Title: Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible (Zechariah 4:6, 10)
Simpson, the founder of the American Christian Missionary Association (C&MA), has been known as an outstanding preacher since his early 20s. One day, Simpson, in his early twenties, went to a church to receive a sermon invitation. At the time, a church member prevented Simpson from going up to the pulpit. It was because he could not believe that such a young man was the guest lecturer that day. But as soon as Simpson started preaching, the situation was reversed and everyone in the audience admired him from all ages.
In the end, Simpson was appointed to Chestnut Presbyterian Church, but Simpson's vision and vessel were too large for the church to embrace Simpson. At that time, Simpson emphasized mission, but the members of that church chose to build a splendid temple, taking on a huge debt. At that time, Simpson decided to leave Louisville for a wider world where he could spread his missionary vision, rather than arguing with the saints and pursuing his own claims, and was assigned to 13th Street Presbyterian Church in New York.
Since then, the membership of the 13th Street Presbyterian Church has increased rapidly. However, there were many poor commoners among the new members, so some church members hated it. They feared that if the 13th Street Presbyterian Church, which was dominated by powerful upper-class members, was rumored to be a church with many urban poor, upper-class people would not register.
One day, Simpson asked the church assembly to accept 100 Italian workers who had evangelized through the New York poor missionary movement as new members. The session rejected it. At that time, Simpson realized that it was almost impossible to unfold the vision of urban missions within the framework of the existing church, and he boldly resigned from the 13th Street church without any preparation.
At that time, he had no people and no capital, but he believed that if the missionary vision was really worthwhile, God would provide it abundantly. Eventually, he put his vision into action and on November 20, 1881, in front of a small group in the hall of a club, he insisted on the need for a new spiritual movement in New York. .
Three days later, seven people gathered. Crouching around a small fireplace in the cold, gloomy corner of the dance hall, they opened the Bible with their frozen hands and read Zechariah 4:6 and 10. “It is not by strength, not by might, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who despises the day of little things?”
At that time, Simpson and the seven members were thankful that they were a poor and weak minority, and held a nightly meeting every day and went to the street evangelism before the meeting. At that time, we established four principles and worshiped. First, I tried not to get tired of the worship service. Second, I kept the sermons as short as possible. Third, I did not force donations. Fourth, I never wentssip about other denominations or churches.
At the beginning of 1883, a year and a half later, the number of registered members increased from 7 to 217, and about 700 people attended the Sunday worship service. Gradually, the media began to call The Simpsons the second moody. The Christian Missionary Federation, which started like that, now has more than 50,000 churches around the world. Nothing is impossible A holy vision must come true.
I returned home alone in 1991 with the vision to spread the mission vision and know-how of the Christian Missionary Federation to Korea. At that time, there was no material, no home, no co-workers, and no supporters. However, just as he prepared Lydia for Paul, who went to Europe with a desperate heart, God also connected a co-sponsor like Lydia. At times, personal needs were met dramatically through them.
The other day, an online early morning prayer member who did not know his face sent a donation and wrote at the end of the thank-you mail, “Please add to the construction of the mission center listed on the website. I thought that the construction of the mission center was not urgent and the time was not ripe, so I thought that it was a priority to give some help to the missionaries who urgently needed a car. When I told him about it, he readily agreed. With such secret touches, the vision is still progressing nicely.
Even a vision like a mirage can become a reality if God is with you. There is no need to lament the small possessions. Nothing is impossible for those who know how to consecrate themselves to holy works. Even if others despise me, you don't have to despise yourself. If you give yourself to the holy vision, the history of believing in Jesus and becoming a person through the miracle of Oh Byeong-yi is still valid today.