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The following story is from a Korean woman who
joined OCC earlier this year. She is now training to be a missionary
in Asia.
When she first visited OCC on a Sunday morning, she stopped
by the Mallway Welcome Center. There, an OCC ministry volunteer
talked to her and walked her (and her kids) to the various
places inside OCC where they could connect. The following week,
that same volunteer remembered the Korean woman's name -- something "HeeJeong" couldn't
believe someone would remember! Although she's visited Korean
churches in the area, HeeJeong believes that God has a purpose
for her at OCC. Welcome HeeJeong (and family) and thank you
Welcome Center ministry volunteers!
Lynne Ellis
REACH Ministries
 My name is HeeJeong Park. I came to the US from South Korea in
late 2002.
When I was an 8th grader, one of my classmates asked me to go
to her church with her. So I started to attend church. What I
liked most about what I heard from church was, "whatever
I confess Jesus forgive me." So I went to church with my
list to confess when nobody was there.
The next year, I went to private mission high school where no
one had gone before from my school district. I believe there
was God’s will for me there. Sometime during the first
fall season of high school, a team came from overseas to perform
a drama for us in the auditorium. They sang and danced and showed
us a drama about Jesus.
After end of the message there was a calling. While I watched
the drama, I didn’t know the reason why but I felt that
I was the sinner who made Jesus die; I accepted Him as the personal
savior of my life. I became a born again Christian. I bought
two Bibles for my brothers and gave them. They also became the
Christians.
After I became a 12th grader, I prayed every night with my friends
who were studying together to enter the best college. Next year
I became a freshman of Korea University. I joined Youth with
a Mission campus club. I learned how to live as a representative
of God, how to pray for the lost people and I devoted my life
to God to let Him use my life to fulfill His will.
About that same time, my family suffered from a threat from
one man. We couldn’t expect help from the police because
if the man was arrested and released, he'd threaten us. One day
I asked this man to meet me with my mom together. I told him
I could not forgive him by myself but God loved him and God wanted
me to forgive him. So I told him I forgave him because of God’s
love. And I told him Jesus died for him and rose from the dead.
When I asked him about accepting Jesus as a Lord and savior,
he said he would like to do so. He prayed after me. I never see
him again in my life.
 After this was happened, my mother became a Christian and lived
a very short, but changed life before she died of cancer. After
she knew her disease, she arranged her remaining life. She called
her old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time and
apologized for her misbehavior and apologized to her husband
also. She died in peace. Her attitude influenced her sister’s
husband who had refused to become a Christian. Now, he is serving
a church as a pastor.
After I got married, I spent seven years in China. While I stayed
in China, I learned what spiritual gifts I have. I had a strong
desire to use them for God and for the body of Christ for the
rest of my life. Before I came to the US, God let me know He
wanted me to be prepared and learn all I could learn in this
country.
I learn foreign languages easily and teach. I came here to be
an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. There are many
people who want to learn English. I knew people when they learn
foreign language they open their mind to the teacher. Only I
have the Father’s heart for the lost people. God can work
through me. First His love fulfills my soul and overflows and
reaches to the lost souls. I need to pay back my debt of love.
Even though I could not remember those faces that came from overseas
to tell us the good news, I really thank God for them.
.................................
The above story was written by HeeJeong Park with a few minor
edits made for clarity.
Please feel free to share with us your "Faith Story"
by e-mailing 250 words or less to communications@occ.org.
If you need some help communicating, our faith
story tool will help you put your unique story into words.
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