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Latest Newsletter
May 25, 2010 Dear one, Almost two years ago I met a Korean man named Mr. Kim, on campus. Within a few weeks he signed up for our offer of a free Thanksgiving dinner with an American family and thoroughly enjoyed himself, along with his wife and eleven year old daughter. As Thanksgiving rolled around again last fall he again responded to our Thanksgiving dinner offer and was hosted by another local Christian family. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Kim came to our Christmas dinner party and we had a short conversation. They seemed to enjoy their time. I could tell that he was warming up to us - to feeling comfortable around our Christian meeting. Then , while riding with me to the Easter drama he revealed to me something very shocking: he had struggled throughout his entire life with approval and acceptance such that, as a teen-ager-he had attempted suicide! Here, a man now about 40 was still struggling but willing to share this with me! In the conversation he confirmed that he'd been raised in the faith and really wanted to believe the Bible - very seriously. He had read many other books by Christian authors. He was desperate for affirmation. So I made an appointment with him to talk further - something he was very eager to do. Mr. Kim, a visiting scholar at the University of Colorado Denver, had been on a life-long quest to find freedom from the overwhelming feeling of inadequacy, all the while, desiring to submit to God and his word. What a heart-rending story! And so we met and he literally drank in the Word of God - something he hadn't known, apparently, how to really do for himself. In just two weeks we met and I saw a different person! He was joyful and wanting to walk forward with a trust in the Word of God - something apparently very new to him. I shared with him a list of dozens of Bible verses which declare the true identity of the believer in Christ and he "ate it up!" Suddenly, almost as fast as he'd come into my life, he was leaving! He came by our home last week to bring me something and to say farewell. He had finished his study program at UCD and was returning to South Korea. What a joy to see a man renewed in faith and hope for the future! It's people like Mr. Kim that encourage me! I'm reminded that it is the Word of God, as I declare it, that transforms lives. Praise God for joy - joy that wells up from deep within whose source is in Christ. And thank YOU for your prayers. As we come to the end of another school year we are experiencing a decline in financial support. We are $4000 short of where we need to be to meet budget. Would you remember this need*? Your fellow servant, Gene Congdon, and for Patty, too. mail your gift to ISI, PO Box "C", Colorado Springs, CO 80901.
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