From a Nihilist to a Missionary to Ukraine

"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6a)

1. A Meaningless Life

I was born in Jan., 1973 as the second son among three, to a poor family. My parents worked all day long at the marketplace, leaving us in my grandmother's house. One day I was very shocked by my grandmother's sudden death. After this event, I became quiet and was filled with emptiness and unknown fear. To come out of fear, I read fantasy comic books and had constant meaningless thoughts. I had no reason or motivation to study hard when I was in elementary school. Also, I wondered why my parents fought with each other. I hoped to have a happy family full of love when I grew up.

To be free from my parents early, I entered a technical high school. At that time, my mom was struggling with breast cancer. To be an encouragement to her, I worked hard and obtained three licenses and entered Junju Technical College. College life wasn't exciting as expected, and I felt meaninglessness. So I volunteered to join the army service.

Before joining the army service, I stopped by to say hi to my older brother, Joshua H. Kim, who was attending Yonsei University and the 1992 Huimang Mount Summer Conference at that time. (My brother is now a missionary in Darmstadt, Germany.) While I was listening to the messages and testimonies, I wanted to be saved like them, but their sins looked too light compared to mine. Also, I was filled with inferiority and fatalism, thinking that I couldn't be saved because I was not a student at Yonsei. But God helped me accept his love of forgiveness, granting me John 8:11, "'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.'" I repented of my sins of stealing money from my parents and lust. It was burdensome to be a representative prayer servant for the high school devotional meeting, so I didn't go to church when my turn came, but went to the comic bookstore. I was condemned by my terrible sins, but Jesus didn't condemn me. I shed tears because of the grace of Jesus in my heart, accepting, Isaiah 53:4-5, "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Out of thankfulness for the saving grace of Jesus, I shouted "Bible Korea and World Mission," and made a vow that I would serve the mission work as a missionary if God leads me.

I joined the army service in Sept. 1992 and was discharged in Nov. 1994. I hesitated in having a mission-centered life. At that time, God granted me Matthew 19:12, "For some are eunuchs because they were born that way : others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it." I was touched by this verse and made a decision to follow Jesus remaining single. God helped me to live together with my brother and work as a laborer for the construction of the UBF Bible house in Seoul. I was very happy studying the word of God even though I was part of the labor class with shabby clothes. Whenever I saw myself, I was self-conscious and felt inferior, but nothing could condemn me when I fixed my eyes on Jesus.

While I was working in Seoul after graduating from college in 1997, I was called to be an intern staff shepherd in the church in 2000. In 2002, God blessed me to establish a family with a student missionary, Kyungsun Park, in the Kiev ministry. When I devoted myself to God's work, God guided me quickly according to his plan.

2. A missionary to Ukraine

On Dec. 31, 2002, I went to Ukraine by holding on to Mark 11:22, "Have faith in God." I expected the Kiev ministry to grow through my struggles and hard work. However, I was like a baby who could not do anything without getting help from M. Esther and other leaders because I couldn't read, listen, write, or speak the language. When I cried out with Mk 11:22, God enabled me to participate by visiting people. When I continually went out visiting and inviting people to Bible study, God sent me Anton who made fun of me saying that I was like a cult member. Now he is in Milan, Italy as a student missionary.

While taking the language course, I looked for a way to serve the students and found a way to serve them by cutting their hair once a week. I used to cut hair, from private soldiers to commanders, when I was in the army.

M. Esther has been serving the Sunday worship service by playing piano, violin, and serving in the choir. In the spring of 2003, to send out M. Anastasia to establish a family with Jason Perry in Princeton, USA, M. Esther worked hard to prepare the worship service.

As soon as I finished a one-year language course in the spring of 2004, God granted me a job at a local company that paid $300 in order to be independent financially. When we prayed to build a Bible house, both my parents and my wife's parents sent us money to take care of our premature baby, Maria, in an incubator. But the self-supporting issue has been like the crossing of the Red Sea.

God granted a position to M. Esther to work at Serajam when we depended on God who fed Elijah by holding on to Mt 6:33 and Ro 8:28. So I took care of the baby and the house work. I could understand a housewife's hard work and difficulty in taking care of a baby. I began to work in M. Esther's place after she conceived a second child. Due to the poor health of my wife, she delivered the second child prematurely by C-section like the first one. I was in distress looking at my second baby in an incubator. At that time, God gave me Job 1:21-22, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." By holding this verse, I participated in the conference and church construction with thankfulness and praise.

God helped us to have the first worship service at the new Bible house in January 2008 even though there were difficulties. All of us encouraged one another and shared in the joy. Some members slandered the ministry and left during the construction, but it was an opportunity for those who remained to grow in mature faith. After this, God trained and sent Ruth Livingston to Chicago as a missionary. We thanked God that he used our new Bible house for world mission and gave us vision for young Ukrainian students to go out to the world as missionaries.

Moreover, God blessed M. Esther's Bible student, Larisa, to establish a family with Yaloslava, who is very humble and wise. This wedding was a great encouragement and joy to us. Later, God sent me sister Gallyah to serve with a fatherly heart and to help her make a relationship with M. Esther.

The year 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the Ukraine ministry, so we had a united conference from Sept. 31-Oct. 2 with title, "Ukraine, a Holy Nation." At the beginning, it was very difficult for me to attend the conference due to demands at work. The company scheduled a special seminar all of a sudden for 230 business partners and their employees during our conference days. I earnestly prayed, "Lord, even though I am weak, I am a missionary. Please have mercy on me to get mercy from my boss so that I can attend the conference." My boss called me on Sept. 20, ten days before the conference and laid me off. I had no clue what was going on. Soon I found out that it was God's will for me to attend the conference fully, so I handed my work over to the other person. Then God gave me Ro 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." By God's grace, I attended the 20th anniversary conference and accepted Ex 19:5-6a newly, "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." From this verse, God gave us a vision for Ukraine to be a kingdom of priests by raising up 12 apostles, 24 excellent servants of God's word, 120 faithful disciples of Jesus, and 1,000 women missionaries in the next 20 years.

God let me take one week of rest due to the flu and strengthened me with Ph 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." With early morning prayer, I submitted my resumes. I prayed that God may answer my prayer showing his mercy to my two daughters, Maria and Gloria. God knew my weakness that I used to be depressed due to financial difficulties and offered me an interview with the CEO of a company in Korea. According to the job description, I would be stationed in Ukraine and get a lot more benefits compared to a local company. I went to Inchun for the interview. In the baggage claim area, I found that my suitcase had been lost. I just thought someone who was more in need than me took it. When I tried to open my wallet after arriving at my mother-in-law's house, I found out that my wallet was stolen as well. I was unhappy and disspirited due to these losses. I borrowed a suit and had the interview. During the interview, they suggested that I be stationed in Korea. I told them that I couldn't stay in Korea. I was torn between my worries of failure and trying to reveal the glory of God. At that time, God gave me Isaiah 41:10, "'So do not fear, for I am with you:' do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I was waiting for the results, peacefully meditating on the word of God. The next day, they called me for another interview with the president of the company. After the final interview with the president, I got an offer. God worked miraculously and helped me to stay in Ukraine with enough money to be self-supporting. Praise and thank God!

I am also thankful for many co-workers who prayed for my job. I believe that it happened by the grace of God and the sincere intercessory prayer of my co-workers. I thank God that he answered all our prayers and revealed his glory through my new job.

May God help our family to devote ourselves to the work of God to make Ukraine a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, co-working with M. Peter Kim and native leaders, and even to serve the ministry in the CIS, Muslim nations, and the whole world! Thank you very much for all your prayers for Kiev UBF and my family.

3. The Kiev ministry

Currently, we are studying Luke's gospel, and Abraham, Noah, Jonathan, Yaloslava, and M. Peter take turns delivering the Sunday worship service message. We have 50 attendees on Sunday and are praying for 120 one-to-one Bible studies and 100 Sunday service attendees. Seven sisters are receiving training through learning to live together, and we are praying for 24 sisters in total to receive training through life together.

We pray for Ukraine to be a shepherd nation and missionary sending nation according to God's vision shown to M. Peter Kim, and for the Silk Road to be reopened to nations around the Black Sea to Jerusalem. Also, we pray for 12 apostles, 24 excellent servants of God's word, 120 faithful Jesus' disciples, and 1,000 women missionaries to be raised up.

Kiev UBF sent out Jacob's and David's families for the pioneering of Kharkov and sent out M. Point to Istanbul, Turkey for Muslim pioneering. Also, we sent out Joseph Kim Jr. to Cyprus as a student missionary. Anton is in Milan, Italy as a student missionary, and we are praying for him to establish a family.

I thank God that he saved me from a meaningless life and called me for his ministry in Kiev, Ukraine. May God have mercy on me and my family continually to raise up disciples of Jesus in Ukraine!

One Word: Ukraine, a holy nation