December 2023
“Family Matters”
“Now, if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
We have confessed how grateful God has been for us this year, by writing a “Thank You Card” to God on “Thanksgiving Sunday.” I wrote many things about my gratitude to God for this year. In our ministry, we were able to start Vacation Bible School (VBS) and youth ministry, especially high school youth ministry, and we successfully made laity Sunday a joint service. Then, we showed how our three churches banded together as a parish when Atlas faced financial crisis. As we supported each other, Atlas was able to overcome the situation. I am so grateful our parish is a family that cares for and supports one another in Jesus Christ. Is it a true family in Jesus Christ!
The thing I am most grateful for on a personal level was that I was able to visit my family and friends in South Korea this year. It has been fifteen years since I’ve seen them. Many things have changed; they have developed a lot and most of the street and city names have changed, and my family moved to a new place. However, one thing that never changed is my family’s love. Even though we couldn’t see each other for a long time, we are still a family. I had a great and grateful time reuniting with family and friends. The most impressive thing I recall was visiting our family cemetery to greet my parents. My elder brother shared how hard our parents worked and prayed to convert our family religion to Christianity. He said, “I appreciate you becoming a pastor as our parents’ wished and prayed for. Let’s not forget how we became Christians.” Our family members became Christians with our mother and father’s prayers and sacrifice. Then, I remember that Joshua proclaimed, “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). My father and mother decided going against “ancestor worship”, which our ancestors served, and serving God as Joshua did. Then they lived with financial difficulties because my grandparents wouldn’t support us. However, they lived with God’s abundant blessings as Christians. My parents taught us all to live as Christians and that family matters and that a Christian family becomes, with the love of God, in the bloodline of Jesus Christ. My parents’ lessons are on my mindset constantly.
It is a season of family reunions. We are a family in the love of Jesus Christ. Let’s be happy and enjoy God’s abundant blessings with our family members who are homeless, sick, home-bound, and staying in a nursing home and a hospital, especially during this holiday season.
Blessings!
Pastor Jenny
11-2-2023, Pastor Jenny’s parents grave in South Korea