Elder Kenny Bae's Ordination

This past Sunday, we were blessed with Elder Kenny Bae's ordination! We are so thankful for Elder Kenny Bae's heart of service and love for our church. Please keep Elder Bae and his family in your prayers as he grows in his faith and ministers to our congregation.

Women's Group Fellowship to the Getty Villa

Over the summer, the women's group made a fun outing to to the Getty Villa.  It was a gorgeous day to relax and spend time with one another.  We are thankful for a great group of sisters in Christ.

Sunday School Fellowship: Girls' Tea Party!

The Sunday School ladies had a fun fellowship outing that including creative clay creations at Color Me Mine and then peach oolong and lemon peppermint tea with pastries and finger sandwiches.  We are so thankful for our wonderful sisters in Christ!

Missions Report from Cambodia May-June 2013

While Teaching History

<Cambodia Missions, May 15 – June 1, 2013>

 Pastor Daniel Kim

 For two weeks I taught “The Church in the Middle Ages and the Reformation” at Westminster Theological College & Seminary in Cambodia. While teaching church history, I have learned some important lessons.

Surprised. When you look at medieval church history, you cannot help being surprised at how terribly wrong the church was. She was filled with wickedness, corruption, and sinful practices. Moral laxity of the clergy, a shameful simony (selling and buying of ordained positions), power struggles with civil governments, unbiblical monasticism, foolhardy attempts of the Crusades to fight Muslims using swords and spears, and many other evil acts — all these showed us the church’s dark side during the Middle Ages.

How was it that the church had fallen so low? How could she become so ugly? More than once, there had been three popes at the same time in the Roman Catholic hierarchy. What a shame! My students and I have found that lay church members and the clergy in the Middle Ages trusted in man-made rules, traditions, and human efforts rather than trusting in Almighty God, Christ’s grace and His saving power.

While studying church history, the students and I were repeatedly surprised to see all those ugly, incredible sins. The spiritual decline of the church saddens true believers’ hearts. 

 The Beauty of Grace.  “…but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom 5:20).  Amidst such abysmal darkness of the Middle Ages, we noticed in the course of history bright lights shining from a band of people: those saddened true Christians who clamored for reform, especially of the Roman papacy. They were those who truly loved the Word of God; they were tired of corrupt church members biting and devouring one another, thirsting for wealth and power, indulging in worldly pleasures, dishonoring God’s holy name.

At last the light began to shine most brightly from the Reformation movements. The Reformation leaders were strong believers in Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith alone, and God Alone to whom all glory is to be rendered. Many of them were persecuted, tried, and burned at the stake. Hundreds of thousands died martyrs’ deaths for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My students and I were glad to learn that the church in the dark the Middle Ages was eventually blessed to see the light by God’s grace through faith in Christ, the centerpiece of Scripture. The LORD says, “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isai 45:22). Glory be to God!

We are convinced that no matter how ugly we have been as sinners, at the end of history we will be the most beautiful BRIDE by God’s grace! 

Unto Death. I exhorted the students, “You are the lights of the world. Aren’t you going to let your lights shine in your neighborhood, your country, and all over this dark world?” “While shining the light in your lives, are you willing to die for the Lord?” Their answer was a resonant “Yes.” Hallelujah!

Our Lord said, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10).

The Lord of History. From the beginning to end, our God runs the world’s history. He has a perfect plan and purpose for all of history. He is especially concerned with His church — how it is to start, endure difficulties and trials, struggle, be sanctified, and eventually be glorified. Yes, His church will ultimately be perfected and marvelously glorified! While teaching church history, I was reassured along with my students that our God is the Lord of history and especially of church history. He is absolutely in charge of whatever happens inside and outside the church, whether it looks good or ill now, so that the church, His BRIDE, will be perfected.      

“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready…” (Rev 19:7). Again all the glory to God!

Thank you for faithfully supporting our missions through funds and prayers. God bless you and your ministries.