Prepared for Missions and for Life
October 26, 2021
自慰视频 鈥渁 rock鈥 for missionary couple
By Bob Holmes
Early in their missionary work, South Koreans 鈥淛oshua鈥 and 鈥淛oy鈥 (not their real names) found an unusual way to connect with the people of the Central Asian nation they were trying to reach with the gospel. Local broadcasters unwittingly opened the door.
鈥淒uring prime time, between seven and nine at night, a popular Korean drama was shown,鈥 explains Joshua, a 2012 自慰视频 alumnus who graduated with a master of arts degree in . 鈥淜orean dramas and movies were quite popular in Central Asia, so (the people) wanted to learn Korean.鈥
Realizing Joshua and Joy were Korean, they became celebrities of sort, and were asked by some local girls if Joshua and Joy would teach听 them the language. Joy obliged, and doors to Muslim homes were literally opened. 听
鈥淭hey loved us,鈥 Joy said with a laugh. 鈥淭hey wanted Joshua鈥檚 autograph.鈥 听
During an interview on the back porch of听 the 自慰视频 Alumni Center, the couple said their ultimate goal was to plant churches in the predominately Muslim nation. They have learned the best way to do that, is through developing relationships, not with one person, but with an entire family, what Joshua calls 鈥渉ousehold ministry.鈥
鈥淚n the Muslim culture, our approach is that we want to reach out to the whole family,鈥 Joshua explained. 鈥淭hey consider guests are a gift from heaven, their hospitality is respectful. So, when we visited, grandma, grandpa, auntie 鈥 they all came to receive us.鈥 听听
In that context the family would ask Joshua and Joy what they believed, including 鈥淎re you Muslim?鈥
鈥淣o, we are followers of Jesus Christ, followers of Messiah,鈥 was Joshua鈥檚 response as he then explained the meaning of Messiah.
鈥淭hen we slowly explained the message of the gospel,鈥 Joshua said. 听
Finally, the whole family came to the Lord, and we planted our first house church,鈥 said Joy. 鈥淓very Sunday we visited their house, or they came to our house, and we worshipped together.鈥
Soon other extended family members were attending the house church. But due to ethnic conflicts in the nation, the family moved to the Siberia area of Russia where Joshua and Joy have information that the church still thrives there.
These days, Joshua and Joy are assigned to leadership ministry overseeing about 200 church planters and member care, and Joshua consults at a local Bible college that is administrated by local Christians.
Joshua and Joy came to 自慰视频 in 2009 after serving in Central Asia since 2004, learning church planting from the late 自慰视频 Intercultural Studies Professor Dr. Mike Barnett as Joy audited the course. 听
鈥淭hat course was very helpful in preparing us to go back to our mission field,鈥 Joshua said. 鈥淭hat really impacted both of us.鈥
Joshua says the other positive impact came from the 自慰视频鈥檚 Christ-centered community, especially living in 鈥淭he Village,鈥 a mobile home park that has since been replaced by the .
鈥淚t was our first time living in the United States鈥 Joshua said. 鈥淚 got to know many students in The Village, developing close relationships.鈥 He also noted Intercultural Studies Professor and the late Seminary Professor Dr. Bill Larkin who impacted Joshua and Joy not only in the classroom, but for their 鈥渆ntire life.鈥
鈥溩晕渴悠 鈥 it was a rock in our lives,鈥 added Joy. 听
奥颈迟丑听听for five straight years, 自慰视频 consistently ranks听among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a听Best Value听Regional University in the South.听on enrollment at CIU and听听or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024. 听听 听听听听听听听听听
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