“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15)
To my family in Christ : )
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you because I want to update you on God’s mighty plans for the nations, from urban America to rural Bangladesh. From June 12-July 5 I will be sent to Emeryville, California to intern at Living Hope Christian Center. I will shadow Pastors Benjamin and Sunhee Robinson, work with the Living Hope staff, and bring Christ’s love to the urban mission field of Oakland. Then from July 25-August 1, myself and twelve other New Philly leaders will be sent to Bangladesh to hold revival services for the Bengalis: the largest unreached people group in the world.
The Lord has already been stirring my heart for urban missions. I was born and raised all around New York. I have lost friends, neighbors, and classmates to death and devastation that plague the “great American city.” By God’s grace I was given opportunities to go away and abroad: it is while living in Korea that God truly redeemed me and filled me with His Spirit. The grace that I have so freely received, I now desire to bring back and freely pour out to my brothers and sisters in Oakland. I want to see urban America cleansed by the blood of Jesus and redeemed for His glory. I want to learn from Pastor Sunhee and her calling not only to her Jerusalem (outreach to Emeryville, Oakland) but also to the ends of the earth (justice ministries to Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mexico). While at Living Hope, I know that the Lord will give me a greater revelation of my spiritual inheritance, both as the director of the New Philly missions ministry, and also as a daughter who asks for the nations.
Upon returning from California, I will be a part of leaders-only team to minister at revivals in the province of Jessore, Bangladesh. The Lord has been speaking to me strongly about this nation. Bangladesh is 98% Bengali. The Bengalis are the largest unreached people group in the world. If we take to heart Jesus' commandment to preach the Gospel to "all nations" (which actually translates to "all people groups"), it is of utmost importance to sow strategically into the Bengali people. There are Biblical promises He wants to release. Bangladesh is under constant threat of flooding. But our God is the one who parted the Red Sea to lead his children out of captivity. Bangladesh will celebrate 40 years of Muslim statehood this year. But our God is the one who after 40 years of wandering in the desert, brought His children into the physical and spiritual Promised Land. Through my time in Bangladesh, I know that I will see God’s people truly walk out the glorious freedom which is their full inheritance.
As you can see, the Lord has some beautiful plans for this summer. Thus it would be an honor to partner with you to make His plans a tangible reality. In order to be sent to California and Bangladesh, I must raise a total of KRW 2,850,000 (KRW 1,750,000 of which must be raised by June 12). I ask that you prayerfully consider sowing a financial seed into these trips. I also ask that you prayerfully consider being an intercessor for me as I am sent. As we step out in faith and offer our hearts to Him, we will truly see the goodness of the Lord manifest in the land of the living. Glory!!
Your sister in Christ, Lisa