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. ...
My Happy Story as Manager of A-Dollar Vegetable Store
From a Jobless Man to the Owner of Two Vegetable StoresDeacon Hangsuk Bang (1-2 Parish, 2-1 Men's Mission)
Happy moment of his family (From left Jion, Jisung, Deacon Hangsuk Bang and his wife Deaconess Jungsuk Park)
"We find life thrilling when unexpected things happen in our lives. A good example is the following story of a man who was once a salaried businessman but now has become the head of a few vegetable stores." This was what happened after I lost my job during the Korea's IMF financial crisis in 1999. I was eating at a restaurant and saw a truck loaded with vegetables passing by. I thought this was what I really needed, and prepared a truck and started to sell vegetables going around in the streets. Without experience I had to undergo many troubles. But as God was with Joseph wherever he was, I believed God is watching me all the time and makes me learn through difficulties. So I tried to give thanks even when the sales were not good. Then God made me open up a little store at the corner of a street in Nangok-dong, Gwanak District, Seoul, Korea. I named the store 'A Dollar Vegetable Store' wanting to sell vegetables at an affordable price. And I treated each customer with kindness and walked the right path by providing fresh and good quality vegetables. I had to calm myself down to keep from provoking my mental anxiety whenever I went to the wholesale market. In that place where people argue about money, I felt sorry before God when I sometimes raised my voice. Can I act like this as a believer in God? I prayed and discovered myself seeking my benefit and giving hard times to others. But as I accomplished the generous heart and conceded to others, my heart couldn't be more comfortable. Nothing can block it when God is willing to give blessing. Actually I was inspired to open up another chain store while I was in prayer. Though others advised me saying "What you are thinking is impossible! You have to think more before you act" However, I gain even greater assurance. That's how I opened up a new chain of the 'A Dollar Vegetable Stores.' Before I took charge of this place, I stood in front of the store on a daily basis and prayed "I want to take charge of this place if You let me. Otherwise, I will give up."
I opened the third, fourth and fifth stores and I was fully dependant on God. I paid the whole tithe on my total income including salaries for the staff and other expenses. When I failed to keep the tithe due to financial troubles, I wrote it down and later offered everything at one time. It was in 1995 when I was led to Manmin Central Church through Dr. Jaerock Lee's testimonial memoirs Tasting Eternal Life Before Death. At that time I was thirsty for the word of God and was deep in love with spiritual messages. I remember I knelt down overwhelmingly touched while listening to the message 'Heaven' on audio tapes. Everywhere in the church was filled with grace so I felt like I was in Heaven. I felt happy just being a Manmin member. With a thankful heart for the grace, my wife and I are dedicating ourselves as one of the Prayer Devotees and a member of Manmin Volunteers' Mission. And our family again felt the deep love of God through our youngest, six-year-old son, Jion, He suffered from runny nose and had difficulty breathing. At the hospital he was diagnosed with otitis media, empyema, and rhinitis. We prepared to receive the prayer of Senior Pastor with prayer and fasting, and after receiving his prayer, Jion was healed completely. We feel nothing but thankfulness for the love of God who embraces us more warmly when we trust and rely on Him in any kind of situation.