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Testimony - My journey to faith in Christ
by Captain Grace Choi
I can not boast of anything in the light of the
world view. However, I want to confess that I have got a lot
of God’s grace. My father accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour
through an open-air meeting at the Salvation Army. He was a
faithful man of God and loved the Salvation Army. Because of
his faith, all of our family attended a Salvation Army church.
My parents had seven children including two boys and five
girls. I am the sixth of seven. My father showed his children
an example of faith and my mother liked to share her own to
other people.
Since the fifth year of primary school, I found that I wanted
to live for orphans, the disabled and the marginalized. I now
believe that these parts are what I have ministered to. After
completing high school, I served at a social welfare centre
for mental disability. I spent a happy time there for five
years. As time went on, I thought that I should help their
souls, not their bodies. Thus I started to study theology.
Yet, the theology could not satisfy my soul. I was left
wondering what else to do.
After finishing the theology study, I joined a Christian
organization for laypeople, “Christ Love Fellowship” with the
aid of my friend. There I could solve the thirst of my soul
through the Bible study. I also served the blind, the deaf and
the paralysed. Through the service, I could have a joyful
time. In addition, it led to marriage to my husband, Joseph in
1992. Before we got married, we offered our heart to God that
we would care for spiritual children rather than physical
children. All of these things resulted from the blessing and
grace of God.
God continued to make a way of world mission for me and Joseph
so that we could see the wide world of God. God gave us a
passion of mission for the marginalized and the people
isolated from the Gospel of Jesus. After preparation for
mission of one year, my husband and I were sent to Indonesia
as missionaries in August, 1995. While studying Indonesian
language at Indonesia National University, we met the
university students. Through the close relationship with them,
we continued to lead the Bible study. This Bible study caused
them to be like Jesus. We were able to start a mission in
urban slum with the help of university students. When renting
a house and living there, we and our colleagues taught
children in the slum area and provided them with food. This
service gave them the possibilities of hopes and dreams.
Through being in Indonesia, we had various experiences and
difficulties. For example, our mission teams who were taken to
a police station due to a Muslim’s attack, my husband who came
near to death due to typhoid fever and so on. Through the
leading and training of God, my soul could be strong.
Moreover, I could have a close relationship with God and give
obedience to him.
Two years before I came back to Korea, God challenged my
husband to do a new type of ministry which was to be a
minister at a local church. At the same time, God allowed us
to experience a new spiritual world. We also prayed fervently
so as to know God’s will. God led us to come to Korea in
December, 2003.
After returning to Korea, we continued to pray for our new
ministry. God eventually introduced to us a Salvation Army
officer who is my brother-in-law. In the conversation with
him, my husband became interested in the Salvation Army and
inspired by what the Salvation Army has done. I could feel God
led us to the SA because the root of my faith was from the
Salvation Army and I also remembered my father’s desire that
my third sister and I would be dedicated to the Salvation
Army. However, I waited for the determination of my husband
until God could move his heart.
One day, my brother-in-law invited us to attend cadets’
mission campaign held at a Salvation Army corps. Through their
program, my husband had a good impression. From the fact that
a couple could together have pastoral ministry in the
Salvation Army, we came to be clear that God would lead us to
the Salvation Army and serve Him by each becoming an officer.
After we experienced pastoral ministry as envoys at a
Salvation Army corps for about one year, my husband and I
entered Salvation Army Officer Training College in Korea in
February, 2006. I enjoyed a training course of Salvation Army
Training College. In particular, training in community was
very useful for me. This was why cadets including me could
respectively share suffering or joy, and strengthen their
relationship.
One year before (in 2005), the former commissioner of
Australian southern territory, Ivan rang, had come to Korea
and had led a spiritual conference during a few days. At that
time, he had given me a spiritual challenge. Since then, I
have been interested in the Salvation Army of Australian
southern territory. At the middle of second session, I heard
that my husband and I would go to study for one year at SATC
of Australia Southern Territory. I gave thanks to the Lord
because of his wonderful grace.
However, God made us be patient for a half year. Although I
did not know this delayed reason, I could feel God’s leading
us to Australia. At last, my husband and I arrived at SATC of
Melbourne in the 27th, June, 2007. At that time, I was scared
about my life in this country. But this fear was gone soon
after I found how kind and generous the college staff and
cadets were for me. We have received warm welcome, great
support and help from them. We wouldn’t have survived here
without them. I feel that they are all my family. We are so
blessed and privileged to experience such wonderful things in
the college. Now I am preparing for commissioning and
ordination in order to become an officer. I believe that God
will make a new way in accordance with my gifts.
While preparing this testimony, I could meditate the love of
God toward me once again. I could also remember the prayer of
my father. According to his prayer, my third sister has served
the work of God as an officer of SA and I will also serve my
God as an officer. I feel again how valuable the inheritance
of my parents’ faith is. I would like to give a confession of
my love to the Lord.
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