During the last gathering of the Word-Fest at Hanmaum Church, our brother Dan received the gift of tongue while listening to the English translation through a headset. Mokja Pang (he was the translator at the time) heard the news via Mokyeo Wan and then came running out to Dan from the translation room hugging and congratulating him. This story deeply touched my heart. The thought of Mokja Pang staying alone in the translation room came across my mind. Hearing people praying loudly, he probably would have wanted to burst out of the room and start to pray with us; he would have been wondering how the Holy Spirit was filling up the main sanctuary. However, he stayed back in the room just in case there was a single person who needed translation. He stayed until the very last word was spoken to make sure they understood everything going on.
We have another person just like Mokja Pang: Mokja WonJae Cho. He too serves as an English translator, and both have always served God faithfully behind the scenes. Mokja Pang and Mokja WonJae, the fruits of our English ministry are all your fruits.
Additionally, we have another Mokja who came to the Word-fest everyday yet volunteered to take care of the children so that their parents could receive the grace of God. He is Mokja JaeHyuck Choi. On the last day of the Word-Fest, when the adults and children were praising God together, he served in the choir. He was praising God with all of his heart not only on the stage but also beside the children as well. It was such a precious sight. There are others to appreciate as well: Mokja SungJin who helped out with the children in an emergency situation on the last night of the Word-Fest, and the sacrifices of Mokyeo Hee, EunSil, and YoungMi who always serves the children like this every week.
Our brother Oh HyunMin was determined to make a BBQ party a festival of its own and volunteered to serve and prepare everything. I really want to thank him and his family. I am also just beyond thankful for Mokja SungEun, Mokyeo YoonMi , and just each and every one of the praise team members who stayed late on Sunday evening practicing for the Word-Fest. I thank the media room staff who served God quietly with pleasure behind the scenes: Mokja GyeWook, brother WonHyuk, brother JaeSung, and brother Hyun Min. I thank those who prayed with tears morning and night for this Word-Fest. I thank those who fold the weekly bulletins, welcome the congregation at the door, and clean the church. I thank the TOL for taking care of their little brothers and sisters, caring for their friends, and praising together holding their hands. I thank Mokyeo BoKyung who makes the PPT slides for the worship service, sister JinHee who edits the weekly bulletins, Mokja JungHoon, Sam, Sarah who translates the Pastor’s column into English and those who prepared the Sunday lunch.
This is how the church of God is built.
For those who look upon God while serving others quietly behind the scene, and for those who take pleasure from the hard work when it brings the love and grace of God to others, I am so proud to walk alongside you on this wondrous journey.
Following the shepherd…
Pastor JiWon Choi.