Preach The Gospel Of The Kingdom Of God

Mark 1:14-15 “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’”

Part I. Annual Review Of 2009

The Work of God Through A Yearly Key Verse

God gave me and Vienna UBF 1 John 3:16, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers,” as our key word for 2009. On the basis of this word, I wanted to serve our mission co-workers and sheep by overcoming my selfishness and learning Jesus’ love. When I look back at this year, my love was humanistic. It should have been spiritual and not based on my human strength. I spent almost all my time caring for Paula, my youngest daughter who was born in Oct. 2008, and supporting the private tourist house of M. Sarah Han that I could not even have spiritual love to pray for sheep and co-workers and serve them with the living and inspiring word of God. I pray that in 2010 I may have the love to which Jesus devoted himself in his life until death.

Personal Bible Study

I have had no personal Bible study systematically and continually. I just studied the Bible in order to prepare the Sunday worship messages. By the grace of God, I could be a part of the European Bible Material Research Team so that I could learn John’s gospel with M. Elijah Park(PL), Joshua Lee(BE), Paul Lee(G), and Paul Chang(SK) weekly as we made new Bible questionnaires through deep discussions. In Nov., I was spiritually inspired by a new book by Prof. Son G.C. with the title, Thank the Holy Spirit. I am trying to read the Bible with a view of God’s kingdom.

Sheep Invitation And 1:1 Ministry

In 2009, we were unfaithful to inviting sheep and the 1:1 Bible study ministry. We are used to inviting new sheep on campus, but we did not do it. Our missionaries worked separately and invited new Bible students to Bible study and Sunday worship service.

In the case of M. Sarah Han, she invited university students to Bible study on her way home after work.

M. James Han studied Genesis and John’s Gospel with brother Ephaproditus Kim every week. God blessed his painful struggle during his 6 years of studies and his small decisions to raise up 9 disciples of Jesus during his university life so that he passed through his high school certificate test in November. He entered Vienna University and is studying astronomy. We pray for him that he will be spiritually changed to be a man of God and be a good bible teacher and shepherd for Austrian students. Sister Zhang Yang has been studying the Bible with M. Sarah. But she didn’t have great spiritual desire. In addition, M. Sarah Han had no time to help her personally. She has a good attitude toward the Bible. She attended the Christmas worship service on Dec. 20 which showed us her loyalty for God. It must be a good sign for the future.

Bible School And Conference

In 2009, we didn’t have a Bible school. From April 24-26, a Middle European Bible Conference was held in Tulln, Austria. A total of 47 members attended this conference from Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia, and Poland. The title of the conference was “The Hope of God.” John, who is director of Chunahn UBF in Korea, was invited to give a special lecture with the title “How Can We Learn the Bible?” This conference was devoted to the upcoming ESBC 2009 in Germany. We had time to prepare for the Middle European dance (Austrian Ballet) together. M. James Han attended a strategic conference for European Directors from June 5-7 in Budapest, Hungary where he leaned the living faith of Nehemiah and received vision and ambition to bring about an Austrian spiritual revival and raise disciples. From Aug. 13-16, the ESBC 2009 was held in Erlingerfeld, Germany. A total of 14 people participated in this conference. It was so powerful and gracious to see the work of the Holy Spirit that I could find the living hope which God gave our EU-UBFs for the future. I was moved by the Austrian ballet which the Middle EU dance team performed on stage for world mission night. It was great that this ballet exemplified to the attendees the title of the conference, “The Hope of God.” I thank God for the sacrifices of second generations and Middle EU missionaries in preparing the Austrian ballet. I thank God for M. Hannah Shin, director of CZ UBF, who prayed and gave practical support in all the dancing practices though she was wounded in an accident. From Dec. 29-30, we held a New Year Conference where we studied Ro 1:18-32 and Gal 5:16-26 in groups and wrote testimonies based on our previous year key word of God. At this conference, we discussed an agenda for 2010 and made plans.

Self-Support and Language Struggle

M. Daniel’s family had difficulties in being self-supporting and with the German language. M. Daniela finished her German language course and started a Korean studies at Vienna University in order to solve her visa problem. But M. Daniel had a complex about and fear of foreign languages. He could not overcome his serious problem, so he did not make progress in his language skills. His family has no income and has a visa problem. M. Daniel is trying to obtain a taxi driver’s license. And M. Daniela is studying to be a home-visiting nurse. Through these ways, they want to find a way to support themselves and acquire visas.

M. James’ family supports itself by providing a private residence for Korean travellers in Vienna. From 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., M. Sarah Han works and does guest services in the private residence. M. James brings her by car to the residence every day. Her job is very hard and busy, but brother Kim has been staying in the residence and supporting her practically. In 2009, God blessed their business abundantly so that it could become stable. M. Sarah Han has a big vision to grow this business and acquire a building for their private residence in which there is a restaurant and guest rooms.

M. Sarah and James Han have lived in Austria for 12 years, and they made a lot of progress in their German language. But their language level is still not enough to help the university students in the German language. In 2009, they had nothing challenge them to make further progress, so their language skills became worse. They need to have a new program to advance their language skills in 2010.

Co-Working And Second Generation Education

M. James’ family has been co-working with one family, M. Daniel’s. In 2009, they had no grace in their heart because they were extremely poor and had an unsolved visa problem, having no inner spiritual life. This caused trouble with M. James´ family. James’ spiritual weaknesses and lack of good leadership also made them angry. Because M. Sarah found no time for practical ministry because of her business, it made Daniel’s family troubled. In 2009, we lacked good co-working because of our sins and spiritual weaknesses.

In Vienna UBF, there are 5 children of M. James and 2 children of M. Daniel. In 2009, M. Sarah and Daniela served a children’s Sunday worship service at 10 am. The children have been divided into 2 groups: below middle school and above middle school.

The children before Gymnasium attended a children worship service at 10 am. Other children like Lydia, Sarah, and Sarang attend the adult Sunday worship. They have inspired the adult Sunday worship service to be full of life. Besides Sundays, the children study the Bible regularly with their parents. But James’ children have not had regular bible study with their parents. At the end of year, M. Sarah Han repented of her sins against her children with tears.

Our children have been learning musical instruments, like Lydia (flute & piano), Sarah (violin), Lois (cello), and Sarang (saxophone). They have had musical education at music school regularly, but have not advanced much because their parents have not given their heart and time to their musical training. But Lydia Han has shown advancement in piano and flute, though she struggled with piano for a while. At Christmas Worship Service they played their instruments and gave God the glory as they showed us the great hope of God for the future.

Mission In Europe And In The World

To help prepare for the ESBC we worked closely with the Middle EU co-workers. Through the Middle EU Regional Conference in Tulln, Austria, we built a spiritual background for our coworkers and second generations. This gave us precious time to make friendships. During conference preparation I received training in serving a large united conference. But Satan tried very hard to tempt me, and I learned very clearly that we could be tempted by Satan if we do not pray and are not spiritually awake. In 2009 Vienna UBF supported Shp. John Oh financially for a month to concentrate on God´s work and compile all messages and questionnaires for all 66 books of the bible. We invited him to the 2009 Middle EU Regional Conference and heard a special lecture from him.

After the ESBC, 45 second generations visited Vienna for two days. We got a good chance to closely meet and serve them, the hope of God in Europe and America. I found that we have to pray for them and practically build a good spiritual foundation for them, because they face many difficult temptations. From the beginning of July until ESBC, a short-term missionary from Philadelphia UBF, USA, stayed in Vienna. I had a chance to take care of an American second generation and help her with the word of God. Although her parents were UBF missionaries and she was surrounded by other Christians, she did not have personal faith. She had not experienced spiritual rebirth and lived like a godless person. During her stay in Vienna, I prayed for her spiritual rebirth as I helped her with John’s Gospel. I thought about my own children and realized that they are not that different from her. This made me a lot more conscious of and concerned about the spiritual formation of our second generations.

II. Vision And Strategy In 2010

1. Key Verse For 2010 And Prayer Topics

The verse I received from God for this year is Mk 1:14,15: “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’”

It is the gospel of God which Jesus preached first in the world. It is the gospel of God which Jesus, who became the Son of Man, wanted to tell the people. In particular, Jesus wanted to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. After his resurrection, he spent precious time teaching them the gospel about the kingdom of God. What is the core of gospel? Of course it is Jesus, but also the coming of the kingdom of God through Jesus. God opened the kingdom of God, which we had lost because of our sins, through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The kingdom of God is not only a future kingdom of God but also a currently growing kingdom. God allows us into his kingdom through the Holy Spirit. When we have the kingdom of God, we can experience true salvation and happiness. The coming of the kingdom of God can solve all of mankind’s problems. I have received clear direction for Austria UBF from Mk 1:14,15. I expect that the kingdom of God will be recovered by faith in Jesus in our lifetime. I pray that our co-workers and second gens will experience the coming kingdom of God. I pray that the kingdom of God may come into the hearts of Austrian students.

Our prayer topics for 2010 are as follows:

1. Recovery of gospel faith and the kingdom of God
2. M. James Han: Bible study and Sunday worship message (John’s Gospel); Concentration on God´s ministry (a place for babies in children’s garden)
3. M. Sarah: Health and recovery of her basic spiritual life; Upgrade business (private residence) to youth hostel
4. M. Daniel’s family: Working visa with a new job; (M.Daniel: Taxi driver; M. Daniela: home-visiting nurse).
5. Ephaproditus Kim: Bible teacher and shepherd
Zchang Yang: Spiritual rebirth and bible study with M. Sarah Han
Miso Park: Inner and outer healing and entrance into music school.
6. Second Generations: Bible study and musical education

2. 2010 Agenda Of Bible School And Conference

See Ubf.org

3. Strategy For 1:1 Bible Study And Doubling Disciple Ministry In 2010

God gave me the vision for an Austrian campus ministry, which began by raising Epaphroditus and Zhang Yang. God also gave us sister Miso Park like a barley loaf to our ministry. I will hold a weekly meeting and a monthly bible school on campus with them, so that the word of God may come into their heart personally and that the Holy Spirit may work in them to fully become men and women of God. I believe that our urgent prayer topic for 1:1 bible study with Austrian students will come true when these students of ours change and become spiritually alive.

M. Daniela Yang studied Korean Studies at Vienna University. I expect that new sheep will come to bible study and meetings because of her. I found that God’s ministry is the work of the Holy Spirit. It means that it is not I who does the work, but the Holy Spirit who works and uses us. In order for this to happen, I must come to the place of prayer before God. It is necessary that the word of God, God himself, comes into my life. I want to build a good spiritual environment for co-workers, second gens and sheep, so that they may come to the word and the place of prayer with open and volunteering hearts before God.