WEBVTT 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:16.399 Well this morning we have the privilege of having with us Pastor Billy Kim from Siuwon Baptist Church in Seoul, South Korea. 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:21.359 This is a congregation that he planted many years ago. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.559 Uh before I was born, he told me this morning. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:32.960 He grew it, uh the Lord grew it through his faithfulness into a tremendous church, a very bright light in Seoul. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:35.759 Uh at his wife's urging as I understand it. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:38.719 He did not tell me the story, I got it from inside sources. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:45.759 At his wife's urging, he planted an English congregation inside of his church, and that too grew. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:56.000 And so uh in that way, it's like Emmanuel, um Baptist Church is a church with two congregations, uh English and Korean. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:59.840 Um his wife, Shirti, has been at his side throughout his ministry. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.679 He was able to speak to her this morning. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:04.000 She's at home, she did not travel with him. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:09.599 They have three kids, and you can often see the integrity of a pastor in the lives of his family. 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:15.599 Billy's two sons are both pastoring as well in South Korea, and the Lord is blessing their ministry. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:30.799 It was at the end of the Korean conflict when it was apparent there was going to be a divide between the North and the South that they started the Far East Broadcasting Company, which has had a profound reach inside of North Korea as well as uh through China. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:41.920 Um it's uh an incredible gospel witness to those um behind the Chinese influence, uh, where it's very difficult to get missionaries to much of China even to this day. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:43.599 Uh but particularly North Korea. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:54.319 You know, even South Koreans can't really send missionaries into North Korea, but the Far East Broadcasting Company reaches there and it's been an encouragement to the underground church there for decades now. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:13.280 Uh the Lord has blessed Pastor Billy with opportunities to preach the gospel around the world, uh to Cuba, um, to uh all over Central America, uh, even in the United States, to visiting dignitaries, uh, presidents, heads of states, uh that are open to hearing from a Korean evangelist more than an American evangelist. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.719 I don't know what to think about that, but it's the truth. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:20.800 And he has definitely leveraged every opportunity the Lord has given him. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:24.639 Uh I mentioned to the congregation last week, I said we have three services. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:27.280 I don't I don't want to I don't want to burn you out. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.759 And you said better to burn out than rest out. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.639 And uh I'm thankful you're here this morning for us. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:35.039 It is a privilege in our own congregation to receive you. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:37.120 We received the choir here a few years ago. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:43.840 I know you weren't able to be with them, but we're so thankful they're back uh with us, and they bring so much joy to our congregation. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:47.680 Pastor Billy, would you please come forward and share with us this morning? 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:11.199 What a great church! What a great congregation! What a great pastor. 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:26.080 I have invited your pastor next year sometime, about one week to come to Korea, because our children have been here twice, and I want to express my deep appreciation for inviting the children's choir. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.680 They came here just on purpose. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:45.759 140 years ago, Americans sent missionaries to Korea when our nation was on the dark stage, and God has blessed American missionaries 140 years ago. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:52.000 Now we enjoy the Christianity in Korea far beyond our expectation. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:58.800 We have at least 30% of our population is a Christian. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:03.759 The second reason they came here say thank you, America. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:17.199 For 1950, when the outbreak of the Korean War, when the communists were taking over South Korea, thousands and thousands of American soldiers came and saved our nation. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:27.600 And we have a freedom, and we have a religious freedom, and we have worship freedom, travel freedom. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:35.199 God has blessed South Korea today, perhaps more than any other nation on the face of the earth. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:46.160 Now we have sent more than 30,000 Korean missionaries around the world to help American missionaries to bring the gospel to the unsaved worlds. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:47.680 That's why they are here. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:54.800 First, 140 years ago, American missionary came, give us the gospel. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:05:15.439 Second, 1950, when the Korean people were over taken by communists, and American soldiers came, and many of the thousands of soldiers gave their lives to make South Korea free and democratic nation. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.399 And these children pay their own way. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:29.600 And uh they pay their own bill at uh Hilton Hotel near Dallas Airport. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.639 And we want to help you, economy. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:39.040 Lord, I wish you could see the breakfast they eat. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:45.920 I mean, it's uh you can imagine how much these children eat. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:51.279 They're from third grade elementary school to seventh grade. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:06:00.959 And I want you to know they pay their own expenses: bus, hotel bill, and airplane fare. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:05.040 Only thing FEBC provided. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:15.600 They sang Friday night, 650 children plus over 50 teachers, and about 700 people. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:19.360 They were at Carnegie Hall Friday night. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:32.240 Your former vice president, Mike Pence, Karen Pence came, gave an invocation, and brought word of greetings to our audience. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:34.800 Kennedy Center was packed. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.639 It was a free concert. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:44.800 And I want to thank you for letting them come second time, and this is my first time, this great church. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:54.160 And uh Funska, Debbie Funska, she was a friend many, many years, and uh she told us about this church. 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:56.560 So I thought about praying. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:02.639 I said, first service, I'm gonna give a brief testimony how I became Christian. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:08.079 And second and third service, I'm gonna speak about the revival we need. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:14.480 And if you care to stick around, that's a pretty good message, and we love to have you. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:18.800 For 17 years I haven't never heard the gospel story. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:24.879 In 1950, during the Korean War, American soldiers came to fight. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:28.800 And my city was bombed 90%. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:34.240 My school was bombed, so I cannot go to school anymore. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.560 I was 11th grade. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:45.120 And American soldier moved into my hometown, 24th Division. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:53.439 So many American soldiers like to give their chocolate, tring gum, ration. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:08:01.360 So some of us friends went to the American base and hoping to get some chocolate candy bar. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:11.600 One of the tall American soldiers called us, and they wanted us to bring some wood to be burned in the stove while they were working. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:18.639 Because during the middle of December, it was very cold in South Korea. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:30.879 So I brought some pile of wood, and one of the sergeants gave us a chocolate, gave us a ration, gave us soap, and gave us chewing tobacco. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:35.679 And uh I thought that was a pretty good wage. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:44.320 So I didn't go to get some wood to be burned in our home. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:48.720 So we went to American base again next morning. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:52.159 Tall sergeant called me, said, bring some more wood. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:53.840 So I brought more wood. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.519 He wanted me to watch the stove while they were working. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:05.519 So we put a lot of wood in the stove, and I saw their mesket where they have their chow. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.360 They're still not clean. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:13.360 So I heat some bucket of water and I wash all their mescots. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:19.440 I saw their sleeping bags and uh their blankets, just watered in the one corner. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:26.559 So I took it, dust the blanket and sleeping bag, and put it out in the sun. 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:31.120 I saw their boots, that's all mud, so I shined the boots. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:34.960 Sergeant said, You come every morning at eight o'clock. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:40.799 So I got a job as a houseboy at United States Army camp. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:54.960 So about one week or so, North Korean coming down, Chinese volunteer army was coming down, they were retreating to the south, and one of the soldiers said, Can you go with us? 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:58.080 I said, Let me go get permission from my mom. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:04.960 So I dashed to my house, mom, I'm gonna go with American soldiers, learn some English. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:07.759 She said, if you want to get killed, go. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:11.039 I've never heard being killed, but I heard of go. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:15.120 So I ran, got in the back of the big truck. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:20.080 We drove all the way to approximately about 200 miles below Tegu. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:27.039 And we pitched a tent and I started my work at the House Boy. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:32.480 One day I met Sergeant Carl Powers from Virginia. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:36.480 He asked me a question: Would you like to go to America? 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:41.360 The dream of every teenager, they want to come see this great nation. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:46.399 And I had no inklings about not going to the United States. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:50.080 So I said, if you take me, I will go. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:56.159 One day he showed me a copy of Bob Jones' university application. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.960 And he asked me to sign right here. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:00.799 So I signed my name. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.799 He filled everything in there and sent it to Bob Jones. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:15.519 Three months later, I get an acceptance letter from Bob Jones University and uh the detached academy there. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:24.480 So when the application was accepted and they said we want to have him come to our school, I got scared. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:29.039 And I told Sergeant Carl Powers, I will not go. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:30.480 He said, Why? 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:36.080 I'm small, my mother will not let me go. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:40.639 I cannot speak enough English to go to school in the United States. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:50.639 Sergeant Powers said, if you go to America, drink a lot of milk, and eat a lot of cheese, you'll grow up. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:55.279 He said, You go to America, you could learn to speak English. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:12:01.039 And he said, I'm gonna go to your house, get permission from your mom, so you could go. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:09.679 So he's got a Jeep, got an interpreter, and asked me to get on the Jeep, and that Jeep came to our house. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.799 The whole neighborhood came. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:19.919 Sergeant Powers, the interpreter, my oldest brother, they were talking through interpreter. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:26.159 Sergeant Powers said, I'd like to take your boy to give him an education and send him back. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:29.600 My mother was, I'm the last child. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:34.080 I was born when my mom was 43 years old. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.879 So my mother said, I'm too old. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:39.919 What about if I don't get to see him come back? 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.519 Sergeant Powers looked at my mom. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:53.840 He said, I believe you'll live 15 more years and he'll be coming back after he finishes education. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:13:01.600 When Sergeant Powers told my mother, you're gonna live 15 more years, she didn't ask any question. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.120 Go ahead and take him. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:21.039 Make a long story short, got on my passport and visa, and Sergeant Carr Carl Powers paid$408 on a boat, then he gave me$100 to go to the United States. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:26.240 Then he gave me a name tag here to whom it may concern. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:31.759 Send this boy to Route 1, that box 75, Dent, Virginia. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.919 Didn't have a zip code those days. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:40.240 So I put that labor in my army uniform. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:44.559 I got on the boat from Pusan Port. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:49.440 It took almost three weeks to come to San Francisco. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:57.279 When our boat landed in San Francisco, I saw two soldiers waiting for me and uh below the dock there. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.279 I was a lieutenant hine. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:27.440 He was and my company, and uh I remember him so well because every night they poker and I had to buy eggs and make some scramble, and uh then they I mean they just during the Korean War, they want to forget about the war. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:37.679 So they were playing poker, they were drinking, sometimes they were swearing, and uh I did all the chores for the American soldiers. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:42.080 So he waited for me at San Francisco, Rutanaheim. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:54.559 So I went through all the immigration process, Ruttenheim took me to his home, and they start talking back and forth with Sergeant Carl Powers' home in Virginia. 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:59.519 I want to go very anxiously, wanted to go to school. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:07.679 They start talking back and forth on the telephone, and Sergeant Powers' home said, We are ready, send him. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:14.559 So Ruttenheim took me to the bus depot, tried to buy a ticket to go to Virginia. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:20.320 Ticket agent looked at me, asked Rieutenorheim, can he speak English? 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:27.039 And Rieutenorheim said, I don't think he speaks too much English. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:33.440 I thought I spoke English, but only English I learned from American soldiers a swearing word. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:45.600 So I couldn't do much, and the bus ticket agent said he has to change bus on a several place in the United States before he gets to Virginia. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:49.519 So they won't sell tickets unless somebody accompanies him. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:55.519 So Lieutenant Haim took me to the train station, and they almost said the same thing. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.960 So we came home. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:00.080 Lieutenant Haim asked me, How much money you have? 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:03.919 I have$130 in my pocket. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:05.919 Sergeant Power gave me$100. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:09.360 I saved$30 from American soldiers. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:14.320 And Lieutenant Haim said, that's not enough to fly across the United States. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:24.080 He thought for a moment, he said, you look small enough to be 11 years old compared to American children. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:28.240 At that time, you're under 12, you get half fair. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:34.159 So he said, you stay home, I'll get your airplane ticket. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.159 In those days you could do that. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:38.480 Security wasn't not that bad. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:48.559 So he got me a ticket,$78, cross from San Francisco to Cincinnati, Ohio, on a TWA airline. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.759 I guess uh I got a half price. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:55.600 I think that's why TWA closed the shop. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:03.519 So I got an airplane, and Lieutenant Haim said, if they ask you how old you are, just tell them you don't understand English. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:07.519 Somebody asked me, what about if they saw your passport? 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.880 They know how old you are. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:17.519 I said they don't know how old I am because we don't use 1934. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.079 See, I was born 1934. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:24.559 This is a 2024, I am 90 years old. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.720 So my passport, they don't use 1900s. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:33.359 We use a Korean calendar. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:40.319 My birthday was 4,267, July 25. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.720 It's all on Korean and Chinese. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:47.759 No American storage could understand my passport. 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.160 So I got off for San Francisco. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:53.519 I mean, I got on San Francisco, got off of Cincinnati, Ohio. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:59.359 Sergeant Carl Powers, older brother, was going to school in Cincinnati. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.799 And he's studying Undertaker. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:09.359 So he picked me up, took a drive about nine, ten hours to Virginia. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.920 I met Sergeant Carl Powers there. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:13.839 I met his mother and father. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.079 Brand new family. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:22.319 Sergeant Powers took me down to Greenville, South Carolina, where I'm supposed to go to school. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:29.039 When we went to Registra, Registra asked me, let me see your school record. 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:32.079 I said, I don't have any school record. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:38.880 My school was all bombed during the Korean War, and that's the best thing ever happened during the Korean War. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:44.640 They bombed my school, all my school records are gone, my English and my mathematics. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.480 Very low score. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.759 I said, I don't have any. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.039 What grade were you in? 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:54.160 I said, I started 11th grade, just the beginning. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.440 So they said, well, we'll put you in the ninth grade. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:03.119 If you don't get it at ninth grade level, we'll drop you down to eighth grade. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:07.599 If you don't get at the eighth grade level, we'll drop you to seventh grade. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:09.599 That's all they had, seventh grade. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:15.119 And uh so I Sergeant Powell registered me, paid my school bill. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.799 He said, good luck. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.160 And goodbye. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.279 He went home. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:24.799 I was left there all by myself. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.680 Everything's in English. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.759 I didn't understand English. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.200 I got so homesick. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.119 I wish I never left Korea. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:42.559 But one day, a ministerial student came to my dormitory room. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:46.160 He opened his Bible, John 3, 16. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:56.799 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:59.039 I don't really understand. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.400 But he explained. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:02.319 But I had one question. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:06.240 If I accept Christ, would he take away my homesickness? 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:09.599 I was so homesick I cried every day. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:19.359 He said, not only take away homesickness, he gives you peace, he gives you joy, he gives you happiness, he gives you everlasting life. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:27.119 And I told him, soon as he said, He'll take away your homesickness, I said, I want to accept Christ. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:31.039 He said, let's kneel down to receive Christ. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.799 And would he we both kneel down in our bunk bed? 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:37.119 He asked me to pray. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:39.119 I never prayed before. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:41.359 I've never heard anybody praying. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:43.599 I said, I don't know how to pray. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.160 He said, Can you pray it in Korean? 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:48.160 I said, I'll try. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.480 Lord, I'm sinner. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:10.559 He's a ministerial student, he prayed. 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:24.160 And when we got through praying, we stood up, he hugged me, he said, if you truly receive Christ as your Savior, you're born again, you're a child of God. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.519 Shut up. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.680 Whole world changed. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.920 All the homesickness vanished. 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.920 I have a peace in my heart. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:35.200 My first semester, everything's fell. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:43.759 They should give me F, but the teacher thought if this boy gets English, he'll make it all right. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.119 So they give me a D. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:48.480 Everything my report got first semester D. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.319 Second semester after I accepted Christ. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:59.359 The Lord helped me to be honor students on second semester. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:10.079 God has put in my heart the purpose in life, why I came to the United States. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:14.880 I want to study political science and go back to Korea, become a politician. 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:17.839 Because my family is so poor. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:24.559 I know if I go into the politics, I don't have to eat barley the rest of my life. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:27.359 I know I could eat white rice. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:31.440 So I was preparing after graduating from academy. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:41.039 I want to go study political science and go back to Korea, at least become a congressman, or at least one of the cabinet members. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:47.200 I studied hard, finished high school, God began to deal with me. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:57.839 He said, Your country, without you, there's so many politicians, they don't need you. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:01.519 But I need you to take this gospel to your family. 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:06.000 None of my family ever heard the gospel. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.720 They have not become a Christian. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:13.920 So I began to pray, and God called me into the ministry. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.599 So I went to Bob Jones University study for the ministry. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:26.799 And I'm ready about mid 2028, 26, 28. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:31.039 There's another single Korean girl at Bob Jones. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:37.680 One day, speculation, there's a one Korean girl coming to study at Bob Jones. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:40.079 I got very excited. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:46.160 When she came, she was a 43 years old, old May came. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:48.319 I said, She's not for me. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:24:07.680 And there's a little girl waiting at my table, very short, coming from Michigan, and we sit eight of us in the table, and as soon as the food is all gone, she ran in the kitchen, got some more food, very rapid, very fast. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:12.799 I thought to myself, if I marry that girl, I never go thirsty. 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:17.759 But she was dating Bob Jones III, the president's son. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:27.839 And uh, I mean, any campus president's son is dating some girl, you don't have a chance. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:31.680 So one semester later they broke up. 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:34.319 And I said, Oh, this is my chance. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.680 I moved in. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:43.440 We dated four years, and we got married and decided to go to Korea. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:54.240 Korea was very poor, but I know God wants us to go back to Korea, tell my family about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:59.039 We went back to Korea end of 1959. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:05.759 First thing I did, I witnessed my mom, and she came to trust Christ. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:11.599 My oldest brother, second brother, third brother, and my sister. 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:14.079 They all have a big family. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:17.599 One by one, they come to trust Christ. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:20.240 I have many nieces and nephews. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:23.759 They all open their hearts to receive Christ. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:28.880 Now, Kim family, everybody became a Christian. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:31.279 I have a lot of nephews and nieces. 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:39.759 They went to Bible school, seminary, they become a missionary, they become a preacher, they marry preachers. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:47.680 So Kim family's entire family has a complete transformation to become Christian. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:57.200 And what a joy it was that God has prepared them to become Christian and through their youngest son. 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:04.240 Sergeant Carl paid my way to the school, academy, university, graduate school. 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:07.759 I went back before I went back to Korea. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:12.559 Sergeant Powers, how can I repay you back what I owe you? 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:14.880 He said, you don't have to pay me. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:28.319 But if you go back to Korea, tell you people about Christ, tell them about the freedom, democratic form of government, you will be paying fourfold what I did for you. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.599 Went back. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:39.119 Several years later, before I went back to Korea, I came to Sergeant Carl Powers' home. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:46.319 At the back porch, I talked to him about the Lord coming into my heart. 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:51.519 Sergeant Powers said, you know, I've never accepted Christ as my savior. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.960 I want to accept him. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:27:00.880 So, back porch of his house, he opened his heart, received Christ as his savior. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:08.799 1978, my oldest son Joseph was going to Bible school here in the United States. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.599 I took our whole family to Holy Land. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:15.519 I want him to experience a holy land, holy land. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:18.319 And I wrote Sergeant Carl Powers. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:23.920 He was a junior high home room teacher in his hometown. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:33.200 I said, Carl, our family is gonna go to Holy Land. 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:43.200 During the Christmas holiday, if you could come, I love to spend one week with you, with our family. 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:48.000 And he wrote me back, I have never been baptized. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:53.039 If you promise me you will baptize me at River Jordan, I will come. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:28:01.039 On the Christmas Eve, 1978, Sergeant Carl Powers came to Tel Aviv. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:03.839 We went out to pick him up, brought him to Jerusalem. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:06.480 Next morning, Sunday. 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:13.599 We went all the way to the near Sea of Galilee, where the uh Jordan River starts. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:16.160 There's a great big baptismal pool. 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:19.920 I took Sergeant Powers to baptize. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:27.440 The man went beyond the call of duty of his own country, befriend to a houseboy, brought him in this country. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:30.799 He became a pastor. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:36.319 And I was taking Sergeant Powers into that baptismal pool. 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:44.400 Truly, Joseph Merrike was watching at the riverbank, and I was walking them through. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.920 Our youngest son, John. 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:48.559 He was 11 years old at that time. 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:52.240 He said, Dad, I have never been baptized. 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:54.799 I want to be baptized with Uncle Carl. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:56.319 I said, Come on in. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:01.759 As I stood there, baptized the soldier that who meant so much to me. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:06.240 I baptized him in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:12.640 Then I baptized John and I brought him from the water. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:19.839 My eyes began to stream down the tears. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:27.759 Houseboy that came to the United States by Sergeant Carl Powers. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:31.519 I have the privilege of baptizing. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:38.480 And what a joy it was to conclude our life together. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:41.440 But eight years ago, Sergeant Powers died. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:30:00.079 He never married because he has a responsibility of this house boy, get his education, send him back to his country because he promised my mother that he will come back to you see him. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:08.000 And what a joy it was that our life come together. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:24.960 So soon as I heard he passed away, my oldest son Joseph, who's pastor, we flew to Virginia, and I did the entire funeral for Sergeant Powers, who meant so much to me. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:30.960 And yesterday, on the Thursday, we went to the Korean War Memorial. 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:47.440 And we brought three flowers and one for Korea, America Association, another for Tipenza Association, and one for Sergeant Carl Powers. 00:30:49.119 --> 00:31:04.400 I mean, took one little houseboy, brought his country, sent him back to his own people, and many hundreds and thousands of people, through his effort, come to know Christ as their own personal savior. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:11.519 One man went beyond the call of duty to become a friend of a houseboy. 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:21.519 And that boy went back, and he was able to lead his people and his family to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:35.599 And I'm indebted to American soldiers, I'm indebted to American people because the things they have taught and things they have given, and I want to return back. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:40.160 And I'm so glad our children's choir came twice to this church. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:49.680 And they will be singing tonight at the Central Presbyterian Church at Centerville, the final concert. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:52.480 And they're going to leave on Monday. 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:55.680 Go back home and go back to the school. 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:57.200 Thank you, Pastor. 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.319 We love you. 00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:03.519 We want you to come and we will pray for this great congregation. 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:05.200 May God bless you. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:07.200 May God bless America. 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:32.160 Well, Pastor Billy, if you said the next two sermons were going to be the good ones. 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:38.880 You know what an amazing encounter of the Lord's grace in your life. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:45.359 That was part testimony and part kind of a theology of ethics. 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:55.839 You know, democracy is good for the world, religious liberty is good for the world, freedom is good for the world, but you can advance things that are good for the world and not know the Lord. 00:32:56.079 --> 00:33:04.319 And in God's kindness, He's used our country to advance things that are good for the world, even through people who don't know the Lord. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:11.200 And I'm sure that there are people here this morning that are Sergeant Powers in that sense. 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:21.839 That you're you're doing things that are good for the world, that are good for our country, but it's worth hearing that story and asking yourself: have you given your life to the Lord? 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:33.920 It's so easy to consume our lives with doing good things and overlook the thrust of those good things, which is a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:43.039 Others of you, I'm sure, are walking with the Lord, and I hope that story encourages you to be somebody else's sergeant powers in that sense. 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:59.119 To let the Lord lead you in your heart and focus in on a person that you know that doesn't know Christ and reach out to them purposely and with an intent in your mind, going beyond just, you know, here's the gospel, but investing in them. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:06.000 And who knows what the Lord will do 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 years from now. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.159 Let me pray for us. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:12.559 God, what a privilege it is to hear from Pastor Kim. 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:15.599 We are so thankful for our country. 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:20.880 I know our congregation is filled with those who are missing family members. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:28.400 Parents and grandparents, great-grandparents who uh gave their life in the Korean conflict. 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:33.760 We're thankful for the sacrifices so many people have made for the good of the world. 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:43.119 It certainly reminds us of John 3.16 that God gave his only begotten Son for, in that language, the good of the world. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:47.199 That whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:50.079 We're thankful for the greatness of the gospel. 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:57.679 It is news that is big enough and transcendent enough to encompass the whole globe, to go across language divides. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:04.960 It's also news that is personal enough to change an errand boy's heart. 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:07.440 The gospel's big and small. 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:11.920 Lord, we pray the gospel would enlarge our hearts with faith. 00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:15.920 We pray that even this morning, we're thankful for our time together. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:18.960 I pray for anyone here this morning that has never trusted you with their life. 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:21.360 I pray this morning you would open their heart. 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:28.159 They would turn to Jesus Christ, crucified for sinners, resurrected from the grave, the only atonement for sin. 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.119 We're thankful for him. 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:30.800 It's in his name we pray. 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:31.760 Amen. 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:35.840 And now for a parting word for Pastor Jesse Johnson. 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:37.360 Thanks for joining us. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.880 If you're in the Washington, D.C. 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:41.599 area, I would love to see you at Emanuel Bible Church. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:46.800 For more information on our church or our current service times, go to IBC.church. 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:50.079 For more information about the Master Seminary and their Washington, D.C. 00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:52.800 location, go to TMS.edu. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:36:01.119 I hope this resource has been a blessing to you and it helps you seek the Lord daily, serve others around you, and share the gospel with boldness.