Dear friends and family,
I would like to share with you a wonderful opportunity that I have to lead a short term missions team to Sri Lanka during my winter vacation.
Sri Lanka is coming off of a 26-year war that ended just seven years ago. Even more recently, many have lost their lives and homes due to flooding and landslides. Furthermore, Sri Lanka has a long history of Buddhism, which remains the dominant religion.
As part of the NPWM (Native Partners for World Missions) network, a local partner has invited New Philadelphia to send a team for a week to labor with them for the Kingdom. From December 26 – January 1, our team of eleven will be going to Sri Lanka to minister in the capital city, Colombo, as well as in remote village churches along the east coast. We will also be ministering in a revival service for youth gathered from across the country. I am honored to be leading a team for the first time with my church. My hope and prayer is that as our team ministers, our love for one another will be radiant and that through our unity, they would know Jesus.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. - John 17:20-23
Recently, I've come to a greater revelation of the love of God and my longing for Him has grown immensely. I go because I am responding to The Great Commission to preach the good news, but more importantly, because I want to respond in love. I want the world to know the love of God through His son Jesus.
There are two ways you can partner with me. First, I'd like to ask for your prayers. If you visit facebook.com/newphilly, there will be daily updates from the field so you can pray for us specifically. Secondly, I will be raising 1,500,000 krw (~1,280 USD) to cover the costs for this trip. I will be sowing in a personal contribution of 200,000 krw. (~171 USD). If you'd like to contribute, please visit http://support.newphilly.cc. Thank you for reading.
Sincerely,
Samuel Choi