Reverend Kim and the Korean Children's Choir

"Greetings in the name of the Lord! A US soldier asked me as a young person, 'Do you want to go to America?' Although I did not know much about the country, it was the dream of every Korean young person to go to the US, so I answered 'Yes!' I did not know about Christianity at that time, but received Jesus Christ as my own Saviour while a student. After completing seminary and marrying Trudy, I came back to Korea with my American wife. I wanted to witness to my family and lead them to Christ. The Lord opened many avenues of ministry including pastoring a church for 45 years and serving as the President of Far East Broadcasting Co. - Korea. Missionaries from the USA came to Korea and planted the seeds of the Gospel. The FEBC-Korea Children's Choir is a fruit of the Gospel planted so many years ago. They are here today to praise God and share His love. God is now using Korea to bless other nations by sending missionaries to them. Thank you for your love and support. May God Bless You." Billy Kim, FEBC-Korea.

Tonight, we were treated to an amazing blessing from the Far East. Connie, Austin, Lily Grace and I attended a worship and sermon at Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville that was presented by a Korean delegation including the President of Far East Broadcasting Co.-Korea (FEBC-Korea) and the Korean Changwon Children's Choir. What a blessing. The awesomeness of our God knows no boundaries. Billy Kim is known as the Billy Graham of Korea for the evangelical successes he has had in Korea. He is an amazing man and a wonderful ambassador for God across the entire world. He credits every bit of that success to something simple - prayer. Last week, he had dinner with the new general secretary of the UN and told him that he can't fix the world's problems if he doesn't fix his eyes on Jesus. Then they prayed together.

The Korean Children's Choir consists of 45 kids who appeared to be between the ages of 7 and 16 (just a guess on the ages, they all looked so young). They were led by a conductor, pianist, voice trainer, and choreographer. They sang praise songs in their own language - praise and worship music knows no language barriers - and in ours and it was simply beautiful. Their little voices sang in the greatest harmony such wonderful praises as Majesty, Amazing Grace, and God Bless America! Wow, wow, wow, praise God to know that we in the US certainly don't have a monoply on praising a great and wonderful God. The Koreans continuously thanked us as US citizens for the sacrifices that our country made in the 1950s to free their country from the communists and for the missionaries that we have sent their way. They paid tribute to our military men and women for their great and unthinkable sacrifices so that they, the Koreans, could worship in peace and dwell with the Holy Spirit. The Reverend Kim told us that the Koreans loved our country so much that they are sending missionaries back to us, to help fuel a revival in the US, a country he called the most blessed nation earth has ever seen because of its commitment to God!

It is so refreshing to get an external perspective on our country that is not given to us by a media bent on selling a view of the US that suits their corporate vision at the expense of the real reasons that our country exists - to be a lighthouse for the world in bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to an otherwise dark and hopeless existence. Thank you God for sending Billy Kim and the Korean Children's Choir to Huntsville tonight!

We chose a seat close to the stage so that Lily could get a good view and as it turns out, we ended up sitting with Reverend Kim and his delegation, as well as the mayor of Huntsville, Loretta Spencer. Don't know if we crashed the party, but no one seemed to mind. They all asked questions about Lily Grace and were seriously amused when, after the Senior Pastor at Whitsburg Baptist had concluded his opening prayer, Lily shouted "Amen!"

I think Austin enjoyed the evening more than he thought he might. He even enjoyed listening to Reverend Kim. Connie and Lily checked out the nursery and the play area at Whitesburg and made many friends there. Connie wants to bring the entire Childrens' Choir home with us (or at least one or two of them!).

As for me, I thought back to something Austin said the other night regarding family life. He said "Dad, you know, we need to do more things together, as a family. Fun things like playing games and going to a movie." I couldn't agree more and I hope this night was a good start.


Well, I'd better go check the bedrooms to make sure Connie didn't sneak one of the little kids home with us. The Reverend would probably like to be asked first!





Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, and Lily Grace