Testimony of Blessing
“The One and Only Solution”
Dear Overseer, Greetings to you!
I am deeply grateful for every word of God that you preach, and I truly believe in its truth.
It seems that theft has become a global culture. It appears to be widespread in every aspect of human society—politics, education, and more. The most concerning part is that such things are happening within the Lord’s Church.
I firmly believe that the only way to resolve this issue is for the Church to cherish and follow the standard of salvation through Jesus Christ, which God has given us.
Only by doing so can the Lord’s church be preserved.
I am deeply thankful for Overseer’s nurturing and guidance.
Reflections on the Lord’s Day sermon by Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim of Sungrak Church,
With gratitude,
Pastor Ghombo from Sierra Leone
September 13, 2024
“Like a Ray of Light”
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
I have been deeply encouraged by the ministry and warm heart of Sungrak Church. The unwavering dedication of Sungrak Church to uphold the truth of God’s Word and to teach His plans is truly inspiring. As someone who seeks to deeply understand the Bible and live according to God’s will, the ministry of Sungrak Church feels like a ray of light to me during challenging times.
I am especially grateful for the sermons of Sungrak Church. In a world where the true essence of Christianity is often misunderstood or distorted, I find the messages that lead us to a God-centered faith to be very timely and fundamental.
I agree that we must return to the foundation of faith, where God’s Word is at the center of our lives, enabling us to clearly understand His love and share it with others. I am confident that the teachings of Sungrak Church will not only enrich my spiritual life but also equip me to serve God’s people much better.
The spiritual environment here in Nepal is confusing, and there is an urgent need for solid, biblical teaching. The insights shared through the sermons of Sungrak Church will be of tremendous help to believers in Nepal. As I strive to serve others in my community, I earnestly request to continue receiving guidance from Sungrak Church.
The teachings of Sungrak Church provide clarity and serve as a guiding light in our ministry. Please convey my gratitude to Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim. I pray that God’s abundant blessings will be with Sungrak Church as it faithfully leads and nurtures God’s people. May God continue to strengthen and guide Sungrak Church in all its endeavors. Once again, I sincerely thank Sungrak Church for conveying God’s love into my life through its kindness.
Pastor Thomas from Nepal
August 21, 2024
“May More People Experience This Blessing”
As I am guided by the messages from Sungrak Church and experience change, everything that happens in the church now brings me happiness and joy.
I want to share the book you sent with more people because I want to awaken the people here spiritually. My motivation for doing this isn’t from any sense of obligation or duty. I genuinely want them to receive a blessing, so I do this joyfully.
One of my college friends had briefly attended church but eventually stopped and found herself unable to pray. However, after reading the book I shared with her, she confessed that she now feels assured of her salvation. She even expressed a desire to serve in church, and her face is filled with joy.
Whenever she encounters parts of the book that she doesn’t understand, she reaches out to me with questions. Recently, I explained to her about the deceiving spirits. She also shared the book with a pastor friend who recently started a new church.
I hope more people come to know the truth I have received. While I may not be able to do much for God’s Kingdom, I am overjoyed to share the message of Christ with others and, when given the chance, to distribute the books. My hope is that many more will experience the blessing I have received.
Brother Geonalee from Kenya
October 3, 2024
“The Person Who Belongs to Heaven”
Hello, today is Friday.
There was no gathering in the morning, so when I was on my way to drop my child off at school, I met two groups of officials. Some were from the village and others from the government. About six or seven people arrived at my house by car. This time, they brought a box of milk and noodles. Then they told me to fill out some documents. There were several papers, and the first page was a reminder of what happened on the 23rd. The next one required my signature, saying that they confiscated six books and they told me to sign. After signing, they requested my thumbprint, but I refused to do it.
Afterward, the village officials started saying various things, so I could no longer bear it and asked various questions. They suggested we talk after the senior officials leave. I asked if they had time to talk with me after they left. I then said, “You allow people to make fires on mountains but why do you not allow people to light their lamps? Whenever I am and whatever I learn, I have one purpose, that is, believing Jesus faithfully. I have never been involved in politics, and the bible makes it clear. In the beginning, Jesus had enough power to overthrow the Roman government, but He chose not to. You may have heard one of Jesus’ teachings on His governance philosophy. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight.” Now, I say to you again, whenever I am and whatever I learn, I only believe in Jesus. This has nothing to do with any government.”
At that moment, I was a little angry, and they left my home. Afterward, two village officials stayed behind to talk with me. Later, they all came back to my home again and repeated the same situation. They told me once again to sign the documents to confirm that I had received their notices. I signed two documents, but I did not provide a thumbprint. They warned me gently and also showed a firm stance, which was likely part of their duty. Around 11 o’clock, they all left.
I am not sure when I might lose the ability to contact the mother church. If that day comes and even though I cannot send letters for a while, please do not worry. Just pray for us, please. What we need is spiritual support and help. I also have confidence that we will become tools for the harvest. The high mountains and hills will crumble into dust. Jesus had already fulfilled it and has given us His power. We are victorious Christians. Amen! Hallelujah! Amen!
Minister Chang from China
October 18, 2024
“A House Built of Straw”
Two months have passed since the persecution stormed in, and thankfully, there has been no significant incident since. Compared to other churches, what we experienced was minimal. I am sincerely joyful as I witness pastors and believers across the land standing strong amidst persecution, glorifying the name of the Lord. I wholeheartedly support and bless them!
Today, I want to share how persecution has brought change to me and our church. Although we can no longer use our previous social media, we have found new ways to listen to Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim’s messages, share our reflections, and pray. Now, instead of listening to multiple sermons a week, I focus on one sermon, meditating on it repeatedly.
The most significant difference is that we no longer have the usual active exchanges in our chat rooms. In the past, we had various groups within the church—new believers, elders, and young adults—where we were busy every day with Bible reading and prayer relay activities. Looking back, I realize that many of these activities were driven by a need to keep doing something outwardly. While they may have encouraged regular habits, they did not truly communicate the heart of the Lord to people. We were busy daily, yet the level of change was minimal.
When these activities were initially suspended, none of us adapted easily. We were all accustomed to schedules, demands, and constant reminders. Suddenly, without these activities, all of us, myself included, found ourselves letting go, becoming entangled in daily routines and our phones. It wasn’t that I had no time to write reflections—it was that my heart lacked strength, weakening and losing direction.
Through this persecution, I have seen it clearly: what my church and I built before was like a house of straw. It was like a house built on sand that collapsed and was uprooted when the flood came. Initially, I was deeply discouraged. Was I really this weak? Others felt the same. The church seemed to lose its unity, and I worried, “Can I continue with the Berea movement? Could I end up being left behind?”
However, worry changes nothing. We must repent and act. In the past, everything was polished on the outside, but now we must become truly strong. Everyone has realized that without inward change and voluntary commitment to our faith, we will all fall when persecution comes. Even if it’s slow, what matters most is genuine repentance.
When I cast off my self-centered despair and resolved to rise again to fulfill the mission of the Berea movement, an unbeliever came to our church. After attending a service, he was captivated by the message. A few days ago, I provided him with teachings for new members. I am truly grateful for the Lord’s comfort through this fruit. I will grow stronger. I am a Berean with a mission.
For the past three weeks, we have listened to Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim’s sermons—”Christians Who Put Off the Old Man,” “Christians Who Are Being Renewed in Their Spirits,” and “Put On the New Man”—and we have been deeply moved, experiencing that we ourselves are being renewed. Through these sermons, I have realized that God has not only saved me through Jesus Christ but also recreated me in His image. This new man is my true self, bearing the righteousness and holiness of the truth, embodying all the natures of Jesus Christ.
In the past, I thought I was gradually becoming a new man, but through these sermons, I realized that the new man already exists within me. Nevertheless, the reason it doesn’t manifest is that I hadn’t resolved to cast off the old man. Without an inner commitment to obedience and change, the old man continued to influence the new man. I thought I loved myself, but in truth, I didn’t even fully understand who I was. I only tried to suppress my old man outwardly without any real inward change.
The Overseer emphasized that those who put on the new man must increasingly resemble the Lord, with changes in character and behavior. Those who wear the new man must be renewed in knowledge, following the image of the Lord who created them. Amen! This new man must be more sincere in relationships with both people and God, demonstrating humility, gentleness, respect, kindness, and consideration toward others. We must love the Lord and love the church. Yes, this is the essence of the new man. I earnestly desire inner change. I hope that as I make my resolve, the Lord will bring about even greater change.
Minister Ryu from China
October 10, 2024
“The Process of Cleanness”
For the past few years, amidst the church’s continuous persecution, what has comforted us is the steadfast faith my fellow workers and saints continue to uphold in the face of such adversity. Upon my arrest as a pastor, my fellow workers stepped in and took on the responsibilities. This is the fruit nurtured by the Mother Church through blood and sweat. I, too, have gained much from this.
The public security officers have persecuted the church five times and searched my home three times. During the first two searches, they took a computer and a few books, but in the third, they took everything they could—desks, chairs, television, computer, copier, clothing, and more. Last week alone, there were three instances of interrogation and threats, and both my fellow workers and saints were also threatened in their homes. Their actions seemed like the final, desperate struggle of those facing imminent destruction.
It would be a lie to say I was not afraid during the interrogations. I am a woman, not someone strong like a hero in a movie. Yet I have Jesus, the Holy Spirit promised by God, and the hope of heaven. I desire to participate in the Berea Movement, and I long to stand with Jesus and the Mother Church. Even during interrogation, I reminded myself that, as a child of God and a pastor of the church, I must not allow myself to be afraid or intimidated. I resolved that they could not disregard God’s children and His servants. I reminded myself not to bring shame to Jesus and became filled with the hope of victory through the Lord’s strength. Through this, I found the courage to stand boldly.
Despite the challenging environment, worship has not stopped. I cannot allow the sheep entrusted to me by the Lord to be lost, failing to fulfill my responsibility to Him. My fellow workers and saints have been interrogated multiple times, but, if anything, their love for the Lord, the church, and their pastor has only deepened. Still, there were about ten who could not worship out of fear of persecution. However, we visited each of them, serving and encouraging them one by one, and gradually, they began to turn back to their faith lives. Even so, a few have left due to this persecution.
Once, during a sermon at the Mother Church, I heard the words, “If persecution comes, endure it; if you die, then die.” At first, I wondered if my Mother Church truly understood the situation in China. However, through this teaching, the path of faith became even clearer. The Mother Church is well aware of the suffering of Jesus, His disciples, and Paul, and both the overseer and believers have already set an example for us. I came to understand that what was taught to us is the very principle of following the path of Jesus.
This teaching has set me on a path of holiness, enabling me to be used by the Lord. In times of persecution, Jesus seeks His bride, who truly loves Him. Truthful faith is revealed in the midst of persecution. The Lord said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Those who are martyred for the Lord are blessed, and they will partake in the first resurrection. Death has worth only when it is a death used by the Lord. The Lord also said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
It has been nearly 20 years since I encountered the Berea Movement in China, and it has brought me true happiness. Yet, I have also had concerns. Many who encountered Berea severed their connection with the Mother Church for personal gain. I have wondered what Berea will look like in the years to come. Much like the division at the Mother Church that has led to its purification, the widespread persecution in China now seems to be purifying the Bereans and the church. Though painful, there is joy in this process.
God knows that many Berean pastors and saints are enduring persecution, and this is permitted by Him. I pray that the Lord will grant His children the power of faith to overcome this world. We will be victorious in the name of Jesus. Since everything is in God’s hands, I trust that His will is being fulfilled.
Lord, please protect our faith and protect the saints and pastors who are dedicated to You. Please purify us and the church so that we may be used as servants of the Berea Movement.
Pastor Xiachahong from China
October 4, 2024
