Seminary Student Changmin Kim (Manmin Central Church, South Korea)

In early childhood I matured quickly being around my mother who struggled to get by working hard for a restaurant. I behaved cheerfully on the outside to conceal my poverty and studied hard to get recognition in school. It allowed for me to stay in the top ranks in school.

As a 9th grader, I couldn't refuse a friend who asked me to show him my answer sheet during a test. I showed it to him and it was caught. In the end, it drove me into a major trouble in school. It was too hard for me to bear. I spoke about it to my academy teacher, Deacon Jeffrey Cho, who I trusted and liked. He told me to pray to God about it.

In such desperation, I started to seek God for the first time. "God, if You exist, have pity on me and settle my problem please. Then, I will go to church," I prayed with tears.

The very next day, the trouble was settled in a simple way. After that I followed my academy teacher to attend Gwangju Manmin Church. At first, I attended only on Sunday but I took over some duties and came to have faith.

God's love warmly touched my heart that was covered with wounds. I tried my best to both lead a diligent Christian life and study well. In 2008, then, I was blessed to enter Yonsei University with a full scholarship for the whole eight semesters.

After I entered college a yearning for the world began moving in me. I didn't drink alcohol at first, but I started to drink. My heart was completely into the world and I was increasingly gaining recognition by people and elected as Vice President of my department, the President of Engineering College, and Vice President of Student Council.

On January 1 2012, I felt the great love of God through the shepherd's prayer and I laid all these things down. When the Senior Pastor was in mountain prayer he offered praise with a God-given song about Heaven on the phone for the members who were attending the 2012 New Year's Service. The work of the dove-like Holy Spirit came upon me.

With love God accepted this prodigal son back in from the worldly fashion of jeans and with orange colored hair. I attended Daniel Prayer Meeting every night and unceasingly repented, fasted, and offered up vowed prayer. He covered all my past transgressions.

Sometime later, Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee was back from the mountain and saw me. He said with smile, "Changmin, how have you been!" On the day, I prayed that while breathing on this earth I would live only for God, the Lord, and the Holy Spirit. Now I am taking the way of a pastor and delivering the love I received to souls.

In December 2013 I was even blessed to evangelize my mother who had been attending a Buddhist temple, and I led her to the church. She used to have dizziness. Through MRI she was diagnosed with an abnormality of the inner ear. A cerebral aneurysm was also detected. It can cause the 7o% of all patients to suffer severe side effects or die. She realized God had protected her in such a situation and began going to church by herself. Hallelujah!

I give all thanks and glory to God who never let me go off too far, gave me true faith and hope for resurrection and led my mom to the way of salvation and resurrection.