A New Season God Is Opening in Korea

Greetings to everyone who has been walking alongside our family through your prayers and love.

On August 3, our family safely arrived in Korea by God’s grace. As we begin this new season in Korea, we are experiencing His faithful guidance, one step at a time.

The Janghowon team warmly welcomed us at the airport, and we traveled together to Janghowon, known for its delicious peaches, where we settled into our new home. We are especially grateful for the warm hospitality and thoughtful care of the Janghowon community staff. Thanks to their kindness, we were able to rest well during our first few weeks, gradually adjust to life in Korea, and become familiar with our new surroundings.

Hallelujah! Our Transportation Was Provided Before We Even Reached One Month!

Before even completing our first month in Korea, we received a tremendous answer to prayer: we were given a vehicle!

Through the family of an elder whom my parents-in-law have known for many years, we were blessed with a vehicle as a donation. Receiving such a valuable and unexpected gift has been an incredible blessing and has truly become our family’s “white horse.”

Throughout September, we have been able to travel throughout Korea for ministry and daily life. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to travel across this land that God has entrusted to us, praying and worshiping as we go.

We give a grateful round of applause to God!

Prayer Gathering with North Korean Defectors on Liberation Day

On August 15, Korea’s Liberation Day, Joe was invited to Seongmin Church to share his testimony and share worship at a prayer gathering hosted by the Christian Association of North Korean Defectors, titled “Rise Up, 300 Mighty Warriors of Gideon.” With approximately 500 North Korean defectors in attendance, we were deeply honored that our family could serve together at such a meaningful gathering. It was a precious time of worship and prayer as we shared God’s heart for North Korea.

The following day, on Sunday, Joe visited Hanawon, a government facility where North Korean defectors receive education and training to help them adjust to life in South Korea after arriving in the country. Joe joined them for Sunday worship, shared in a time of praise, and had a brief but meaningful time of fellowship and sharing our vision together.

Sharing Testimony and Worship at Chilseong Church in Daegu

On September 13, we were honored to visit Chilseong Church in Daegu, where we were invited to share our testimony and lead worship. It was a deeply meaningful time of worship, fellowship, and experiencing God’s grace together. The pastor and his wife have a special connection with our family. They were DTS classmates and longtime friends and ministry partners of Joe’s parents. Back in 2009, when we were not yet believers and were searching for direction in our lives, we were living in Jeonju. During that time, the pastor and his wife traveled all the way from Daegu to visit us, pray for us, and care for us.

At the time, as non-believers, we remember thinking, “Christians really go this far for people?” Their love and devotion were completely unfamiliar to us.

After years of wandering, 18 years later, we returned to the very church where the pastor and his wife now serve—the same church that had once sent them to come and care for us when we were far from God. To stand in that church years later, sharing our testimony and leading worship, was an overwhelming expression of God’s grace. As we shared our story, there were tears, and we could deeply sense the love and prayers that the pastor and his wife had faithfully carried for us over all these years. What they had sown in our lives through their love and prayers had come full circle.

That moment reminded us once again that God had been faithfully working throughout every part of our journey, even during the years when we could not see or understand what He was doing.

We were also deeply moved to learn that Chilseong Church has a 111-year history. The church began on August 15, 1915, the same date as Korea’s Independence Day, 30 years before Korea’s liberation in 1945. As we reflected on the generations of faith and prayer that have been built into this church, we were grateful to witness a legacy of worship and prayer that has continued for more than a century.

Grace Road Church (Church for North Korean Defectors)

During the Chuseok holiday, Grace Road Church, a church in Cheongju serving North Korean defectors, held a special gathering featuring testimonies and worship. Joe was invited to share his testimony and share worship songs.

Although it was a small church with about 15 people, the deep faith of the pastor, who himself came from North Korea, felt like a small light shining brightly into the darkness of North Korea.

We were also blessed to hear the testimony of Lee Ara, an actress who is also a North Korean defector. Through her story, we gained a deeper understanding of some of the challenges North Korean defectors face in their lives, as well as the struggles they experience in their journey of faith. It was a meaningful and eye-opening time for our family.

Word By Heart Scripture Memorization School

On September 27, the Word By Heart Scripture Memorization School began. As we memorize the Book of Revelation together, our family is serving in different roles throughout the school. Joe is leading worship,Deb is serving with meals, and our children are serving on the media team. Until now, there had not been anyone specifically serving in media within this community. We are especially grateful that, at just the right time, our children have been able to use the skills they have been learning and practicing in photography, video, and design to serve the school. It is a great joy for us to serve together as an entire family.

A New Season for Our Missionary Kids

Since arriving in Korea, our children have continued homeschooling while studying and practicing media in a school-like environment focused on developing their skills and areas of expertise. They are also participating in photography, video, and design projects for the school, learning to use their talents as tools for serving others.

They have also enrolled in jiu-jitsu and kickboxing classes, allowing them to continue exercising and pursuing their interests even in a new environment.

When we asked the kids, “What do you like most about being in Korea?” their answers were refreshingly honest:

First, the food. Second, meeting many new people and learning about a new culture. Third, getting an allowance more often. And fourth, getting to know more about Korea.

We are grateful and proud to see our children adjusting well to life in Korea without major difficulties and creating a joyful daily life of their own, each in their own way.

Prayer Requests

1. For Joe’s Health

Joe is currently preparing to undergo tests for a lump found in his eye. In addition, an X-ray taken recently during dental treatment showed an area in his neck that appeared to be a lump, and he was advised to see a specialist for further evaluation.

Please pray that he will receive the necessary tests and accurate results, and that God will protect and guide him throughout the entire process.

2. For Residence Status and Immigration Matters

After Joe lost his passport following an event on August 15, his application for a residence card has been delayed. Currently, only Gyeongjin has received her residence card. Sharon has not yet been able to apply due to missing documents, and Joe’s application has been delayed because of his lost passport. Both are scheduled to visit the immigration office on October 13.

Please pray that Sharon and Joe will be able to prepare all the necessary documents and receive their residence cards without difficulty, and that the remaining insurance and immigration-related administrative matters will be resolved smoothly, one step at a time.

3. For the Word By Heart School

Please pray that our entire family will remain healthy and strong as we continue serving in the Word By Heart Scripture Memorization School.

Joe is serving through worship, Gyeongjin through meals and hospitality, and our children through the media team. Please pray that each of us will faithfully fulfill the roles God has entrusted to us.

4. For Equipment Needed for Ministry

We need a portable MacBook for video editing and storage equipment so that we can continue serving through photography and video at the school and in other ministries. We also need a iPad so that Joe can clearly view sheet music and lyrics while leading worship.

Please pray that God will provide the equipment we need in His timing and through His provision, allowing our family to serve more effectively through photography, video, worship, and other areas of ministry.

Our Cup Overflows

Returning to Korea and rebuilding our lives has required more preparation and brought more needs than we anticipated. Yet we continue to look to God, knowing that He already knows every need we have and is faithfully providing for us, one step at a time. Even for the needs that have not yet been met, we choose to give thanks in advance and celebrate God’s faithfulness with a victory clap of praise.

We truly believe that our family has been able to settle into and adjust to life in this unfamiliar land of Korea because of your prayers and God’s grace. Through the warm love and generous service of the Janghowon community, as well as the precious people and divine connections God continues to bring into our lives, we are experiencing new grace each day.

We sincerely thank everyone who has walked alongside our family, partnering with us through your prayers, love, and support. We look forward with faith to all that God will accomplish in Korea, and we will continue taking one step at a time, trusting Him.

May God’s grace continually be with you, your families, and every area of your lives.

With all our hearts, thank you.