Newsletter

[VOL. 0] JULY 2011

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

This is Joo Chung and Won.

How have you been?

I started having a sabbatical year from this April by the grace of God.

After Ill Hyun, my eldest son, had Sun Ju, my grand-daughter, Doo Hyun, my second son, recently had Hee Ju, another grand-daughter.

So, I came to LA, where my second son lived, and had a great time.

I also tried to have a more intimate relationship with the Lord to follow the real meaning of sabbatical year.

And the Lord made me and my wife pay attention to orphans in South Korea.

Despite obstacles that prevented us from visiting them, we looked around several orphanages in Korea and met orphans from June to the beginning of August. It was His grace.

Through a visit to Vietnam, I saw the life of orphans in a socialist state.

There were incomprehensible circumstances that led me to God’s amazing grace.

And He made me have a dream of becoming Korea as a country where awareness of orphans improves and where orphans aren’t discriminated against anymore.

My job may finish after just laying the foundation of the ministry for orphans in Korea.

I’m old. I’m not good enough to do the ministry. But, God uses me. I’m so thankful for that. .

So, I’ve decided to obey His will.

I prayed before starting the ministry.

I’m sure that His work can be accomplished through prayers from people He loves. I’d like to invite you to join the ministry with prayers.

If you want to pray for the ministry for orphans in Korea, please send me a short reply.

I’m going to start the ministry by sharing prayer requests with those who reply and praying together.

Below is the blueprint of the ministry. I’m going to share more details later.

<About the Ministry>

To whom: young people who graduated from high school and left orphanages.

I’m not sure how many young people there will be at the beginning. The ministry will be composed of those whom God prepares for this and who are willing to join.

At orphanages in Korea, even famous intellectuals and priests have difficulty approaching orphans since they know that the service from well-known people is just a one-time thing

So they’ve already closed their minds and ears.

The goal of the ministry is to foster young people from orphanages, who were in the same circumstances before as orphans and who can understand them, to serve them.

Ministry

Spiritually, we’re going to teach God’s love and how to love others.

They’ll realize how precious and blessing they are by learning about God and Jesus and becoming children of God.

Then, they’ll find and enjoy real freedom and joy.

Furthermore, they’ll show orphans God’s grace and love, and motivate them to have hopes and dreams. (About two-three years of training is necessary)

Physically, I’m considering what kind of business to start for them. It can be either a social enterprise or an NGO. I’m still praying for it.

The entity will create job opportunities for those who are discriminated against and marginalized, regardless of their willingness.

It’ll help them expand capabilities at work without having to find guardians for employment.

It’ll teach them how to fish, instead of feeding them like what orphanages do so that they have active attitudes.

More importantly, since all workers in this social enterprise perform their jobs responsibly without employers and staffs, all of them will consider themselves owner and have pride (All benefits and rules will be established based on this).

Location

Republic of Korea. The location for the ministry isn’t determined. We’ll go to where God leads us.

I’ll share more details with those who want to join the ministry through prayers and will ask them to pray.

Please contact me whenever you have questions about the ministry.

Where to go, what kind of business will be, when to go…

Nothing has decided yet.

But, this is His work, not mine.

So, I’ll go to Korea whenever He calls.

I believe that He prepares and guides me.

And then, He’ll let me know the location and what to do.

He’ll also let me meet those who are necessary for the ministry.

In fact, I’m not worried at all.

What a surprise!

How about enjoying His grace with us?

I pray that the Lord gives you and your family real freedom and joy.

In His grace,

Pastor Joo Chung and Won