Ahn-nyung-ha-se-yo! That's "hello" in Korean.

In the past three weeks I've been meeting regularly with some Koreans. I've had the chance to find out they are not Christians, give the gospel, and give my personal testimony. God is definitely at work here!

Some back story: Someone I know at Grace Community Church teaches English as a second language at the local community college. She needed "conversation partners" for her students, since her students don't really know any native English speakers and don't get much opportunity to meet people. I'm always looking to meet new people, to participate in the Great Commission. Plus, I love languages! So I told her I'm interested and she gave me the email address of my partner. We met up at a restaurant three weeks ago and have been hanging out ever since.

He is Korean, has lived in America for only two months, and is primarily here to learn English. (Apparently you can get lots of good jobs in Korea if you know English.) He is a self-professing Catholic. Prior to our first meeting, I was under the (false) idea that if you're a professing Christian from Korea, you must be a pretty strong Christian. No, that's China (I think). Koreans are real friendly to Christians.

Despite my false ideas, God made my mistake inconsequential. An opportunity came up a few minutes later where I got to explain how I came to Christ (you can read it in my profile). I also mentioned the Gospel, which was met with a blank stare. Okay, maybe he doesn't know the English word. I mentioned the "good news." Again, a blank stare. Maybe it's a cultural phrase? So I launched into a two-minute gospel presentation, detailing a created universe by God, made perfect, Adam, our representative sinned against God, was cursed, so we are cursed, deserve eternal punishment because we also sin against God, but there is good news: God gave his only Son to live the righteous life we could not live, but died for our sins so that we may be declared righteous before God and be granted into His presence for eternity. This also was met with a blank stare. Woah. Alright, he's not a Christian. I've got the real deal here! This may have been the first time he's heard the Gospel!

We talked for a long time on a variety of topics. Next week we met again for dinner but this time he brought two friends he had just made: both Korean, both students of English at the community college. One has been in America nine months and is a self-professing Christian. The other has been in America three months and is agnostic.  We had some very good conversations. They are open about their beliefs. I had trouble pinning down exactly what the Christian believed, though, possibly because she didn't know herself. I again got the chance to share the gospel and my personal testimony. (Wow!) I found out that the Christian attends a local Korean church weekly. It's really funny, because for the past two years I've been meaning to attend a Korean church, just to meet a different body of Christians. I may go to her church in the near future. I mentioned that I attend church in the evening and all three were very interested in joining me. Shocked, I set up some plans to pick them up and take them there (none can drive).

The next Sunday (last Sunday), I picked them up. The agnostic canceled at the last minute. (My neighbor, not a Christian, also was going to come but he never did.) Last Sunday I was playing in the worship band, so I introduced them to a few people and let them show them around. They attended a "heated" Sunday School class on the sacrament of baptism, from what I heard. During the service, the gospel was presented in the sermon, the music we sang, and the Lord's Supper. They had trouble understanding the sermon since the pastor speaks so fast, but I'm still optimistic because the lyrics to the songs we sang are projected on the screen and I know they can read that, plus the Christian had a Korean/NIV parallel Bible which the Catholic also used, so they could better follow the sermon. Before, during, and after the service many people talked with them and were interested in them. I overhead many spiritual conversations. Both left church very happy and warmed. It was a very positive experience for both of them.

I met my conversation partner again last Tuesday for dinner. The agnostic joined us for a half hour before she had to go. Again, she expressed interest in attending church, so prayerfully I'll see her Sunday. My partner and I talked about a lot of random stuff, but didn't really hit on anything spiritual. I blame myself, because I think he would be open to talking about more personal heart matters. Like Paul, I tend to be very timid in person but bold in writing (2 Cor 10:1).

I've mentioned all these things briefly in memos on MyChurch, asking for prayer. Many people are interested in what happened, so I wrote this blog to update everyone. It is absolutely amazing to be in the direct service of the Lord our God! Prayers are being answered as I watch! A three-year prayer I've been praying is also being answered this month. I've been praying to meet people to witness to. Please pray for me and my new friends this Sunday, and again this Tuesday. Pray as the Spirit leads you. Specific prayers I request are for opportunities to speak heart matters and clarity of thought and speech on my part.