Fw: 181-The Lord Saved Me from the Swamp of Alcoholism

The Lord Saved Me from the Swamp of Alcoholism

Susumu Kitamura (64) Japan Kitamura suffered from alcoholism and couldn't part from the addiction with his willpower alone. But after he met Jesus Christ, he cast off his idol-worshipping and he was born again as a new being by receiving prayer with faith. In May 2007, my wife met Pastor Marco Kim while visiting her neighbor. Pastor Kim was ministering Maizuru Manmin Church. Afterwards, he visited our family and prayed for us. Pastor Kim asked me for help in church's interior work because I had worked in the construction business for a long time. I helped him with pleasure and began to go to church. I was happy while attending services on Sunday. And, it was great joy for me to have fellowship with church members who visited my home. Since I liked drinking so much, I never started to work without drinking. At last in 2006, it got to the point where I could not even walk properly without drinking. I became totally addicted to alcohol. I fell into the incinerator and was severely injured and burned after drinking at work. And I even fell down and broke my collar bone. When my wife asked me, "Why do you keep drinking?" I shouted at her and said, "I don't want to either, but something within me makes me drink." There was a voice inside that kept saying to me "I don't want to do this." Pastor Marco G. Kim visited me and helped me realize how detestable idol-worshipping was to God. He advised me to live by the word of God and to receive blessing. Then, he prayed for me with the handkerchief that Dr. Jaerock Lee had prayed upon in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 19:11-12). I was raised in a family that worshipped idols, and my mother was a shaman. My wife also used to earnestly worship idols before she attended the church. So troubles, diseases and difficulties kept coming to our family. We burned the platform in our home for idol-worshipping and replaced it with the Bible and the Cross. The following day, we saw a beautiful circular rainbow appear in the sky. I could have an assurance and hope. In January 2008 I broke my right arm while getting out of my car. It did not seem serious at first but it became worse and worse until even surgery was impossible. Because my bone had a bacterial infection, it first had to be disinfected and recover immunity by injecting antibiotics before surgery. Even in this serious situation I kept drinking secretly. One day I was caught by a nurse and was forced to leave the hospital. Later I became very weak and was hospitalized again under the condition that I would not drink. But my body did not seem to get well and 4 months had passed. In the late May 2008, my wife flew with my picture to Seoul Korea to go to Manmin Central Church and receive the prayer from Dr. Jearock Lee. He prayed for me twice laying his hand on my picture. Pastor Marco Kim also received Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer on my picture whenever he visited Seoul. My body got better day by day and I was able to leave the hospital in July. I had complaints while staying in hospital, but I realized the love of God and gave thanks to God. God gave me a good chance of being set free from drinking while I was staying at the hospital under the medical treatment. Afterwards the craving for drinking went away from me and I did not even want to drink any more. By the grace of God I was set free from alcohol. Now my family including me is in peace. We go to church and attend the services on Sundays with joyful hearts. We give all the glory and thanks to the living God!

Manmin News NO.142 April 12, 2009

Fw: 180-Stung by a Poisonous Spider, but Drawn a Step Closer to the Lord!

Stung by a Poisonous Spider, but Drawn a Step Closer to the Lord!

Beatrice Gutierrez (42) Peru It is my great joy to go to church early every Sunday morning and to prepare for the services. And I feel overwhelming happiness when I spread the love of Lord to my neighbors. I came to know Dr. Jaerock Lee through Enlace TV and registered at Peru Manmin Church. Through me, the number of the members from Ventania area increased to 80. And I have been recently living a very happy life touched by the love of the Lord each day. It was because I was saved from death by the grace of God. Around 8:30 AM on January 22, 2009, while putting on short pants, I felt something stinging my right thigh. It started to get painful. And the pain got worse and worse. I began to pray, but with the severe pain I had to stop. Not only my thigh but my head, legs and eyes became itchy and swollen and my entire body was covered with red spots. Around 10 AM I called Pastor David Jang and he prayed for me with the handkerchief in the name of Jesus Christ. Still, I almost passed out with unceasing pain, vomiting and dizziness. But I tried to comfort my family who were so concerned about me because I believed that God would heal me. I had such faith because I witnessed God's powerful works manifested through Dr. Jaerock Lee in the name of the Lord and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit through the handkerchief Dr. Lee prayed on. Around 10:30 AM Pastor David Jang called on me to check my body and prayed for me with the handkerchief again. From that time on the pain had gone and my heart was comfortable. And, as I listened to Dr. Lee's sermon DVD titled with "The Message of the Cross" and received the prayer for the sick, the red spots spread throughout my body began to disappear. At 2 PM Pastor Jang prayed for me with the handkerchief again and at 5 PM I was made completely clean as if I never had been stung before. Hallelujah! I am enjoying good health and filled with Holy Spirit as well. There are often cases that the people who got stung by the spider die in a couple of hours if the poison spread to their heart. But I was healed by the power of Jesus Christ.

Manmin News NO.142 April 12, 2009

Fw: 179-Fruit Gained after Toil and Efforts ? the Key to the Blessing is Joy and Thanks

Fruit Gained after Toil and Efforts – the Key to the Blessing is Joy and Thanks

"As I rely on God who gives to us according to what we have sown, He opened the path to blessing and led me that way" Elder Jung Huh (Gwangju Manmin Church, Director of Kwangju Branch of the Shinhan Life Seoul Joong-Ang Insurance Inc.) I came to Gwangju Manmin Church in 1997 because of a Revival Meeting poster. A phrase on the poster read "the church that prays for 365 days throughout the year" and it caught my attention. Gwangju Manmin Church attends Daniel Daily Prayer Meeting held at Manmin Central Church every night through satellite broadcasting. I prayed every day and found the true meaning of life while listening to the messages during the service. Ran a Vending Cart with a Grateful Heart One day in 1998, my salary was seized because of the debts that I had incurred as a guarantor 2 years previously. I was finally forced to leave the company penniless. Though I ran a vendor cart selling Korean pretzels on the street, my heart was comfortable. I attended Daniel prayer meeting every night and repented having disobeyed the word of God recorded in Proverbs 22:26, "Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become guarantors for debts." And I gave thanks for the love of God that made me realize my disobedience. I was so sorry to God even though I did it before I was led to Manmin Church and was taught the word of God. I couldn't even afford the electricity bill and I had to take a bath with cold water to save oil in mid winter. But I never complained, and let the praises keep coming from my lips. As God the Almighty is my Father, nothing could take such a joy away from me. I had no worries or concern. I Gave Offerings to God and Served my Neighbors On February of 2003 the church was constructing a new building. Though I had little I decided to offer as much as I could. I said to my wife, "We have to plant the seed of faith if we are to overcome this poverty." She willingly agreed. I was very thankful to her. One day Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee appeared to me in my dream and said, "You have to reduce expenses and love each other." That was truly right. What good is there in loving each other and practicing thrift! My family became one in faith. We tried to give confidence to one another and be grateful though we were in difficult situation. Even though I didn't have much I helped the needy around me hoping that they could get on their feet again. Led in the Way of Blessing After I stopped running the vendor cart I worked as a cleaning custodian in an apartment and kept searching for a decent job. I asked God offering a 21-day vowed prayer. I prayed, saying, "God, I want to glorify You by receiving blessing but before that, let me prepare a clean vessel so that You can pour down blessing unto me." In 2006, someone recommended to me that I should work as an insurance planner, but I had a difficult time because I didn't know anything about the insurance business. So I quitted that job in a month. But whenever I went to see Senior Pastor he kept asking me the same question, saying, "Do you still work there?" After I was asked this question a couple of times I realized that there must be a way for blessing and started to pray. Whenever I heard testimonies of blessing from people who were engaged in the insurance business, I regretted that I gave it up and prayed that God might give me another opportunity. One day I heard that Shinhan Life Seoul Joong-Ang Insurance Inc. planned to set up a branch office. I met the president and asked him to establish the branch office in Gwangju City. He agreed with pleasure. Eventually on March 15, 2007 three people including me opened the Gwangju branch office. Abundance in Both Spirit and Flesh The staff was dedicated and considerate of one another. They shared their personal tips about the insurance business. They became one in spirit during the service that is held in turns at the headquarters and at the Gwangju branch office on a monthly basis. Eventually the number of the staff increased to 19 and as a president of the branch I received much blessing. Along with blessing of family evangelization both my wife and I received God-given duties in church this year, I, as the president of Men's Mission, and my wife as president of the Women's Mission. I thank God who gave me joy and thankful heart even in difficulties.

Manmin News NO.141 March 29, 2009

Fw: 178-Gaining Victory over Hypothyroid Cardimoyopathy

Gaining Victory over Hypothyroid Cardimoyopathy

Deaconess Heechung Lee (Changwon Manmin Church) In the spring of 2006, my throat started to swell and I gained a kilogram of weight each week. In a short while, I had gained more than 20 Kilograms. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid cardimoyopathy at the hospital. The disease is mainly caused by stress and the patients with this disease gain weight, they always feel tired and have to take medication for the rest of their lives. The symptoms got worse and worse, and as I gained a lot of weight I felt more tired and exhausted. Pastor Myungsuk Jeon visited me and tried to plant faith in my heart, but I couldn't have spiritual faith. In 2007 my husband, Deacon Kyungbong Kang stopped drinking and started to offer the whole tithe after he was healed of panic disorder through the handkerchief prayer from Pastor Myungsuk Jeon (Acts 19:11-12). My husband's change challenged me to have faith. As I heard the words preached during the service I realized that I would get an answer only when I receive the prayer by faith. I quit taking medications and only relied on God. And I started to completely keep the Sabbath Holy and offered the whole tithe as my husband did. In the late May of 2008, after I received the prayer from Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee. At the 'Special Divine Healing Meeting' changes came to my body. Until that time my body used to feel very heavy when I woke up in the morning. But not any more after the prayer and I began to lose weight and my health was being restored though two months had already passed since I stopped taking medication. On December 1, 2008, I visited the hospital for a medical checkup, and the result showed that the needed hormone turned out to be normal. Hallelujah! Doctor's note: hypothyroid cardimoyopathy Doctor's note: no sign of hypothyroid cardimoyopathy

Manmin News NO.141 March 29, 2009

Fw: 177-A letter from Cynthia who Survived by the Power of God 10 years ago

A letter from Cynthia who Survived by the Power of God 10 years ago

Cynthia (Lahore of Pakistan, 17) It was on June 15th 1999 when I was 7. All of a sudden I started to vomit intensely. I got well after my father prayed for me. So he considered it was not a big problem. But a few days later, I started to vomit again and suffered from diarrhea. I even coughed out blue, green and yellow stuff and had a bloody stool. My belly became very hard and I felt a severe pain. I was hospitalized in the Rasheed Hospital and I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. The surgery was impossible because my body was very weak and weighed only 11 kg. I could neither eat anything nor move my body. My family offered fasting prayers, and church members prayed for me as well. My elder sister, who stayed in Korea at that time, went to Manmin Central Church with a desperate heart and received Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer on my picture. At the very moment a miraculous thing happened to me. It was exactly 10:50 Friday night on July 23, 1999 in Korean time (7:50 PM in Pakistani time (Daylight saving time)). I was healed at the same time when Dr. Jaerock Lee prayed for me in Seoul. Hallelujah! From that time on I began to have stools. And the intestines became normal. I left the hospital just 3 days after the prayer. The doctors were surprised as well and praised God. I started eating food and recovered my health and I could walk without any help after 3 months. Currently, I am in my first year of high school and I am in good health. My dream is to be a doctor and to glorify God with my testimony. I give thanks to God who miraculously healed me in the name of Jesus Christ through Dr. Lee's prayer.

Manmin News NO.141 March 29, 2009

Fw: 176-True Rest and Blessing from Above

True Rest and Blessing from Above

God commanded in Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." By obeying this we acknowledge that God is the Creator and Master of the spiritual realm which also includes the physical world. As we keep the Sabbath as children of God, He protects us from any difficulties or calamities and gives us blessing. Gave Birth to 2 Daughters after 3 Miscarriages Elder Daesuk Kim (55, President of 3-3 Men's Mission) and Senior Deaconess Sung-ae Lim (47, Cell Leader of 2 Parish enjoy endless blessings upon their business and family again. They give thanks to God while looking at their 2 lovely daughters named Miae (24) and Michin (22). Many couples in Manmin Central Church who couldn't have a baby have become parents after receiving the prayer from Dr. Jaerock. Lee. And the Kims were the first case. Lim had failed to have a baby 3 times, and the doctor said her pelvis was too weak to support the baby. After she came to Manmin led by her sister-in-law during her 4th pregnancy in 1985, she found the answer to her problem when Senior Pastor visited her family. "Keep the Sabbath day and offer the whole tithe. Then God will protect your baby for the next 9 months and your business as well." From that day, the couple completely kept the Sabbath day holy. Even though Kim, as an interior designer, had to travel around the country, he returned home every Saturday and went back to work after Sunday evening service was finished. He found it was not difficult to live by the word of God who becomes like our 'Father' when we follow His word. Many testimonies of amazing healing works taking place at Manmin Church each week helped him have faith. Senior Deaconess Lim showed faith as well. Though she was told she absolutely needed a rest, each morning she left home and came back at night after attending church meetings including meetings at the prayer center and cell meetings. She had no worries because she believed that God would protect her baby. And whenever she felt something wrong with her baby she received the prayer from senior pastor. Then the baby became fine. And she didn't have the morning sickness that she used to suffer from during her pregnancy. In September 1986, she gave birth to her first daughter Miae and 2 years later she even gave birth to her second child. Obedience and blessing; the couple tried to find answers of their problems in the word of God so they were led to the way of blessing. Watching their children growing, they give thanks to God. And through their testimony we again realize the love of God who wants to give always the best to His children.

Manmin News NO.140 March 22, 2009

Fw: 175-First Step to Being Reborn as a True Christian

First Step to Being Reborn as a True Christian

Deacon Sangkyun Kim also realized the deep love of God after he started to keep the Sabbath. Deacon Kim confesses that by keeping the Sabbath day he could have more faith and his life changed. And he smiles because he has been assigned to his God-given duties this year. The blessing is happiness itself that came after overcoming all difficulties with God's grace. During the IMF financial crisis in November 1999, even his family seemingly strong enough was affected by the depression. His house was sold by auction and his family separated. Deacon Kim with his mother and sister made a loan of 20 million Won (approximately $14,000 USD) and opened a PC room with used computers. Having no place to stay, he found a small place outside his PC room and made a living space with panels. The space could accommodate only 1 person so they had to sleep taking turns. One day he received a copy of Manmin News from his neighbor and he was touched by Dr. Lee's sermon in it. So he began to visit Manmin Church website and listened to Dr. Jaerock Lee's sermons. In summer 2007 he registered as a member of Manmin Central Church, but he kept working on Sunday. He took turns with his sister because he didn't have an assurance of God's blessing. But he had this opportunity to be born again as a true Christian. "One day in March last year, Rev. Miyoung Lee visited me and told me about Senior Pastor's testimony. She said when Senior Pastor closed the bookstore every Sunday to keep the Sabbath, God blessed the bookstore so much that a magazine reporter visited the store to write a story. I was touched and came to have assurance because of the testimony. Though he went to church since he attended elementary school, he didn't know exactly how to keep the Sabbath. He thought attending just one of the Sunday services would be enough. He offered the whole Sunday to God. He attended both the Sunday morning and evening service and even the Daniel Prayer Meeting. He felt that he became a real Christian. He came to have a peace that he never had before and his family became one in spiritual love. In addition God blessed them to have a home where his family can stay together. He came to realize that God the Father protects and blesses those who believe in His word and practice it. Through his testimony we were able to feel the grace of God.

Manmin News NO.140 March 22, 2009

Fw: 174-[On the Scene of Manmin] If you believe you shall see the glory of God!

[On the Scene of Manmin] If you believe you shall see the glory of God!

I call the almighty God "Father." I ran the risk of losing my life to be healed of my disease only by faith. God healed me of my disease in His way! Deaconess Haeoak Choi was at the threshold of death with acute appendicitis, but she completely relied on God and was miraculously healed. "God saved my life when I depended on Him with faith even though there was less than 1 % chance of recovery without surgery. It was on December 10th 2007 when I was in China. Quite suddenly my abdomen felt very uncomfortable and I was not digesting food properly. The next evening my lower abdomen started to swell causing me intense pain. It felt like my insides were about to burst. I could not sleep all night because of the severe pain. I thought, 'What's wrong with my body?' On December 12th I went to hospital for evaluation and was diagnosed with appendicitis. The doctor recommended surgery because the appendix seemed almost ready to burst." Doctor's note: December 18 [Diagnosis] 1) Acute appendicitis 2) Abscess around the appendicitis 3) Disordered intestines A Chiming and Clear Voice Was Sounded "But I didn't want surgery, even in this emergency situation. It was because when I was living in China through faith and obedience to the gospel of sanctification I was healed of many diseases including dizziness and herniated discs of the spine and the cervical vertebra. I strongly believed that God would also heal me this time because I had already witnessed any disease could be healed by the power of God through Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer. 'Surely God will heal me. I will be definitely healed by Senior Pastor's prayer.' The pain got even worse and I couldn't breathe well. I quickly logged on to Manmin Central Church website. But due to severe pain I couldn't even find 'the Prayer for the Sick. Instead I received the prayer by phone recorded on Automated Response System. After the prayer, I managed to lie down, but still couldn't fall into deep sleep because of pain. At that time I suddenly heard a chiming and clear voice from somewhere. 'Appendicitis is not even a disease.' It sounded like a man's voice and it was sweet and clear. I was surprised and I opened my eyes, but no one was around me. I still had pain, so I drank Muan Sweet Water with prayer. "You will die unless you have a surgery immediately." On December 16, my pastor and some church workers visited me because they had not seen me for a few days, not even on Sunday. They saw my side was swollen. It was red and blackened. I was told that it looked very serious and I should go to hospital. The next morning I went to hospital and received ultrasonography. The doctor could not immediately find what the problem was. So I went back to my missionary's home. My whole body felt very cold and my right side was swollen as high as ten centimeters. When the missionary laid the handkerchief over where I was sick, the pain seemed to go away, but I lost consciousness because of severe pain. I even passed out from the pain. When the missionary prayed for me with the handkerchief, I woke up. The next day the missionary asked the doctor about my condition. The doctor said that if I was left without any treatment the inflammation would spread to the liver and that might lead to death. So the missionary took me back to the hospital. The result of the medical checkup was very serious. My appendix was already ruptured and the abdomen around my appendix was destroyed. The side was swollen and the kidneys and some parts of the liver were damaged as well. The doctor said that he had never seen such a serious patient and I would die if I didn't receive surgery immediately. "If I perish, I perish." But I never wanted to depend on this world. Prophet Daniel was never afraid even facing being thrown into the lion's den as a result of the evil plot of wicked people. Thus, he kept his faith in God and God was impressed by his faith and protected him completely. So I thought that if I call the almighty God 'Father' and rely on the world to solve my problem, then I could not be deemed to have true faith. I thought that it would be a disgrace before God. I hurried to put on my clothes and left the hospital before they could force me to stay. I went back to the missionary's home and lied down with the handkerchief on my abdomen. Early the next morning, a surprising thing happened. It seemed like someone was touching my belly during the night and I heard popping sounds from my belly again and again. Later I realized the sound was the work of God with His healing hands. God did consider and heal me when I determined that 'If I perish, I perish' and then fully depended on Him with faith. Around 3 in the afternoon I felt much lighter. And whenever I drank Muan Sweet Water, my urine became clean as if everything toxic had been leaked out. It seemed that someone was cleaning dirty things that had spread in the abdomen. Around 8 in the evening I relieved myself and I felt like flying in the air. The following day I could walk and came home. Now I am very healthy like I had never been sick at all. This testimony of mine was presented at the 5th International Christian Medical Conference by WCDN (World Christian Doctors Network) in Norway in May, 2008. I heard that my healing case had surprised many medical doctors who were attending the 5th WCDN conference. One day a pastor who can see spiritual visions explained to me how God worked to heal me. God first washed my abdomen with the water of life and then removed the unclean things through the space of spirit as a black hole. Then I was reminded of a recording of the Book of Exodus. God parted the Red Sea into two and formed a special space between waters so that the Israelites could safely cross through the sea. Even today God opens the same spiritual spaces through His powerful servants and lets us experience this spiritual space. I give all the glory to the living God who healed me with His amazing power. And I give my heartfelt thanks to the Lord who has confirmed the authenticity of the Bible and led me to have true faith through His powerful works." (Deaconess Haeoak Choi) Before the Prayer (December 18, 2007) Unclean on the right kidney's skin The boarder between the right kidney and the liver is not clear The subcutaneous tissue on the right side got thicker (Right: 3.4 cm; Left: 2.0 cm) After the prayer - January 30, 2008 The size of both the kidneys is normal The inside of the kidneys is clean and the boarder between the right kidney and the liver is clear. February 13, 2008 - The subcutaneous tissue on the right side is clean and normal The current evaluation (February 4, 2009) The picture shows the intestines are all clean and there is no appendicitis. The CT shows there used to be severe inflammation on the right but now normal.

Manmin News NO.139 March 08, 2009

Fw: 173-Endless Blessings of God in Times of Recession

Endless Blessings of God in Times of Recession

Many people say we are in even more difficult times than during the IMF financial crisis in 1998. Dozens of small or middle size companies are shutting doors every day. Many people are losing jobs even today. Prices have soared and it has made consumers cut back on their spending. But God promises in Deuteronomy 28 that we will be blessed when we come in and when we go out and will not borrow but lend if we observe basic rules of believers including whole tithe, keeping the Sabbath and living by the word of God. Let us meet people who experienced blessings from God after giving tithes in these times of difficulty. God Blessed Me with a Promotion! Elder Cho has been faithfully serving the church as a member of the Financial Committee, Vice President of Financial Companies' Mission, and Vice President of 3-1 Men's Mission. He is 50 years old and belongs to the 14-1 Parish, Manmin Central Church, Seoul, Korea. He works at the Industrial Bank of Korea. On January 22, he was promoted from a 4th level position to the 3rd level position. One day last November he gave God the whole tithe. He had not given it properly until that time. Ten years ago he got a loan and from the month following he started to repay it, but ever since that time he had felt troubled in not having given the tithe for that loan. He asked Senior Pastor Dr Jaerock Lee what he should do. He answered, "Giving the tithe first of all by faith is a priority in any circumstances." In December, unexpectedly, Senior Pastor prayed, saying "Let the impossible be possible and the possible even better. And give him the blessing of promotion." It was no more than a month before he received the answer. "Mr. Cho! You've got promoted! Congratulations!" When he tried to be perfect before God as an elder, he could experience the love of God who made him realize what His will is and what his mistake is and gave him blessing. Blessing Came upon a Chinese Restaurant Named "The Great Wall of China" Deaconess Oksun Yu is running a small Chinese restaurant named "The Great Wall of China" in Sindaebangdong, Donjak Gu, Seoul. After she lost her husband in 1992, she lived in despair and sadness and even suffered from works of demons. In 2000, she was led to Manmin Church and two years later shed attended the 2002 India Miracle Healing Prayer Festival on the Internet. When the speaker, Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee prayed for the sick, forces of darkness left her and she regained her health. She came to Korea in May 2003. She moved from restaurant to restaurant to earn her living and at one of these restaurants she met her husband. He was working in the kitchen and listening to hymn songs. They married and opened a Chinese restaurant called "The Great Wall of China" in May 2008. She put all her sincerity even into preparing a bowl of noodles called 'Jajangmyeon' and she served her customers with a smiling face. She has installed a GGN receiver in her restaurant and spread the holiness gospel. But she couldn't give her whole tithe. Because she considered her husband's amount of faith, she offered tithe irregularly and on Sunday she attended the Sunday morning service but opened her restaurant in the afternoon. But the business became worse. She fasted a few times for her restaurant and her husband's faith. She said, "While Senior Pastor was preaching the message titled 'The Whole Tithe and Offerings' through Sunday morning service, I felt sorry before God because God had even allowed us to test him about the tithe, but I couldn't show faith. One day I said to my husband, 'Let us offer the whole tithe and see what happens', and my husband agreed with pleasure. From January 1, 2009 they separated the whole tithe from their gross income. The change had come much faster than they expected. From the very next day they had twice as many customers as they previously had. She reported, "Each day we count the income and customers. Previously 30 customers visited our restaurant but the number increased to 70. The blessing is still going on." She and her husband looked very happy during their testimony. In Malachi 3:10 is recorded, "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows'". God has promised us that He opens the windows of heaven for us and pours out for us a blessing until it overflows if we give the whole tithe, and He has allowed us to test this. Deaconess Yu and her husband realized the love of God who wants to give blessings to His children, and it improved their faith. "In the Ten Years of My Faith, I Have Finally Found True Peace!" Junghwan Kim (52, 31st Parish) Although he had been busy working hard, his income always seemed to fall short. He wondered why his financial condition didn't get better despite hard work. Finally he thought to himself, "Does this have anything to do with offering tithe?" His parish pastor had taught him many times that he should offer tithe to receive blessing. But, he had not given full tithes for 10 years. Sometimes he just gave thanksgiving offerings instead. In his heart he knew he had to do it and with the passing of time it became one of his prayer titles. Meanwhile the message entitled "Whole Tithe and Offerings" started to be preached during Sunday morning service. It was not just by accident, but by the grace of God for him. Deeply moved by the sermons, he had an assurance of the command of the tithe and began to offer whole tithe each week beginning the 2nd week of December. Then, a surprising thing happened to him. He reported, "I hadn't received the payment for an interior I finished last mid-October. I visited and asked for the payment a few times a day, but couldn't receive it. On December 31, to my amazement, they sent the remaining money, 35 million Won, to my account. It was the 3rd week from the time that I had started to offer the whole tithe. This experience taught me a great lesson. I thought, 'This is a blessing caused by living by the word of God.' Most of all, I have peace in my heart that I have never had before." Not only did he receive material blessing, but he received the smile back on his face. A farmer harvests what he has sown, but it is God who gave him water, sunlight, seeds to plant, and the health and wisdom to labor. Now he has realized the love of God. Though everything is His, He lets us keep nine tenths!

Manmin News NO.138 February 22, 2009

Fw: 171-[This is Manmin] The knowhow to running my business is in following the right path.

[This is Manmin] The knowhow to running my business is in following the right path.

~ Deacon Hyun-O Kim (Eastern Gwangju Manmin Church) Whenever I read or heard about successful people, I have often wondered how nice it would be to have solid backgrounds. Through a book I read, however, I have met such a firm supporter. Led to Manmin after reading The Message of the Cross "Whose sermon messages are you listening to? They are filled with so much grace!" "You must read this book, too," was the reply. When I asked my mother-in-law (Deaconess Bok-Ja Sim) about the sounds coming out from a cassette tape in February 2007, she handed me a book. "The Message of the Cross?" That book contained answers and explanations to many questions and confusing points in the Bible I have always had throughout my life in Christ and after reading the Bible multiple times. I'm talking about such points as how one indeed receives salvation when he believes in Jesus, whether or not the people who died prior to ever hearing the Gospel could be saved, and the like. The following Sunday, I went to Eastern Gwangju Manmin Church with my mother-in-law. Participating in the Service in Seoul live via satellite, I was deeply touched by the Senior Pastor, who was proclaiming a message tearfully to his flock, and I joined the church that very day. After that Sunday, I stopped going on picnics or to amusement parks with my family following morning services. I so much longed to hear the Senior Pastor's messages that after getting off work, I would stay up until 3 or 4 the following morning, listen to his messages posted on the church website, and fall asleep. Even after a few hours of sleep, my steps to work were light and I couldn't wait for the following Sunday to come. Starting a business while trusting only in God in prayer I had worked at an automobile repair shop and during my time there, I was recognized for my diligence and integrity. However, the actual income was not much. Encouraged by the Senior Pastor's word, "If a soul prospers, he will still receive God's blessings no matter how terrible the economy is doing," I quit my job to start my own business. From that point on, I grew my faith and made every effort to please God without involving fleshly thoughts. I tried to detach myself from an idle life while reading the Senior Pastor's book Hell, and solidified my spiritual foundation through prayer at the nightly Daniel Prayer Meeting. At first, I wanted to start out a big business and receive blessings. As I listened to the Senior Pastor's messages, however, I realized that it was greed on my part to recklessly borrow money and expand a business. I instead prayed to God, committing everything to Him, and asked Him to lead me to wherever that befitted my circumstances. Then the head of the shop I had quit asked me to take over the firm, and offered it to me at a really good price. Certain that this was God's answer to my prayer, I took over the firm in July 2007. Practicing honesty and courtesy, putting the Word into practice Instead of harboring greed to earn as much money as I could, I strove to obey God's Word I had heard through the Senior Pastor, including "Always seek goodness and walk on the right path," and "Be sure also to obey the law of this world." In taking care of vehicles involved in accidents and standing between insurance companies and customers, my words carry a heavy weight. Even at times when it was disadvantageous to me, I processed each case with honesty. Some customers would say, "Other shops just do what customers ask of them. Why isn't that the case here?" and demand something inappropriate. However, I have seen customers return many times even after I had refused to honor such requests right away. When customers tried to lower the price for the service, I chose not to argue with them but did whatever they asked and sought peace. After such instances, God always made sure to give me more profitable cases. Following the right path in running the business was not as difficult as I had thought. At first, it did feel like a drawback but God showed me the path to blessings as I kept at staying on that path. Blessing of ten-fold tithes About six months after starting the business to which I diligently sought to apply the Word, about 70-80% of customers became regulars and the customer base has been increasing through the word of mouth. Even if I don't dine with customers or run marketing campaigns, God has sent me a greater number of customers so that my tithes have increased tenfold. Recently, foreign-vehicle-only dealerships have entrusted my firm with any paint jobs and I look forward to an even greater source of income. Customers often say, "I know you guys here don't rip off customers so I can trust you. Plus, you are very good at what you do!" Some of my employees even say, "Thanks to my boss who believes in God from his heart, this business is blessed." All this is because of God's grace and love, and because of Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee who has taught me the truth and led me onto the path to blessings. I also thank Senior Pastor Rev. Yeon-Ok Jung of Eastern Gwangju Manmin Church and fellow members for their prayer. Ever since I began attending Manmin, I have been healed of the constant migraine caused by stress and my family has not been to a hospital once. I give all thanks and glory to God who has not only given me blessings financial and of good health, but also has become a firm supporter in my life. Hallelujah!

Manmin News NO.137 February 08, 2009

Fw: 170-Nine years of torment had been caused by idol worshipping.

Nine years of torment had been caused by idol worshipping.

~ Deaconess Gun-Soon Jo (83; 12-1 Parish) After my husband passed away about 10 years ago, I was terrified every night at home in which I had lived for more than 40 years. Demons would appear in my dreams, try to kill me, and I could not drive away the fear. So before the sunset every day, I locked all the doors and did not answer even when my neighbors came over with delicious food. I even had dreams in which there were so many snakes in my room that I would just put them away in a container. One day, my eldest daughter Deaconess Song-Lim Yang, who had always been praying for me, came down to Eumseong County in North Chungcheong Province with 2 senior deaconesses all the way from Seoul. "At our church, people on whom even the doctors give up are healed. Demons are driven away and all sorts of miracles take place. Be sure to come!" I came to Seoul a few days later and attended a Daniel Prayer Meeting, during which I felt it was here where all my troubles and problems in life could be resolved. However, even after moving to Seoul, I was continuously tormented. I would lie in bed in the afternoons and feel as though demons were pulling me from underneath the bed. Unless I placed the handkerchief on which the Senior Pastor had prayed (Acts 19:11-12), I could not stay asleep for even 10 minutes. Then one day, I asked myself whether this torment could have been caused by my rampant idol worshipping in the past. Prior to accepting the Lord, my husband and I had placed charms around the house while my husband acted as a fortuneteller and wrote out charms to our neighbors. Remembering those days, I repented, offered to God a peace offering, and received the Senior Pastor's prayer. After that, the demons have been driven away and the pressing pain in my shoulders has also disappeared. I can sleep today peacefully and am filled with an earnest hope for heaven!

Manmin News NO.137 February 08, 2009

Fw: 169-People Who Have Experienced the Spiritual Realm

People Who Have Experienced the Spiritual Realm

The spiritual realm is not in a faraway place beyond the ends of the universe. Just as you can see the surroundings and feel the breeze when you open the windows at home or in the car, the spiritual realm is close to us. When the God of righteousness allows, anyone can come in contact with the spiritual realm right where he or she is. Things impossible in the fleshly world are easily possible in the spiritual realm. As knowledge and civilization have advanced, even in the fleshly world we see people creating by manpower and utilizing different spaces for a variety of purposes. For instance, people have created greenhouses in which they can grow vegetables and flowers even in the middle of the winter. Likewise, when we find ourselves in the spiritual realm during our lives, what was impossible will be made possible and we will be protected from a variety of accidents or diseases. Throughout the Bible are records of how the fathers of faithfulness made use of the spiritual realm and accomplished marvelous things. Peter, the Apostle Paul, and Silas could escape from the prison with the help of angels (Acts 12:7-10; 16:25-26) and Daniel was kept safe despite having been thrown in the lions' den (Daniel 6:22). Daniel's three friends were also thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire were unharmed (Daniel 3:24-25) while the Apostle Paul, violently storm-tossed on his way to Rome in custody, and all of the 276 people onboard the ship were protected (Acts 27:18-44). This was possible because these people had harbored the spiritual heart befitting God's righteousness; they had taken after the heart of Our Lord. Just as God thought of Abraham and saved his nephew Lot when the city of Sodom was being destroyed (Genesis 19:29), God opens the spiritual realm and works through the people He loves. Such instances are commonplace at Manmin Central Church today. The spiritual realm is experienced in the lives of not only spiritual people who have taken after the heart of the Lord, but also constantly of all those who make every effort to live by God's Word. (Editors) Vehicles totaled but not injury sustained John Otieno (Nairobi Manmin Holiness Church) of the Morolongo region, about 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles) from Nairobi, Kenya, is a faithful brother in Christ who keeps every Lord's Day holy and gives God whole tithes. On Monday, December 22, 2008, John was coming home on a 14-person van, commonly known in the region as a matatu. Riding in the back of the van, John fell asleep but was woken up by a thunderous burst. The van, traveling at a high speed, had rammed into the rear of a truck in front of it and rolled over 5 times onto a roadside field, and John, amidst the screams and shrieks of the passengers, lost consciousness. When he came to, John saw a severely damaged van with its window glasses shattered to pieces and filled with people covered in blood. Ambulances soon arrived and 13 people were hurriedly brought to a nearby hospital, where people died while survivors cried out in pain. However, John had not sustained an injury anywhere in his body and everyone was stunned. In a similar case, a car driven by Deacon Jin-O Jung and his wife Deaconess Eun-Mi Oh of Manmin Central Church collided by human error with the median and guardrails on a highway and rolled over 3 times. Even though the car was totaled right away, the two and their young son had not been scratched or bruised anywhere. They said afterwards that at the moment of the accident, they felt as though they were being surrounded in a ball of downy hairs and felt no impact of the collision, and felt the help of angels. Mrs. Nam-Sook Sim, wife of Senior Pastor James of Manmin International Church in New York, and their son Ted, was involved in an accident while crossing the Whitestone Bridge between the Bronx and Queens in New York City and their car was totaled. Yet, they sustained no injury whatsoever. As they had encountered the spiritual realm, their cars might have been damaged beyond repair but they were kept safe from harm. Two-year old boy falls into 5-meter-deep well, survives The following took place on Sunday, December 7, 2008, in Busia District of Kenya. While the Sunday Service was taking place, a two-year-old boy fell headfirst into a well of 5 meters (about 16.4 feet) in depth. Upon learning of the accident, a young man climbed down the well walls and retrieved the boy. Some ten minutes had passed by that time, however, and as the boy showed no signs of life, everyone gathered thought the boy had died. When Bishop to Africa Rev. Dr. Myong-Ho Cheong prayed for him with the handkerchief on which Dr. Jaerock Lee had prayed (Acts 19:11-12), however, the boy threw up water and opened his eyes. When the people saw this, they cheered and said that "angels helped the boy." My brother freed from evil spirits and my daughter survived an enormous gas explosion ~ Deaconess Kyung-Hwa Lee (China Mission 1) While desperately searching for God, Deaconess Kyung-Hwa Lee learned about Manmin Central Church in 2000. While devoting herself to a three-day fasting and prayer, Deaconess Lee was healed at once of a variety of illnesses including cardiac neurosis and hepatitis. At the time, her older brother in China was being tormented by evil spirits and dying. He had grown so weak that the doctors at a hospital told him in September 2008 that he would not live much longer. The moment Deaconess Lee heard the news, she received Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer on his photograph while her brother also received prayer on the Internet. Soon afterwards, he regained strength and became healthy again in no time. In the middle of October, Deaconess Lee visited China where she worshipped and prayed in repentance with her brother every day, and prayed for him with the handkerchief on which Dr. Jaerock Lee had prayed. Over time, his body was renewed. After he received on the Internet the Dr. Lee's prayer during the Special Divine Healing Meeting held in November, his condition has markedly improved. He had been unable to go outside for 4 years and unable to take a single step for two years. Today, he is in good health and not only goes to church on his own but also partakes in the Daniel Prayer Meetings every evening. In the mean time, at the end of September, there was a massive gas explosion in the house next to the building in which two daughters of Deaconess Lee lived. The owner of that house died in the explosion. Her daughters at the time were renting an apartment on the 5th floor of the building, which sustained serious damage from the explosion that shattered windows and knocked out window frames on the 3rd, 4th, and 6th floors. However, Deaconess Lee's two daughters were sound asleep, completely unaware of any explosion. The next morning, up a little earlier than usual largely due to the commotion, the two went outside and examined what had transpired the night before. When the police saw them, they were astonished. "Why are you here?" they asked the girls. "Are you all right?" As they had encountered the spiritual realm even in moments of maximum danger, they could sleep in peace and sustained no injury or damage.

Manmin News NO.136 January 25, 2009

Fw: 168-Heartwarming Stories

Heartwarming Stories

As the economy is in a recession, it is said this winter in Korea is the coldest winter since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. Perhaps that is why we are constantly seeking heartwarming stories anywhere our senses lead us. Perhaps that is because we want to affirm that the warmth of the love of Our Lord still exists in this world. Just as a candle burns itself to light the darkness, there are individuals who put a smile on the faces of their neighbors with good deeds and service. Let us together find the secret to warming our society through such individuals' lives. The following are heartwarming stories from Deacon Young-Gyu Choi, who earns the joy of service through traffic service, and from Deaconess Sung-Boon Im, who has been experiencing the blessings in spirit and in flesh following the healing of a variety of diseases by God's power. (Editors) "Trivial deeds of goodness go a long way." ~ Deacon Young-Gyu Choi (Cell Leader, 31st Parish) Whenever I see church members hurrying their steps to the sanctuary at an intersection nearby, I could not be happier. I have been serving here for the past 5 years and directing the flow of the traffic. Even when I worked in Masan as Onsite Safety Manager of a construction company or in Andong for 3 years, I never failed to come up to Seoul every Sunday to carry out my God-given duties as a vice president of Volunteers' Brigade and group leader, and attend the services. As my heart was light, I never thought of the commute as a chore. This is how I came to be more diligent with this duty. About 3 years ago, I was driving late one night, fighting the fatigue and the sleepiness from the excessive amount of workload, and ended up crashing into the guardrail. The car was immensely damaged but except for a small injury on my left shoulder blade, I was completely fine. People who had come to the scene looked back and forth between my crushed car and me, and were simply stunned and curious. The left shoulder blade was healed upon receiving the Senior Pastor's prayer. From that point on, I began living as though it were my second life and became faithful to anything and everything. Had it not been for God's grace, I would have already ended up in the other world. Around August of this year, I learned that Deacon Jung, a fellow cell member, could not attend the Daniel Prayer Meeting because of the distance to Seoul from Bucheon and the costs of the roundtrips. I soon learned that there were more cell members in similar situations. Thinking that the cell members could participate in the Daniel Prayer Meeting and pray together if I installed a GCN (Global Christian Network) antenna, I installed one at Deacon Jung's business. Deeply touched by this, Deacon Jung made available for us a part of his business as a meeting place for our cell and each of us contributed to making that space cozy and comfortable for all. To this date, that place has been immensely popular and served as a place of worship for Men's Mission Cell service and of the Daniel Prayer Meeting for all those who are not able to go to the Main Sanctuary. I have a habit of recording such trivial testimonies on my computer. I do this so that I will never forget the grace God has poured upon me. I am merely grateful to learn that when I give my heart even to the smallest and the most trivial of things, it can be a source of tremendous joy for many people and make my own life prosperous. "Don't hold on to things in greed! Share!" ~ Deaconess Sung-Boon Im (Cell Leader, 32nd District) "Do you have a room?!" One evening in December 2007, a man whose head was cleanly shaven came into my home. I had been renting out rooms downstairs and one of them happened to be vacant. We live in scary times and I hesitated for a moment. Still, as someone who believed in God, I couldn't turn him away, either. One part of me felt as though there was God's will to be found somewhere in this. I spoke with my husband, who said, "If we let him go on this cold night, he will freeze to death. It doesn't look like he has any other places to go. Let's give him a room." We did exactly that, turned on the boiler so he could stay warm, and gave him a few comforters. Later on, I studied the man's face and found numerous scars on it. It didn't look as though he'd led a normal life. No household goods were ever found in his room and he never went outside to work. Day after day, he had people and drank away. When I went in to the room from time to time, I found it a complete mess. My husband and I were unable to receive any rent money from him for months but we weren't really looking to receive it anyway and naturally, all the utility bills he ran up became our responsibility. From time to time, the man, looking much worn out by alcohol, came and asked for some kimchi. My husband and I felt compassionate towards him and placed some living necessities in his room and occasionally gave him some money to spend. We couldn't drive away someone who had come into our home. If we had and something were to happen to him, my husband and I would regret it and be very much wounded in our hearts. Had I not believed in God, I suppose I wouldn't have invited him in the first place. After meeting God, I have been healed of angina pectoris, heart disease, diabetes, and depression, and my husband has been healed of the 5th degree of the sequel from defoliant and living a healthy life. I think our gratitude for God's grace compelled us to remain patient for that man. When we told him, "Let's not live like this. Let's go to church," the man would listen to us in silence and say, "Yes, I will." A few months later, he said he indeed wanted to go to church. He has since become a member of Manmin Central Church, diligently attending it every week, and is actively spreading the love of God. He has become neat and tidy, and sometimes brings home the homeless and provide them with a good night of sleep in his room. Even our neighbors are stunned to see him so transformed. A few months ago, my husband and I heard that a piece of land we had owned for years was being redeveloped and we unexpectedly received the price of the land, which we had been told we would receive over the span of a number of years, all at once! I am certain it was the manifestation of God's Word, "Whoever ... gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink ... he shall not lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42).

Manmin News NO.135 January 12, 2009

Fw: 167-[This is Manmin!] Where's the end of it? 'Special Divine Healing Meeting' with Dr. Jaerock Lee

[This is Manmin!] Where's the end of it? 'Special Divine Healing Meeting' with Dr. Jaerock Lee

How could the people, who had not had a minute of sleep, be filled with so much joy and delight as they welcomed the dawn? Amidst the fiery works of the Holy Spirit, no traits of fatigue could be found in the faces people giving their testimonies. It was the manifestation of God's Word, "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall" (Malachi 4:2). "The Special Divine Healing Meeting" that began at 11 p.m. on November 28 at Manmin Central Church was packed with such people. On the last Friday of every month, there are "divine healing meetings" during the second half of the Friday All-night Service but the November event was "special" as Dr. Jaerock Lee was going to lay his hand on each of the sick and pray for them. In the first half of the Friday All-night Service, Dr. Lee proclaimed in a message titled "God the Healer" (Exodus 15:26) that "As most diseases stem from sin, we can be healed once we destroy the wall of sin standing in our way to God, repent, and come before Him by faith." To people who did not know what "sin" was, this message shone a ray of light on the hearts that have grown numb while battling the illness, and during a praise of repentance, sounds and tears of people rending their hearts in repentance could be heard throughout the Main Sanctuary. Soon, a sense of urgency was detected in their faces. Following the prayer to receive the Holy Spirit, the Senior Pastor began to pray for about 2,000 patients on the floor of the Sanctuary, and as soon as he began an innumerable number of people began to fill the lower stage of the altar. The following are only a few samples of their testimonies. Sang-O Hong (male, 54), who had not been able to use his legs since the paralysis that struck him down 2 years ago, stood up from his wheelchair and began walking. Gi-Jung Han (female, 62) had been diagnosed with cancer in the duodenum but in fear of the cancer spreading to other parts of her body, she had been under drug treatments instead of undergoing an operation. She was led to Manmin after reading Dr. Lee's book "He Never Stops!" and after receiving the prayer, she testified that the lump had decreased in size. Deacon Joo-Myung Suh (67), suffering from spondylolysis, felt a severe pain whenever she stood up or walked up and down the stairs, but was healed after receiving the prayer. Deacon Il-Bong Park (65), declared first-degree visually impaired by the government, came to see 3 years ago by the Senior Pastor's prayer and this time around, Deacon Park saw a flash when Dr. Lee prayed, felt his surroundings brighten up, and could soon see even small letters clearly. Deaconess Choon-Sik Kim (66) was healed of Parkinson's disease from which she had been suffering for 10 years; Senior Deaconess Jung-Nim Lee (70) was healed of phlegmone; Rev. Goon-Pyo Hong (male, 49) was healed of fracture in his ankle; Bin Yoo (female, 5) was healed of sensitized dermatitis; and Deaconess Jae-Kyung Jeon (33) of Muan Manmin Church experienced the full restoration of her eyesight for the first time in 17 years and threw away her eyeglasses. Many other diseases were healed and God's healing works continue to this day. After Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee finished praying, there was a thunderous applause from the church members who had witnessed the moving works of the Holy Spirit. Even if some people had attended the Meeting half in doubt, listening to testimonies would have sufficed to empower them with faith. What is the common thread among people who received God's works of healing of diseases and infirmities? Most of them had attended the 2-week divine healing meetings held at the Manmin Prayer Center and had prepared for this Meeting in prayer and fasting. Furthermore, they have made every effort to live by the Word, understand their sins, rend their heart in repentance, and displayed their faith with precious offerings. As the Bible tells us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for" and "Faith was working with his works," God's healing of their diseases and answers to their prayers was a testament to the fact that God is alive. In a coldhearted time in which no one dances or mourns to the tunes of the flue and to the singing of a dirge, and no on believes without seeing signs and wonders, God's power manifested through the healing and answers to prayers is God's earnest cry of love through which He tells us, "I am indeed alive." "It was an opportunity of blessings at which I experienced God's power." ~ Gabriel Banza (Political and Foreign Relations Assistant to the President, DR Congo) After a meeting with Rev. Peter Kim at Kinshasa Manmin Church, I have come to admire and love Manmin Central Church and Dr. Jaerock Lee. When I learned that there was going to be a "Special Divine Healing Meeting" taking place in Seoul, I thought that it would be an incomparable opportunity of blessings and flew to Korea amidst a busy schedule of running the country. Manmin Central Church is a very effectively organized congregation and the Divine Healing Meeting was conducted in a similar manner. When I witnessed firsthand the manifestations of God's power, which I had seen only on the TV screen, I was astonished and empowered by faith. I was amazed by the number of patients in attendance even though it was very late in the night and how so many people were waiting to testify to God's healing they had just received through Dr. Lee's prayer. I had been tormented by a severe migraine and the pain in my shoulders and ribs when breathing, both of which stemmed from rhinitis I had had for the past 10 years. However, they all disappeared completely following the prayer. When I return home, I am going to share with President Joseph Kabila the news of Manmin Central Church and Dr. Jaerock Lee. Just as Dr. Lee has prayed, I believe that the civil war in the DR Congo will end and peace will settle in my country. If I could be of assistance in any way to "The 2009 DR Congo Women's International Conference and Crusade" with Mrs. Boknim Lee (President, Manmin Prayer Center) scheduled to take place next year, I will do everything in my power and I am going to assist Kinshasa Manmin Church in whatever way I can.

Manmin News NO.134 December 21, 2008