Hello, my name is Katherine, and I am currently a Connect Mokjang member with our Mokja Rachel. I am also a fourth-year student at the University of Guelph majoring in Biological Science with a minor in Psychology. Many of you have heard my testimony from just over a year ago when I got baptized here and my other testimony from over two years ago when I returned from the House Church seminar in Houston. I will now share my testimony as I begin my journey of becoming a Mokja for a new English-speaking Mokjang for our church.
Before I Knew God
After high school, I moved to Guelph for a gap year before university, but the pandemic extended it to two years. At first, I thought I could handle everything alone, but I eventually became lonely and depressed, especially with a difficult roommate.
Meeting God and Becoming a Christian
Concerned, my mom moved in with me from Toronto, providing care and comfort. That summer, she reached out to 사모님, asking about English services at her church. Although they didn’t usually have one, there was an English sermon that week due to special circumstances. I continued attending Korean sermons, feeling welcomed into the community and God’s kingdom.
I learned from 목사님s sermons that the church is a hospital. Not for people who are perfect in their faith and never waiver in their belief, but for people who want to improve their faith and learn from Jesus’ example. This was so comforting and allowed me to grow at my own pace. I went to the Houston seminar to learn about Mokjang and joined Connect Mokjang intending to get closer to my fellow church members and to get to know God better. I absolutely loved Mokjang and found my drive from Guelph to Kitchener was exciting and had to almost drag 엄마 to go when the weather was bad during the winter.
I felt the Holy Spirit working within my Mokjang but also within me as I felt the fruit of the Spirit began to work within me. “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). I felt all these things blossoming during my growing bond with my Mokjang members, and I found over time my sharing went from being filled with tears of frustration, anger, regret and confusion from my time during covid with my old roommate transformed to stories filled with laughter, new friendships, joy, and hope.
And after about a year of attending Mokjang I decided to be baptized here and rededicate myself to God. I felt the power of my salvation and was welcomed into my new family with open arms.
Ongoing Growth in My Faith and Service to God
As with any relationship, staying consistent and coming back to reevaluate and strengthen the bond is important. I cannot say that I have attended church every Sunday since being baptized, nor can I say that I have been to every Mokjang meeting. But what I can say is that every time I come back to church or meet my Mokjang family after missing a week or more, I feel the presence of God all that much stronger. (to be continued on the next Sunday)