Page 7 - Good News September 2016 paper

SEPTEMBER 2016 GOEIE NUUS/GOOD NEWS TEL. (018) 293 1996 FAKS (018) 297 2308 BLADSY 7

fter his father died and his success. No one ever dared
mother abandoned him, defect during the day. At night,
AJoseph Kim, at 12 years those who got caught were either
old, became homeless. Suffering shot or tortured in prison.
in the great famine of North
Korea, he struggled to survive. When North Korean soldiers
One day he met an ex-convict finally caught sight of him on the
who imparted a wonderful far side of the river, their shouts
secret: if he managed to elude were more of astonishment than
authorities and defect to China, outrage. Not a shot was fired. He
the Christian churches there was only 14 years old.
would give him money.
Once in China, Kim made his way
What was a Christian church? to the city of Yanji, where he
Kim wondered. Raised in a looked for churches. One kind
closed and atheistic totalitarian pastor's wife took him in, and an
regime, he had been taught to elderly lady in the church hired
revere the country's leader and him for household help. He called was my life. That night alone in my for his new friends to smuggle
distrust outsiders. the elderly Christian lady 'Grand- room, I began to cry.” He attemp- him to the U.S. Consulate.
ma' and she taught him many ted to talk to God for the first time.
“Why do Christians give money things about the Bible. “I don't know who You are,” he In the U.S. he moved in with a
to strangers?” Kim asked the ex- said. “I don't understand the host family, attended high
convict. “It's just what Christians Once when he sang a hymn with Scripture. But I'm surrendering school, and became a speaker on
do,” he replied. “They give things Grandma, he was deeply moved myself to You.” behalf of human rights organi-
away. They're not like normal by the lyrics: “Father, I stretch my zations. Today, he is serving
people.” hands to Thee, No other help I Not long afterward, a missionary Jesus, happy and free. Last year
know; If Thou withdraw Thyself visited Kim and explained to him Kim published his life story -
One day, almost on a whim, with from me, Ah! Whither shall I go?” the option to go to the U.S. as a 'Under the Same Sky: From
no previous planning or prepa- political refugee. At first he didn't Starvation in North Korea to
ration, Kim decided to cross the The Holy Spirit touched his heart like the idea because he Salvation in America.'
frozen Tumen River bordering and imparted saving faith. “I felt remembered the North Korean
China on foot in plain daylight. something pierce my heart,” Kim indoctrination that Americans are [Source: Joseph Kim , Joel News
His audacity contributed to his recalls. “I understood this. This evil. But after praying, he agreed International 1004, 23 Aug. 2016].

hree years ago the U.S. exclaims. “Like the Bible story of believers here. “When we bless will yield its harvest, and God,
Center for World Mission the disciples whose nets could the nations, God blesses us in our God will bless us.'”
Tbegan equipping thou- not handle all the fish, this return. This is the principle we see
sands of churches in Latin Ministry is now asking for help in Psalm 67:5-6: 'May the peoples [Source: David Taylor, U.S.
America to pray for the Pashtun, from others to handle this unex- praise you O God, may all the Center for World Mission, JNI
one of the biggest least-reached pected interest in the Gospel!” peoples praise you! Then the land 1003, 17 Aug. 2016].
people groups in the world.
Some of the churches praying for
The Pashtun number over 30 the Pashtun are located in El
million people and live in Afgha- Salvador. In one of these Salva-
nistan. “If you are wondering doran churches, a man was dying
whether prayer really makes a of HIV AIDS. “He decided to come Dear friends, remember wat the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
difference, in this particular case, to the Wednesday prayer meeting told you, that in the last days there would come these scoffers
we have the proof,” says mis- which was focused on the Pash- whose whole purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way
sionary David Taylor. tun,” Taylor recounts. imaginable. They stir up arguments; they love the evil things of the
world; they do not have the Holy Spirit living in them.
A Christian radio ministry had “As he was praying for them he
been broadcasting for years to felt the Holy Spirit come upon him But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly
the Pashtun and were receiving and move throughout his body. upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to pray in the power
about 60 responses to their He felt as though he had been and strength of the Holy Spirit.
programme each month. “As healed. The next day he went to
soon as thousands of churches the doctor to have his blood Stay always within the boundaries where God's love can reach and
in Latin America began praying checked. When the nurse came bless you. Wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus
for the Pashtun, this radio back with the results, she was Christ in His mercy is going to give you. Try to help those who argue
programme began receiving b e a m i n g . H i s b l o o d w a s against you. Be merciful to those who doubt. Save some by
hundreds and then thousands of completely clean of HIV!” Taylor snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for
responses each month!” Taylor sees a valuable lesson for others, help them find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful
that you yourselves aren't pulled along into their sins. Hate every
trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners.

And now - all glory to Him Who alone is God, Who saves us through
Jesus Christ our Lord; yes, splendour and majesty, all power and
authority are His from the beginning; His they are and His they
evermore shall be. And He is able to keep you from slipping and
falling away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into His glorious
Presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen.

[Jude 1:17-25, Life Application Bible, Tyndale House Publishers,
1988].