Video – Failure to Forgive Is A Common Problem, But What’s The Solution?

Posted on August 23, 2014 by tdillmuth

Pastor Foley says that the absolute worst way to try to forgive someone is to “look deep within yourself!”  In other words, human nature makes it impossible for us to forgive others in our own strength, willpower or emotions.  The solution to our “failure to forgive” problem is a change in our focus.  We must allow the offending situation and person to become blurry and to focus in on the cross of Christ.


To listen to the full sermon and other Seoul USA Podcasts, visit the VOM Korea YouTube Channel!

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My Life’s Mission Is To Preach The Gospel To North Korea

Posted on August 20, 2014 by tdillmuth

SUSA-KoreanGod has been doing a work in our recent Underground University graduate, Mr. P.  When he joined UU last year, his main goal was to “lay low,” listen and learn, which isn’t all that bad, except for the fact that we require our UU students to be involved, go on missions and do the word!

We decided that instead of “forcing the issue” with Mr. P, we would allow the Holy Spirit to work on his heart. And over the course of the last 12 months, we were pleasantly surprised with what the Lord did and with how Mr. P responded!

We saw Mr. P grow by “leaps and bounds” in his understanding of God and His Word. When Mr. P first came to UU he confessed that even after going to church for some time he still didn’t understand Christianity too well. Over the course of the last year, it was apparent that he was putting a great deal of effort into understanding the Scriptures and following God.

We saw the Lord use Mr. P in evangelism and discipleship. Mr. P began to witness to his daughter and began to “do the word” in small ways toward her. And the result is that now his daughter and son-in-law are very passionate Christians!

We also saw Mr. P’s prayer life grow. He began to pray according to the Scriptures that he was learning in UU class. For example, Mr. P began to pray Psalm 33:12 in relation to North Korea. It says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” He has also recently been praying Romans 5:2-4 for the NK underground believers.

Mr. P recently went on a UU mission trip with us (his first one). This was quite a “step of faith” for him as he had to take several days off of work (with no pay). He admitted that when he first joined UU, he actually thought it was impossible to spread the gospel to North Korea, but as he launched each balloon towards NK, he realized that God was using him to do what he originally thought was impossible! In addition to the mission of launching the balloons, he took it upon himself to serve the other mission team members. One of the ways that he did this was by leading the other members in prayer, worship and communion.

After returning from this mission trip, Mr. P gave this simple, yet powerful testimony. He said,

I am convinced that I can preach the gospel to North Korea even today, through this mission trip. Also, I can have a clear life goal; that is, to preach the gospel to the North. I am proud of what I have done on this mission trip and realize that there is nothing we cannot do when we cooperate. I want to grow to resemble Jesus, as well as tell other people what Jesus did.

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How Do North Korean Christians Envision Heaven?

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Pastor Foley

praywithnorthkorea copyThe Bible begins and ends in a garden, yet I can’t recall many of us Westerners ever envisioning heaven that way. That’s why I was so fascinated to hear one of our North Korean defector students at Underground University describe heaven in exactly those terms when she prayed on our nightly radio broadcast into North Korea recently.

In fact, it’s fascinating just how biblical her prayer is. Right out of the book of Revelation she wonders aloud to God whether he is altogether too patient with the state of affairs in North Korea. “How long?” she asks. And so do we.

Here is her prayer. My prayer is that you will pray it together with her, and permit yourself to be shaped by it a little as well.

Dear Father God,

If I were living in North Korea, I would have gone to the mountain to pick herbs for a meal or I would wander from place to place, carrying a load on my back that would be as heavy as me. But you led me to arrive in this happy land, South Korea. I appreciate you.

However, my parents and brothers whom I never forget are still living in North Korea, where I do not want to return again for even a single moment. When I think about my family who is always worrying about having enough food and never relieved of anxiety, I feel piercing sadness.

God, my mother has been suffering with bad bronchitis and arthritis for a long time and I heard that my mother’s vision and hearing have become worse. Please, cure my mother so that she does not need to suffer anymore. My heart is broken and I cannot stop crying at the thought of my mother. For how long do my parents and brothers have to suffer while I live comfortably?

Yesterday, I cried again after I bumped into an old lady whom closely resembled my mother. She reminded me my mother… What is my mother doing now? Isn’t she crying for missing her daughter? Isn’t my mother who was very weak even 7 or 8 years ago when I left to China getting old? I feel guilt about living happily, because for my mother it is a miracle just to be alive.

Father God, when I saw my parents in my dream, I was worrying whether they had difficulties or were in pain. God, please, save my father, my mother, and my brothers. Let my family members all believe in you and be comforted by you when they are sick or lonely. And bless them to go to Your Kingdom.

Loving God, I know that you are very patient, so much so that you wait for an evil dictator to turn away from that evil. However, please do not be patient anymore for North Korea. Do not close your eyes nor turn your eyes away from them but let them realize you, creator God. And bless them to live life in a happy garden where there is no pain, only to praise and worship God, accepting Jesus Christ as their savior.

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