I’m going on missions again! I’m really excited to announce that
I’m going to be heading out with New Philadelphia Church to Ho
Chi Minh City, Vietnam this winter, from January 9 - 16. We are
going to support a pastor we were able to connect with last
winter, when we sent out a team to Vietnam for the first time!
At the beginning of this year, God drew me to set my eyes on him,
and him alone. I didn’t understand it for much of the year, but
as this year draws to a close, I feel like I finally understand.
It’s not about studiously learning about Jesus, or doing good
things to act like Him. Instead, I see now that if I just let
myself reflect on who I know God to be, and allow that to go from
“knowledge” to “experience,” my life changes. My mindset changes.
I had to face a lot of personal failures and disappointments in
the last two years. And when I was in that time, it was easy to
focus on the negative things and see myself as a failure. But as
I really set my focus on God and took a step back from my own
actions, I found the peace I was looking for.
This is the kind of heart I hope to bring on missions, and the
heart that I hope to spread as our team visits churches and meets
our brothers and sisters in Ho Chi Minh City. I hope to give the
treasures that I’ve now gained to them, so that they would
experience that freedom that I have.
However, none of that will be possible without your support. It’s
our church’s desire that we would not go and bless these nations
on our own. We want to share the fruit with you! You can do that
as you sow your own seeds of prayers and finances into my trip.
As you send me out, know that you are personally taking part in
what we do in Vietnam. And as I’ve been on missions six times
already, I know that God will be faithful to allow your seeds to
bear fruit!
I have personally contributed 250,000 KRW to this trip, and my
personal fundraising goal is 750,000 KRW. The majority of the
trip cost goes toward airfare, and the rest goes toward blessing
the churches we visit and covers our various travel expenses. If
you would like to support me in this way, please make a pledge
here on the support website!
Whether you are able to support me financially or not, I hope
that you will support me in prayer! I will be sending out regular
e-mail updates as our trip date draws near, and I desire your
powerful prayers for myself and my team! Thank you so much for
taking the time to read my letter, and I’m excited to return from
the field with the fruit of testimony that we are sure to reap!
By the strength of Christ,
John Matthew Ko