Monday

Calvary Baptist here in Seoul is a place where innovative is the norm. While we're here, they are having a type of Bible School called "English Village." The kids are required to speak english and each activity includes english words to learn. The primary purpose is of course to bring the kids and their parents into the church to hear the gospel message. This morning I was stamping passports as the children entered the "English Village." I checked their photos and asked them basic questions such as "Good morning, how are you?" and "What is your name?" After that, Pastor Won took me down the street to his apartment building to speak with the security guard. Along the way, we stepped into a couple of businesses, and he asked to speak to the person. We got various responses from "I'm already a christian" to "I don't want to hear it."

We went on to the security guard, and he welcomed us and offered us chairs. As we began, he noticed a friend walking by and called to him to come and hear. Both men were open listeners as I shared and Pastor Won translated. They both accepted Christ. I had heard of moments like this but had never experienced it myself. All the man knew before hand was that I had come from America to share something very important. He wanted his friend to hear it too, and both their lives were changed. Praise God!!

As we returned to the church, we stopped by a little shop with a couple of elderly people and shared again. They welcomed us, listening intently. They accepted Christ as well. All of this happened in the course of one hour. So far I've shared the gospel with 23 people with 20 decisions for Christ. Several in our group have shared more. God has prepared the field...what a wonderful awesome experience to reap the harvest!

Upon our return to the church I led arts and crafts. Again we focused on teaching English words such as: paper, fold, crease, corner, airplane, fly, passport, scissors, cut, tape & glue. We made paper airplanes and then a large project using a variety of odd bottles, cans, boxes, straws, etc. Imagine trying to give otherwise simple instructions to a room full of children who don't speak your language.

At the end of the class, the teacher presented the gospel in Korean. While I could not understand her words, the concepts were more than familiar. At one point she used her bible in one hand to demonstrate the weight of sin in one's life. Then she transferred the bible to her other hand and then extended her arms signifying Jesus taking our sins to the cross. The message of the gospel is indeed universal and language is in fact no barrier.