One day in January 2024, I woke up in the morning and felt pain in my neck. I could feel a small lump. As time passed, the lump grew bigger and bigger to turn into a bump, and the affected area became swollen. It was easily visible, so I turned up my collar or covered it with a scarf. ...
Deacon Changjin Kim (Vice President of Men's mission of Eastern Kwangju Manmin Church)
When I ran a pet center, everything seemed to go well. But in 2003, I faced unexpected difficulty after I expanded my business. It was quite a shock to me because I had never thought that I would fall into failure and despair. I became addicted to liquor. I suffered from trembling of my hands. I abandoned my family and wandered outdoors.
Quarreling with my wife didn't seem to stop. She often ran away to her family in Kwangju City. I was becoming a decadent man falling into women, drinking and gambling. Finally, my wife decided to divorce me and left with my son. I was left penniless and living without any hope. Looking back on my past days I regretted it. One day I really missed my wife and my son.
"It's me. How have you been?"
"I've been good and how are you?"
I called my wife with a desperate heart. It was like catching at straws. But her voice was unexpectedly kind and sweet. She suggested to me that we start a new life again just because of our son. She also said she had been waiting for my call praying after she started her life of faith in Eastern Kwangju Manmin Church.
At that time I had no hope and no place to stay, and I went straight to my wife's home in the Kwangju City. And I started attending the church and listening to the messages of Dr. Jaerock Lee. His messages I heard through the satellite service were strong enough to change my soul. While praying every day, I regretted again and again having led a selfish life. I quitted drinking and smoking and stopped meeting with my friends outside the church. My family members just looked lovely to me now though before they seemed to be a burden to me. Meanwhile, I came to have a wish to live in heaven with my family. I had no proper job and met with financial difficulties, but I gave thanks for the grace of God who changed me. No matter what the circumstances, I acted with patience and with joy and thanks. I looked at everything through the eyes of faith. The alcoholic addiction and the tremors of the hands were already gone.
In July 2007, I entered the Kwangju City branch agency of the Seoul Joong-Ang Insurance Company. I took the right path in everything and considering the company and customers ahead of my own benefits I tried to obey the word of God whether it was little or great. Now I am in abundant material blessing by God's grace. I give thanks and glory to God and the Lord, and I appreciate Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee who has led me to become a worker of God through the word of life.