[Newsletter from 1000 Missionary Movement]
Korea 14, Laos 9, Cambodia 2, Canada 1, Mongolia 1, China 1, Northern Philippines 8, Central Philippines 42, Southern Philippines 18. All these numbers complete the figure of 96. To achieve this number, young people from 7 countries volunteered as the 62nd batch of 1000 missionaries. Before the missionary training began, they were separate entities from each country, but after the training, they became one. If someone asks how many people applied for the 62nd batch of missionaries, we can confidently say one. I would like to introduce why they inevitably became one.
On January 1, 2024, when everyone started the new year with hope, 96 missionaries began their training with a greater mission. Their first task was to learn English to communicate with people in the mission fields. However, what they learned was not English, but understanding people. The missionaries from different countries, different cultures, different ages, different races, and different personalities learned to communicate not through language but through hearts. This learning became a means to understand and communicate with everyone they met in the mission fields. Although the missionaries were divided into groups based on their level of English, the love and determination for God could not divide them. However, it is clear that things they could not understand at the start of the English education were understood by everyone at the end. The missionary training that followed was designed to further develop them into professional missionaries.
They received training in evangelism methods, visitation methods, preaching methods, Bible teaching methods, and medical mission methods from professional instructors. Thus, the missionaries were prepared not only to fill their minds with knowledge but also to provide practical help. Most importantly, missionaries had to know themselves clearly. They needed to recognize their own weaknesses and shortcomings, the gravity of the mission they must carry, and the preciousness of the souls they would meet among their peers and in the mission fields. In other words, only when they clearly understood themselves, their mission, and the value of souls could they know what to prepare for and whom to rely on. They had to experience their limits to realize this, and in those limits, they had to encounter the Lord. This experience would enable them to endure the challenging life in the mission fields. Thus, the missionaries were reborn as missionaries through extreme physical training that broke them down individually.
If missionary training were to be divided into two parts, it could be divided into before and after Super Training. The extreme physical demands of Super Training are very important in the training of 1000 missionaries. A 21-year-old female missionary from Korea cried out to God every time she reached her limits: “God, please help me overcome this training not by my strength but by faith.” This missionary successfully overcame the training and is now in the mission field. While many young people of this era struggle and want to avoid even minor difficulties, the young people who came here deliberately chose to be 1000 missionaries. I believe that this heart does not come from themselves. Because they believe they have been chosen by God. They believe they are chosen by God to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Therefore, this training is not to kill visible enemies like ordinary soldiers, but to fight against the unseen forces of Satan. Therefore, when missionaries receive this training, they have a higher pride and self-esteem than soldiers. Thus, the missionaries were prepared and trained, and the moment of dispatch to the mission fields approached.
After living together for three months, partners and mission fields for the next ten months were announced. The missionaries were happy and joyful at this moment. Because they were prepared to handle whoever and wherever they go and whatever task they are given. Through the dedication service, their eyes were also reddened like the flickering red candles. And finally, the moment of dispatch arrived. The voices of those leaving with the shout of the thousand missionaries trembled, and the voices of those still singing the theme song of the thousand missionaries also trembled. Their chests, embraced together, were wet with tears. However, they knew that today’s farewell would lead the world to meet the Lord. Now everyone has left for the mission fields, and the training center is empty. However, their voices are still here and will not disappear. And before long, they will return to the training center with the news of victory.
“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18)
Elijah began to flee due to the threats from Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. During his journey, he appealed to God. He said that the people of Israel had forsaken the Lord’s covenant, torn down the altars, and killed the Lord’s prophets with the sword. He also said that he was the only one left. However, God replied that there are still 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed their knees to Baal nor kissed him. 7,000 is not just a number of people, but a number of hope. Many people are leaving the church and criticizing the church’s members and leaders. Yet, we have a hopeful number like the 7,000, which is 96. More 96 people will appear in the 1000 missionaries training center in the future. Because God will leave missionaries in this world. We are included in that number, and let us not forget that we are among the 7,000 left by God.