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하나님의 은혜로 새로운 캠퍼스로 가게 되었습니다.
  주안에서 사랑하는 안암골 동역자들께 오랫만에 인사드립니다. 톨레도의 양마가 선교사입니다. 지난 금요일 하나님의 은혜로 College of Charleston, South Carolina에서 job letter 를 받았습니다. 공식적인 명칭은 visiting assistant professor이고 일년 계약직이지만 내년 박사 논문을 마치면 tenured position 으로 승격될 가능성이 많이 있습니다. 올해 가을부터 4과목씩 가르치게 되고 그곳 교수들과 리서치를 함께 하면서 박사 논문을 내년 여름까지 끝내야 합니다. 아직 가야할 길이 멀지만 하나님의 섬세하신 인도하심을 받으며 adventurous한 일년을 보낼 수 있기를 기도합니다. 지난 6년 반동안 톧레도에 있으며 수 많은 하나님의 은혜와 영육간의 승리를 체험했습니다. 언젠가 시간에 되면 한글 버젼 선교 소감을 올리기를 기도합니다. 대신에 영어 소감 (톨레도에서 발표한 레베카 선교사와 저의 소감입니다) 으로 대신합니다. 관심 있으신 분은 보시고 기도해 주시기 바랍니다. 갑자기 받은 job offer라 매우 바쁜 나날을 보내고 있습니다. 이번주 수요일에 Chaleston으로 이사합니다. 다음 주 화요일부터 업무가 시작됩니다. Charleston (South Carolina) 은 미국에서 매우 역사가 깊은 도시로서 곳곳에 수많은 문화 유산이 숨쉬는 곳이고, 아름다운 beach가 많은 것으로 유명합니다. North/South Carolina 는 현재 미국에서 빠른 속도로 성장하는 도시들중 하나입니다. 언제가 저희 가정이 정착하게 되면 안암골 동역자님들의 방문을 환영합니다. 은퇴한 분들이 찾는 number 1 도시인 만큼, 아름답고 깨끗하며 security가 발달한 곳입니다. 하지만, UBF 가정이 아직 없어서 저의 가정이 개척해야 합니다. 또 강한 백인 중심의 문화이기 때문에 아시아인들이 정착하기에 도전이 되는 곳이기도 합니다. 저희 가정이 하나님께서 주신 방향을 좇아 여호수아 1:7,8 말씀을 붙들고 사명의 땅에서 믿음과 기도의 씨앗을 뿌릴 수 있기를 기도합니다. 자세한 소식은 계속해서 올리도록 하겠습니다. 하나님께서 안암골 역사를 넘치도록 축복해 주시기를 기도합니다. 언젠가 한국 방문하기를 소망합니다. 주안에서 승리하시기를 기도합니다. 톨레도에서 양마가 드림 PS) 사진을 첨부합니다. 톨레도 동역자들과 찍은 사진과 Charleston에서 찍은 사진입니다. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Departure Testimony (August 5, 2011) My Fellowship with You in Christ Toledo UBF, Mark Yang 1 John 1:2-3 “The life appeared: we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” While I prepared this testimony, I was repeatedly reminded of one word: Fellowship. As you know, Toledo UBF has been known as the place where people have actively practiced Christian Fellowship. It has been very obvious to me at least in my early life in Toledo. I believe this practice will be continued for many years to come. To summarize, God was with me and made me fruitful through the genuine fellowship with his people. During my life in Toledo, this fellowship with dear co-workers was deepened and grew. Through this fellowship, I personally experienced God in a deeper level and this experience will remain as my valuable memory in my life journey of faith. I hope I may practice this fellowship in the place wherever I go. Through this testimony, I may reveal the grace of God and I may also express my deep gratitude to God and dear co-workers in Christ. I came to Toledo in January 2005 as a student missionary. Over six and half years, God has trained me in his wings through his people, helped me enjoy the genuine fellowship with dear co-workers and led me to grow a responsible man of God. Happy years have passed and even flied. To me, it was like a dream---A good dream for many stories to tell. I am willing to share these stories with you but most of all, I give glory and honor to God for what he has done for me in Toledo. God prepared me and raised me up as a missionary through many trials and struggles. I was born in UBF chapter director family in Korea. My parents were always busy to serve and take care of the campus ministry, causing me to have longed for the family fellowship. My teenage years were not happy because I often felt lonely and couldn’t mingle with friends at school due to the different lifestyle and background I have been raised. During those times, God put me into lonely struggles and even I was confused what my identity was. Without finding the meaning of life, I committed many sins without knowing the way out. God had mercy on me and heard earnest prayers of many God’s servants including my parents. While I had been fulfilling my military service in 1998, God came to my life and I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord. Since that time, I began to understand my parents and their life. I no longer suffered from my loneliness; rather, I learned to have fellowship with others in Christ. I experienced the overflowing joy through having fellowship with Christ and brothers and sisters in Christ. God also restored my true identity as a campus shepherd and a bible teacher. Through 2004 MSU Int’l SBC, God planted me a vision to live a missionary in the USA. In January 2005, God sent me to Toledo as a student missionary. Over my years in Toledo, I have worked with S Mark and Carol under Blessing Fellowship. They have been like my father and mother. More than that, I appreciate their genuine fellowship with me. I always remember their personal care and love for me when everything was foreign to me during my first year of Toledo in 2005. At that time, I was yet married; I was hungry all the time. They took me to a nice restaurant and fed me each week. They helped me to learn American culture and adjust new environment in Toledo. They regarded me as a dear coworker and friend. Their encouragement and fellowship did not grow cold until now. I will never forget our true friendship through fellowship in Christ. “Thank you and I love you, S Mark and S Carol. May the grace of God be shown in your family. May the goodness of God be all the more evident in your lives. May God richly reward your years-long commitment and devotion to God and to the ministry.” M Rebekah joined me in November 2005. I was greatly strengthened through her. From June 2006 we moved into a house located at Wyndhurst, the place where years-long prayer had been accumulated through many God’s servants including Dr. Paul and M Sarah Hong. Believe or not, since then, God blessed our family to have daughters one by one, Monica, Sarah and Anna, candidates of great mothers of prayer for generations to come. Toledo UBF has been very gracious, generous, and active in serving people like me. Toledo UBF knew Christ and practiced sharing fellowship with each other in Christ. S Jim and Sue were big grandparents who welcomed me anytime and anywhere. Toledo coworkers including Dr. Bruce and S Tammy were known as people of hospitality. In 2005, I was in brothers’ house and often became a hungry Jack especially during weekend. Friday meeting was like a great banquet full of love and grace. I felt the genuine Christian Fellowship during the gathering. Students and our co-workers shared their sincere testimonies. We listened and prayed for them. Each Sunday I was greatly blessed by the powerful and stirring message by our Pastor, Dr. Paul Hong and many other wonderful messengers. I was privileged to participate in Messenger meeting each week. It was my one of many joys to learn from Dr. Paul and many other messenger servants including S John and M Peter. Fellowship in God’s words always brought me joy and strength during my toughest Ph.D. studies. I will miss this fellowship. I also enjoyed fellowship with brothers like S Greg, Jason, Tuf, Nick, Chad, Mark O, and many missionaries including M Mark Yoo, Daniel Jeong, James, Caleb, Joseph, David, and Daniel Choi through sharing testimonies, singing practices, playing soccer, and numerous informal and formal meetings. This fellowship was not based on our personal and worldly preferences but on our love for Christ and decisions to live as disciples of Jesus. This fellowship made us strong, united in Christ and committed to participate in God’s work for Toledo. God also helped me practice Christian fellowship through 1:1 bible studies with American college students. God brought to me UT students including Bill/Adrienne, Jonathan, Kirk, Justine, Abdul, and many others. They have been dear to me. I was able to practice a human fellowship through sharing God’s words with them. Bill and Adrienne are here today. God may be with them and they may develop their personal fellowship with Christ even after our departure. During my Ph.D. studies, I have learned to have fellowship with God through Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those earnestly seek him.” Each morning I chose to come to God through prayer and developed my fellowship with Christ. This time became sweeter than any other times and experienced God’s powerful intervention and work of God upon my studies. In spite of many failures, God enabled me to experience numerous victories in my research work and recently dissertation and my job. Today (8-05-2011), I received the official letter from the College of Charleston, South Carolina to work as a visiting assistant professor at the College of Business. At this point, I am not sure whether or not we settle down there through my permanent faculty job. But we are assured of God’s sure sign and blessings to go and pioneer a campus as witnesses of Jesus and share the genuine Christian fellowship with students at the College of Charleston. As many of you know, Charleston is the beautiful and historic city and is known as Holy City because of many churches in number. This week we visited the city of Charleston and the campus of the College of Charleston as well. It is a beautiful city and campus is located in the middle of downtown. Around 12,000 students enrolled the College and it is the one of the good public universities in the States. There are numerous beaches and places to see. But we felt something is missing. No genuine Christian fellowship. No UBF chapters are around South Carolina. We will miss the fellowship in Christ with you. My hope is that we may practice the genuine Christian fellowship, starting from our family members and extend to college students at Charleston through our 1:1s. Please pray for us that we may sustain our life of faith through fellowship with Christ and people. As we move down to Charleston next week, I hold on to Joshua 1:7-8, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Through putting me into practice of obeying God’s words I may develop my deep and personal fellowship with Christ and share this joy with college students. I may remember the grace of God I have received in Toledo and share the same grace to others in Charleston. One word: My fellowship with Christ and You. Departure Testimony (August 5, 2011) For This Is God’s Will for Me in Christ Jesus Toledo UBF, Rebekah Yang 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Hello. By God’s grace, I stand here to share the grace of God shown in my life over past 5 and half years in Toledo. Toledo is my second home where I found genuine welcome, love, and encouragement, and where I deepened my relationship with Christ through His words and prayers. Thank all of you for being with me in both times of struggles and blessings. Thank you for sincere love and friendship in Christ. I was born in 1979 with diligent and hardworking parents who worked as country farmers and with two active younger brothers. I grew up like a tomboy playing outdoor activities. In 1998, I entered into Seoul National University of Education with the scholarship because of my diligent and hardworking lifestyle learned from my parents. In freshmen year, I was invited to one to one bible study, through which I met Christ as my Savior and Lord. God removed all my shames, emptiness and meaninglessness through Jesus Christ. In times, peace of God came and filled my heart with hope in him and faith in his word. I started my shepherd life from junior year with God’s calling, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.” God gave me a world mission vision through Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,"” during 2004 MSU Int’l SBC. In 2005, God establish House Church between M Mark and I with his vision to serve America and China campus mission. Over last six years, God richly blessed our family: we could have healthy and beautiful three daughters and had great privilege to serve several American college students. During this period, my prayer was simple: To become a source of blessing and to grow as a good shepherd like Jesus. With this vision, God blessed and trained me accordingly. Thank and praise God for His divine discipline and love for me. I thank God for many God’s servants who demonstrated Christ-like love to me. 1Thessalonian 5:16-18 were my 2011 year key verses. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God helped me consider what God’s will is and how I implement this throughout my life. The more I learned life of faith, the more I realize that understanding the will of God for my life and learning the way of implementing it is of paramount importance. At times, my understanding of God’s will for me was limited. However, God’s vision and will became clearer when I laid down my own will and humbly sought his. In view of this, I may share God’s will for my life in Toledo and my future. First, Be joyful always. At first, it took time for me to get to know Toledo in particular and life in America. However, I soon felt like home because coworkers genuinely welcomed me with love and friendship. Over the years, Dr. Paul and M Sarah Hong helped me and my family to find ways to grow fruitful servants and missionaries through their guidance and prayers. I personally thank God for her labor of love for me especially during my many maternity periods. Through Blessing Fellowship (S Mark and Carol) I was welcomed, nurtured and cared. For many years, M Mark and I shared our joys and sorrows with them and spent memorable time together. I remember for first two years we had eating fellowship with co-workers including Mark Jr, Agnes, Ruth, and James Choi with Gourmet food made by chef Carol. I will miss those times and will keep in my memories. I also thank God for friendship and love relationship with both junior and senior prayer mothers and missionaries. I am sorry that I can’t mention all of them but they have been precious to me. I had been privileged to be a part of Toledo orchestra through the leaderships of S Kevin and M Rebecca and their commitment to the music ministry. After my children were born, I began to participate in CBF ministry with joy. I thank God for S Peggy and Sandy who faithfully taught words of God with prayer each Sunday. I enjoyed time together with these wonderful people in Christ. But not always was happy and sometimes I had to go through dark tunnels and times of doubt and hardship. From time to time I was burdened and depressed due to the circumstances I faced. This led me to think what the real source of joy was and how I sustain my life with God’s joy. I thought how Apostle Paul maintained his joy even when he was in prison. I realize joy does not come from external circumstances but from deep down in my relationship with Christ, the source of true joy. In times of anxiety and anger, I lifted my eyes to Jesus who suffered and died for me. Then he healed all my wounds and filled me with his joy, peace, and comfort. Jesus is the source of joy. He is the only reason I can rejoice all the time. I am happy because of Jesus and I am happy because of all of precious God’s people surrounded me. The joy of Christ Jesus may lead and guide me to share his grace and love with others. Second, Pray continually. I confidently say that prayer was God’s gift for me to sustain my mission life. Through Luke 18:1 “Always pray and not give up,” I learned a widow’s persistent and desperate prayer. Through Lord’s Prayer, I learn to pray for God’s kingdom and His will. Through prayer, I found God’s will for me: a time to go and a time to stop. Through prayer I found God’s divine plan for me and our family. Through prayer God personally spoke to me, promised me and guided my path. Many times, I came to God with tears and sincere desire to meet him. From time to time, I fell asleep and spent time with God in dreams. Other times, I questioned God due to many unanswered prayers. I prayed for M Mark’s PhD studies, my 1:1s and many family matters. God answered one by one but NOT all of them. After one prayer was answered, another problem occurred. God made me continue to pray. With many doubts, I asked to myself: when my problems will stop? Then, God taught me the meaning of prayer through Proverb 3:5, 6. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Payer is the way that I trust God and acknowledge him in my path of life. God helped me not depend on my own strength but his through life struggles. God enlightened me that life problems are inevitable for me to come to God in prayer. God taught me the importance of having prayer partners to pray together through Matthew 18:20, “Two or three come together in my name, there am I with them also.” With prayer servants, M Sarah, S Carol, M Susan, M Anna and M Monica Cho, I experienced the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the middle of preparing our transition to the mission field, Charleston, South Carolina, God faithfully answered our prayer one by one as M Mark and I inquired of the Lord and sought his will and guidance. I may continue to seek God’s will and his leading through faithful prayer life. May God help me keep the lamp of prayer each morning, so that our family may find ways to please God in the new mission field. Third, Give thanks in all circumstances. Giving thanks to God and God’s people are not always easy; it is challenging in many times. But when we learn to do so, it will be pleasing to God and it will change our life attitude and help us see things in perspective. Although I have many wonderful memories in Toledo, it does not mean that I was always thankful for everything. Sometimes, I couldn’t be thankful when things went challenged and difficult. Life here was not always simple and easy. Even so, I must give thanks in all circumstances because this is God’s will for me and God will work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). I give thanks to God because he works for the good of me and my family. I give thanks to God for Toledo ministry because God will work for the good of co-workers. I thank God for the wonderful ministry through which I could lay my spiritual foundation as a missionary and a prayer mother. Through God’s servant, Dr.Paul and many other messengers I could prepare my Bible notes to serve bible students including Rachel, Sunyoung, Nonye, Meredith, Alyssa, Brittany, Bill and Adrienne, and some others. I especially thank God for his living work upon the hearts of Bill and Adrienne. Shepherd life was not always easy, yet it brought me joy more than what I imagined. In time, they became my dear friends. I thank God for their faithfulness to come each week, humility to learn from me, and our year-long friendship we have built. May God continue to guide and help them to grow in their personal faith in God and knowledge of him. I also thank for the opportunities to learn and co-work with Korean missionaries and American shepherds to serve campus mission. I believe God’s greater plan will be fulfilled through Toledo UBF. I will remember all of your love and friendship in Christ and pray for you whenever possible. By the grace of God, M Mark got a faculty job at the College of Charleston and next week we will leave Toledo. This is a great encouragement for our family but at the same time, it will be greatly challenging for us to sustain there, where no coworkers are present. My heart is broken thinking of leaving friends and bible students behind. I am even not sure of how to maintain our spiritual life. This week we visited the city of Charleston and the College. It is a beautiful city and wonderful campus but thinking of the tasks and responsibility I will take, I become already anxious. At this time, I am reminded of God’s commands and promise to General Joshua in the book of Joshua 1:7 and 8. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” These verses give me a clear direction for what to do in a new place. The environment would be very different. But God will make me prosperous when I put my faith and hope in him and his words. My first priority is to meditate on God’s word day and night to overcome my fear and grow God’s instrument to witness his name to Charleston. With a genuine desire to grow as a source of blessing and a good shepherd, I may be strong and courageous to spread the gospel and invite college students to 1:1 bible studies. Please pray for me that I may find God’s lost sheep and establish faithful 1:1s. One Word: God’s will is this: Be joyful, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. Prayer Topics: 1.Follow God’s leading after one year contract is over whether or not to stay in Charleston. 2.Keep the lamp of God burning through daily prayer and meditation of God’s words. 3.Serve college students at the C of C (College of Charleston) through faithful 1:1s and house church ministry. 4.M.Mark’s teaching & the completion of his dissertation by next summer (2012). |
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mk
2011-08-08 23:16
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소식 감사합니다. 하나님의 인도하심에 감사드립니다. 오랜만에 두분과 아기 사진을 보니까 참 반갑습니다. 주께서 양마가, 레베카 선교사님과 함께 하시고 새로운 개척 역사 잘 섬기실 수 있도록 해주시길 기도합니다. 박사 논문도, 교수로서의 임명도 잘 되도록 기도하겠습니다. | |
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장디모데
2011-08-09 00:29
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양마가 선교사님의 하나님 아버지께 감사찬양드립니다. 어려운 가운데 길을 열어주신 하나님 아버지께 감사드립니다. 믿음으로 사는 자들을 책임져 주시고 당신의 뜻 가운데 인도해 가심으로 인해 감사합니다. 양마가 선교사님에게 지혜를 주셔서 박사 논문을 완성케 하시고, 테뉴어 직을 받을 수 있도록 기도합니다. 개척 역사와 일대일 역사 가운데 성령으로 함께 하여 주시길 기도합니다. | |
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김현유
2011-08-09 07:36
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선하신 하나님께서 지금까지 이끌어 주신 것처럼, 계속하여 양마가, 레베카 선교사님 가정을 하나님의 뜻 가운데 인도하여 주실 것을 믿고 기도합니다. 늘 강건하시고, 주 안에서 승리하시길 기도합니다. 개척 역사와 학업의 승리를 위해 기도하겠습니다. | |
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이경청
2011-08-09 17:18
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Life Testimony 감사히 읽었습니다. 하나님께 감사를 드립니다. 기도하겠습니다. | |
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3927
2011-08-09 19:12
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축하합니다! 드디어 하나님의 때가 이르렀군요. 오랜 기다림의 시간을 믿음으로 감당하느라 수고 많았습니다. 이제 개척자로서 새로운 곳에서 영육 간에 새로 해야 할텐데 하나님의 특별한 은혜와 도우심이 있으시길 기도합니다. 지금처럼 하나님의 도우심 가운데 앞으로도 능히 믿음의 승리 하시리라 믿습니다. -Bach | |
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정사라혜민
2011-08-10 23:58
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기쁜 소식과 은혜로운 소감에 감사드립니다! 할렐루야! 기도하겠습니다^^ | |
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양재규
2011-08-11 10:02
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추카추카~ 새로운 곳에서도 승리하세요! | |
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주현희
2011-08-17 11:13
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마가, 레베카 선교사님 새로운 개척지로 보내시는 은혜의 하나님을 찬양합니다. 두분의 귀한 믿음과 기도를 받으사 사명의 삶을 축복하시고 개척하고 정복하는 가운데 놀라운 하나님의 역사가 함께 하시기를 간절히 기도합니다. 세 자녀들의 건강과 성장을 위해서도 기도할게요 소식 감사해요 |
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강영복
2011-08-20 03:40
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축하해요. 믿음으로 도전하시는 jr 양마가선교사을 하나님이 더욱 크게 축복하실 줄 믿습니다. |
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진승일
종된겸손
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이창무
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