Hi peeps! I'm here to round off yet another great week in Bible school!
Week after week, us SOT students are overloaded with tremendous revelations of the Word of God and its practical impact on our lives. However, though we are of course greatly blessed by all the head knowledge, I'm sure all of us will agree that there is an even better side of Bible school: Getting the opportunity to hear about men and women of God who have incredible attitudes!
Presenting to you... The leader of the world's largest church... Dr David Yonggi Cho!
Pst Ming shared with us about how many of our senior church leaders were over in Korea over the last week to attend Dr Cho's handing over service. After countless years of distinguished service to the kingdom of God, Dr Cho has decided to hand over the reigns of his 750,000 strong church to his No 2 man!
Pst Ming could not be there personally to witness the great event as he was committed to teaching us SOT students, but was constantly calling over to keep tabs on the proceedings.
Over in Korea, as Dr Cho handed over the leadership position of his church, tens of thousands of his members cried and grieved. This was actually a pretty interesting scene, as one would expect a 750,000 strong church to feel pretty distant from their pastor!
Upon speaking to the locals, our pastors finally found out why everyone present at the event was so deeply affected.
You see... Dr David Yonggi Cho had a reputation over there with the locals: He never turns anyone away.
Despite being the leader of the biggest church in the world, and one of the most respected personalities worldwide, Dr Cho maintained such humility and love that he would speak to and encourage anyone who came to him. Regardless of age, race or social status, Dr Cho loved people the same way Jesus would. With this love, he left a tremendous impact on the lives of many.
If you and I were to retire today, how many people would cry over it? =) Food for thought.
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Of course, that was a story about possibly the greatest man of God of his generation! Everything that is about him would probably be amazing isn't it?
Interestingly, with the return of our leaders, another story floated through about the people of Yoido Full Gospel Church.
Yoido Full Gospel Church boasts a really large congregation--- far beyond what their own church building could contain. As such, they often hold prayer meetings and services at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, with a maximum seating capacity of more than 250,000 (That's if I don't remember wrongly).
During that week, one such meeting took place, and our leaders were present at the event. Lunch boxes were served (interesting culture isn't it?) during one of the breaks and the entire crowd had their meals in the stadium.
Of course, it is then inevitable that the stadium would be dirtied isn't it? Check this incident out.
Our leaders were just looking around when they saw this member drop food from his lunchbox onto the floor. You can't really fault that guy anyway... how many of us can claim that we never ever spill or drop our food?
What's notable then, is the response of the Yoido Full Gospel Church members. An eagle-eyed man standing nearby immediately noticed this, paced over, bent down, and scooped up the food with his BARE HANDS. He then proceeded to clean up the mess, leaving the stadium floor as clean as if nothing has ever been spilled.
Our leaders were impressed with this man's action, and went over to commend him. They wanted to know if this usher was actually a full time staff working in church, since his attitude was fantastic. The man's response? He's actually a PROFESSOR in one of the leading universities there, and simple serving as an usher for that day's event. Far from a full time church staff, he was just 1 out of 750,000 faces that the church ministers to every week. Yet this man cherished the house of God so much that he was willing to get himself dirty simply to clean up the place fast. And this was not even their own church building! This was the World Cup Stadium, well equipped with cleaners who have been hired to deal with such messes!
You see... there is a reason why Yoido Full Gospel Church is the role model for all the churches around the world! It is not so much the charisma of one man, or the brilliant management model or worship style, but the spiritual DNA that runs through every single disciple, all the way down from Dr Cho. God gave this church explosive growth and overflowing fruitfulness and influence, because their members and leader possess world-class attitudes and humility.
Jesus Himself showed the way in this area, isn't it?
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!"
"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. "
Phillipians 2: 5-13 (NIV)
Men look for better methods, but God looks for better men. Amen.
