grew up in a believing family where her parents faithfully served the Lord at a local church. Sarah's younger brother Philip led her to UBF to study the Bible. Now she is a treasurer at Maryland UBF.

Joon Soon is a musician. There is virtualy no musical instrument which he cannot play.

Brother Joon Soon will follow the Bride to run a house church serving the campus mission at he Collage Park Maryland.

Bible Ethiopia

Missionary Samuel Yoo (MD) will go next week to Ethiopia as a "consultant" dispatched by KOICA (Korean International Cooperation Agency) on a two year contract. He and his wife Mary will be stationed at a university in Zima a city located about 5 hours away to the southwest from Addis Abbaba. 

The Korea International Cooperation Agency was founded as a government agency on April 1, 1991, to maximize the effectiveness of Korea's grant aid programs for developing countries by implementing the government's grant aid and technical cooperation programs.

(About a year ago he moved to Swaziland to open a ministry but things did not work out.) Last October he learned of the Koica looking for candidates to go out to depressed areas to impliment government aid programs. He applied for the venture. Koica accepted. Now he finished the training in Seoul Korea.

Yesterday after finishing a meeting UBF International Executive Board members had a dinner together with Mary and Samuel Yoo and took a picture.

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

In one of emails from David, he asked coworkers to make recommendations for our children, saying: "Dear coworkers, There is a suggestion to encourage our children to read good books for their spiritual, intellectual and emotional growth instead of spending too much time for watching videos or chatting. If there are any books that you want to recommend for our children please send the list of the books. You can recommend the books according to age level such as elementary school, middle school, high school, and college based following categories; 1) history books, 2) biographies 3) educational books (literature, social, science, etc.) 4) spiritual books 5) others. After collecting recommendations, we will share the list of recommended books. Thank you." In "others" category, I recommend encouraging kids to do singalongs Christian hymn songs such as "Jesus loves me this I know" or "Faith is victory". My littlest grand daughter Aleeza is one year young, and she already memorized the song, "Jesus loves me this I know." Last Christmas time we had a family gathering where my 6 grand-kids came out and served a music program: the three bigger kids sang Christmas carol songs, the younger three did the dance. In today's daily bread passage (Mark 5:21-34) we see honoring the faith of the woman saying, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. God in peace." Lord's blessings upon the parents and children working through faith in the Lord.

LATIN America National Directors Conference 2016

Dear prayer coworkers, here are some pictures with short updates of PTAs and news. Thanks for your prayer support! (Report by Dr. Jose Ahn)

1. *Latin coordinators Conference (1/27-30, Guayaquil, Ecuador:)

Latin Coordinator's annual conference was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador during 1/27-30. The title of the conference was "Pongamos nuestros ojos en Jesus" "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!" (Heb 12.1-29).

40 attended from 17 Latin countries (absent from Paraguay and Colombia) including 8 from USA and 1 from Korea. 11 Latin leaders attended with stewardship. 3 of them pioneered Peru, El Salvador and Dominican Republic. 2 of them succeeded Korean missionaries in Guatemala and Caracas, Venezuela.   

Moses Chang (Belize) delivered the opening message with the title, “Count the stars!” (Gen 15:1-21) God keeps his promises to give many descendants though it may take long time. But what God really wants is beyond Isaac, Jesus, through whom all people will be blessed. We should focus on God more than our descendants in our pilgrim life.

There were 8 mission reports (El Salvador, Panama, Mexico, Bolivia 1,2, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Belize)

On the morning of 1/28 Gustavo (Caracas, Venezuela) delivered his message, "God restored Elijah" (1 king 19.) He testified how God also restored him last year with the word of God when he felt burn out as  a successor of Caracas with sicknesses, heavy burden of ministry, self supporting and national economic crisis.

In the afternoon there were 6 Groups discussions' about health, 2nd gene education, finance and self supporting. Especially ministry succession among national leaders' group was very meaningful and useful.

2 Special lectures, "S. David Nam's "Restoration from burnout" and Dr.Paul Hong's "Life Management" were very helpful for all.

On 1/28 Pastor Abraham Kim delivered (M. Juan Seo as a translator) "Let us fix on Jesus" very powerfully.

On 1/29 after sharing our testimonies in 4 groups, M. Elijas Park (Brazil, Latin Coordinator) gave his closing message entitled "Jesus is the same forever" (Heb 13)

M. Andre and Ana Kim (Ecuador) volunteered to host this conference as one house church mission. They sacrificially and excellently served all. May God bless their house church (Juwang and Esther) and Ecuador.

M. Timoteo was honored with a plaque of thanks for his many years services as a Latin coordinator.

M. Isaac Cho was ordained newly as a coordinator of Southern Latin region 2 (Chile, Uruguay and argentine)

Latin Directors earnestly prayed to pioneer 5 countries (Cuba, Trinidad n Tobago, Bahama, Jamaica, Haiti) and US Puerto Rico by 2,020 through co-working with NY chapter.

Next year Lqtin coordiantor's conference will be held in Belize on 1/18-21/2017.

I am a rose of Sharon, a lilly of the valleys. Song of Songs 2:1, 6-8,16

In today's daily bread (Mk 1:45-50) on cleansing the leper Jesus asked him not to tell anyone of this but rather go and show to the priest and offer sacrifices Moses commanded. 

But instead the man went out and began to talk freely spreading the news. 

The man became self-seeking, perhaps showing off his body with brand new skinset, not knowing that the body is for the glory of the Lord. 

In the Song of Songs Solomon presents the member of the church as a lily of the valleys. Wild flowers in valleys and hills though they are more glorious than Solomon in all his splendor do not show off. Luke 12:27 

John says everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world. What is problem? John says the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 Jn 2:15-17 

For this reason the Apostle Paul says God chose the things that are not in order to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before the Father. 1 Co 1:29

Bible Brazil and World Campus Mission (News dated Jan 15, 2016)

Missionary Philip visiting Sao Paulo sent news that Ataiena is in her 2 months of pregnancy. Middle in the picture above is Victoria (on coming March 11, 2016 she becomes 3 years young).

Lord be with the baby in mother's womb to be strong and healthy.

A new born son to Finny and Deborah

Dear Coworkers,

Thank God for giving a son to Msn. Finney & Deborah's family.
Msn. Deborah gave birth a son at 11 pm yesterday. She is in Downey regional hospital now.
Please pray for her quick recovery and good health. May God bless the baby to be a source of blessing for many!

African Directors Conference Report 2016

Mission report from 2016 African Conference

    First of all thank you so much for your prayer support and gifts for Africa. By God’s grace I was asked to attend 2016 African conference. God gave me desire to see a vision through this trip. Interestingly Cape Town in South Africa where the conference was hosted means “new hope.” 67 people attended: 33 African missionaries, 15 native sh., 10 second gen, 5 USA delegates, and 4 Korean delegates. The conference venue was located in Stellenbosch, one of the Satellite cities of Cape-Town. Conference title was “Fix our eyes on Jesus” based on Heb. 12:1-2. At the opening message, Sh. Daniel Rhee(a silver msn in S. africa) served Luke 12:49 with the title, “I have come to bring fire.” When he tried to help African students with Jesus’ absolute words, he got backfire from his students who said, “He is so authoritative that he tried to push us to follow Korean ways.” So he was discouraged. But through preparing his message, he realized that Jesus came to bring fire on the earth instead of false peace. He newly decided to live as a warrior of the truth for Jesus’ name to change people and the world with the truth. He earnestly prayed that all UBF chapters be fully flared up by the holy fire of God’s words and the Holy Spirit for campus and world mission. After the message, there were mission reports from 15 chap.: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Makerere, Kyambogo, Rwanda, So Sudan, Capetown, Pretoria I, II, Ghana, Lagos, Medlag, Yabatech, Botswana, and Kenya. Especially native shepherds shared mission reports in Lagos (Abraham Omotune), Yabatech(Duke Ekokota), Kenya(Juma Fuchingo), Kyambogo (Kenneth Kyamanywa), Rwanda(Steven Sebbale). It was thanks to God’s powerful answer of our prayers that their leadership be transferred from pioneering missionaries to native shepherds. So far 11 countries were pioneered and they are praying earnestly for all 55 nations to be pioneered. In 2016, they are praying to pioneer four nations: Ethiopia by Dr. Samuel and Mary Yoo, Mozambique by Thapelo and Sarah Motub,. Rwanda by David and Abigail Lu, and Lesotho. Msn Timothy Chung in Botswana attended and shared his report despite he got a leg injury and surgery for he broke the windows at night to fight against intruders to his house. Despite such tragedy, he amazingly confessed that he was rich in Jesus Christ and was filled with thanks and praise. There was lecture 1 on first night, delivered by Msn Mark Yoon in Keyna. It came from Isa 2, titled “The Law will go out from Zion.” He said that based on his experience campus students usually had 6 desires such as one wife, two children, three bedroom house, four-wheel drive car, five acres of land, six digit salary. That is why many streamed to campuses to become CPA, Doctor, or Lawyer. Nobody seems to be wanting or interest in becoming a Bible teacher. So  how challenging is it for us to challenge them to be a Bible teacher? Young people like audio and visual music videos, stimulating sensual desires.  The point of his message was, “How can we teach those people and attract people with the word of God as excellent Bible teachers?” He pointed out that we all must grow as excellent Bible teachers to teach people until we touch their spiritual nerves. People suffer from sins the most. Like Hebrews 4:13 and as Jesus touched Matthew’s selfish life with one word, “Follow Me,” we also touch their nerves in the same way. In Mark 11:22, Jesus says after He cursed the fig tree, “Have faith in God.” Msn. Mark confessed that Jesus touched his nerve one night and helped him to not trust the human things and determined to become an excellent Bible teacher to trust in the power of God’s words only. After realizing that this was what God really wanted him, he prayed earnestly that he may teach young students until each person is touched their nerves with God’s living words. After the message the presider, sh. Juma confessed that his nerve was touched through Msn Mark’s message and Bible teaching about Jesus’ paths in the Bible. I personally accepted one word through his message that I must grow as an excellent Bible teacher for my spiritual and physical children. As the last program of the first night, Dr. Paul Koh from Chicago shared his life testimony. Thanks to numerous spiritual training from Late Dr. Samuel Lee, he was able to deny himself and became a humble servant of God for God’s glory. On the second day, our gen. director, Dr. Ab. Kim served the message. In his message, all leaders are to fix their eyes on Jesus to grow in His holiness, teaching campus students, raising many disciples worldwide. He pointed out about 3 things that are eternal. 1. Christ like Character and eternal reward, 2. What we have given to God, 3. People who have been saved through our ministries. He encouraged all audience to take their eyes from what is temporal and pursue what can not be shaken and refocus our eyes on Jesus, our eternal King and run the race along the way Jesus went ahead of us with perseverance, until we enter His glory.” Second day afternoon all attendees devoted their time to write share deep testimonies in group. At the night program, we had a special lecture from sh. Changwon Kim from Korea about “Trinitarian Pneumatology for formation of Holy Community.” It was a carefully chosen session for there is a misunderstanding about the Holy Spirit in many churches and young believers in Africa. His presentation was very well structured and expounded how the Holy Spirit is building the healthy church community. He pointed out that the main role of the Holy Spirit is to increase our personal faith in Jesus and help us to be enlightened to serve the word of God effectively for Jesus’ world mission command. Also the Holy Spirit helps church members to love and respect each other to build up Christ centered community. On the third day, Sh. Andries Coetsee who hosted the meeting delivered the graceful and powerful message based on Hebrew 4:16 by encouraging all of us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive His mercy in our time of need, especially in our mission field. After the conference, we have a photo session. Sh. Christian Coetsee who is the younger brother of sh. Andries C. gave me a tour to Stellenbosch University and prayed together and dropped by a famous tourist place called “table mountain” shortly on the way to Cape Town airport. It was very beautiful. Through this trip to attend the conference, I had to take several flights almost 50 hours. Although it was tired, it was an eyeopening experience. Especially I was impressed by African coworkers’ spirit and faithfulness in serving God’s work despite their hardship and economically unstable condition. My roomate, Msn. Nehemiah Kim from Zambia shared about his tough mission life to serve the campus mission by self supporting business. Because of economy down turn, he had to suffer greatly. But his children met Jesus personally although they are very young. So I realized that God richly comforted them through their children. Overall this trip turned out to be a great blessing for me in learning their spirit and knowing the God of Africa. My God gave me desire to overcome easy going mentality and repent a complacent satisfactory life and a stereotyped life and newly increase my personal faith to fix my eyes on Jesus, my eternal King and serve His eternal plan, campus and world mission command wholeheartedly to the end. Amen. One word: Fix our eyes on Jesus.