Title: Evangelists / Isaiah 52:7-10
For the past 11 days, I left for Northeast Asia missions.
I thank God for achieving the planned purpose and returning home safely.
As the opening began in 1980, churches were built in each region and worship services were held.
Many Korean-Chinese in China have come to South Korea, and the rest are moving to urban areas to educate their children.
The Korean-Chinese churches in cities are growing and developing, but the Korean-Chinese churches in rural areas are in danger of closing their doors.
In addition, there is a huge problem with the destruction of families and children that occurred while some of the family members moved to South Korea.
The Han Chinese church is happening like a fire right now.
They don't even have a chapel. There was no chapel, so people were sitting in the stables and gathering to worship.
If there is a seat, people gather, but the limitations of the Han Chinese church are that most of them are located in the countryside, so there is a lack of funds to build a chapel and there are no leaders.
It is a sad reality that in that vast world of 1.3 billion people, the fire of the gospel is burning right now, but there is no neighbor who can build a chapel and raise a leader for them.
Still, we who are economically powerful and living in a prosperous environment must face a challenge.
Chinese people are diligent. Urban workers ride bicycles and transport people in the cold of minus 30 degrees Celsius to earn 1 Chinese won.
It's kind. Their meal invitation culture is not so friendly.
The 'black box' contains everything related to the operation of an aircraft.
This box, which is not white or orange, is miraculously present even if the plane explodes to the point of being recognizable, testifying to the circumstances at the time of the accident.
The 'black box', which has both the meaning of 'black' and 'important', has a flight recorder and a cockpit audio recorder, so it records and testifies about communications between the cockpit and the control tower.
The black box of a Korean Airplane that was shot down in Soviet airspace in September 1983 returned, but there was no material.
The Soviets, out of shame, removed the kernels and sent them back.
Today's text says that the feet of those who preach the good news are beautiful.
We cannot remove the traces of the human black box so that we are not ashamed when we stand before God. Therefore, we must make the traces of our feet truly beautiful.
In 2003, I hope that all of us can leave a beautiful trail through the steps of evangelism.
1. I must be sure first.
The prophet is called 'butterfly', which comes from the word 'nava'. Navah means 'have a bubble', but a person who preaches God's word must have confidence in what he or she is preaching like a person with a bubble.
Without certainty, it is impossible to convey.
2. Relational evangelism must begin from the nearest place.
People close to me are people who know me better than anyone.
I know my faith, my life, and my character. So, you and I can be told to trust you.
You can't go to anything close with a mask on. This is a place I have to go to with my true self.
3. Be patient and be able to wait.
Evangelism requires patience. There is no need to be discouraged just because you are preaching today and there is no fruit.
4. Those who take them must be nurtured to become evangelists.
Evangelism should not be satisfied with bringing. Evangelism is about nurturing a person until they receive evangelism and come to the church to become an evangelist who also evangelizes with confidence.
The feet of the evangelist are beautiful.
I hope that in 2003, through evangelism, many beautiful traces like the stars in the sky can be flown.