Day 2: Check Your Faith
Today’s Message
“Check Your Faith”
2 Corinthians 13:5
We would like to thank Pastor Yoo Ki-Seong (Good Shepherd Church) for his message today. Tomorrow’s speaker will be Missionary Kim Yong-Ui (World Mobile Mission).
Yesterday’s Sermon
“I am the Way, Follow Me”
John 14:6, Matthew 6:24
Prof. Jonghyuk Ahn, Cincinnati University
Life is like a journey in which we need to find the destination. Our final goal is Jesus Christ and we will find purpose in Him. Especially during this pandemic, many of us are lost and wondering where to go. However, the Word of God tells us to follow Him and God will show us the way.
Dr. Ahn shared personal experiences of how God showed him the way in the midst of difficult situations. Dr. Ahn came to America to study mechanical engineering. He faced language barriers and many other challenges that caused him to struggle significantly in the beginning of his studies. During these hardships, he held onto Scripture (John 14:6). However, it was difficult because it seemed like the doors were blocked; he knew that Jesus is the way, but his situation was too difficult to bear. Thus, he decided to pray harder and fast four days. One day, God came to his dream and said, “You will be accepted.”
Dr. Ahn was so glad that God finally answered his prayer and indeed he passed the doctorate test. In the midst of all this, Dr. Ahn realized that God’s purpose was to place God as the first priority. When God becomes the first priority, one will truly experience freedom and peace in life.
Matthew 16:24 is the passage that comes after Peter confesses to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We have to “take up our cross and follow Jesus.” Every one of us has a calling or mission that is given from the Lord. For Dr. Ahn, he made a non-profit organization to support his friend who became a missionary. In addition, he planted a church and served as an elder for 22 years. Although he is a professor, Dr. Ahn motivates himself to find things to glorify God’s Kingdom. For him, he has this passion to bless the people around him. He also continues to pray for the next generation and helping with the campus church.
Community Stories
Vineyard Mobile Food Pantry
Sa-Rang Community Church closed our Food Bank at the early warning stages of coronavirus. When Love Anaheim reached out to us to partner with them, Vineyard Anaheim, and the City of Anaheim to run this mobile food pantry, it was God calling us to continue to serve our local community and love our neighbors through greater collaboration with other like-minded organizations. On average, our Food Bank at KDO served 170-185 families twice a month. This weekly mobile food pantry serves more than 400 families every Saturday. God is moving.
—Ken Lee
The Vineyard Mobile Food Pantry operates every Saturday to feed over 400 families each week! We look to send up to 15 volunteers (10 for pantry, 5 for prayer) each Saturday. If you are interested in signing up, contact Sally Kim at kimsally@sarang.com!
Lisa K, K-High (10th)
I first started attending Teuksae when I was two months old because, according to my parents, I was a “product of prayer.” Up until I was five or six years old, the primary reason I attended was because my parents encouraged me to go. However, once I reached that point in my life, Teuksae was already a constant, and I have attended ever since.
Teuksae for me is a time to reflect on my relationship with God. It’s always been easy for me to get so distracted with academics and other worldly pleasures that I forget about what should really matter. Every year that I have attended Teuksae, I’ve taken the opportunity to allow God to lead me in the right direction in both my faith and my future.
As of now with academics, the current political climate, and coronavirus pandemic, I’m looking forward to this year’s Teuksae to give me a sense of hope and stability by strengthening my relationship with God. I know this year has brought upon challenging times for everyone, but I truly believe that as we reconnect with God through Teuksae, we will all be rewarded with the strength and motivation we need to keep going and make the best of our situation.
For myself, my prayer requests are for academic success this year and for my family to be kept safe and healthy. However, with all the division pertaining to race, sexuality, and politics that has become increasingly significant these past few months, I also pray that we can all learn to love and accept one another despite our differences.
