Kona, Hawaii YWAM Discipleship Training School, January 8th – June 25th Hello family and friends! My name is John Choi, currently a Junior at Wheaton College. Let me tell you what God has been doing recently in my life, which has led me to take a leave from school and pursue a 6-month discipleship training school in Kona, Hawaii! 5 years ago, my sister did the same program! As she was praying for her outreach location, she felt a calling to the Philippines, but she couldn’t go. She left suddenly after hearing news that my mother was diagnosed with cancer. However, God’s calling prevailed: my sister and I went to the Philippines about a year later on our own! I saw the gospel in a whole new way after vising the Philippines. My enlightening, first impression of the inner-city Filipino slums was the immediate greeting of a boisterous and joyful group of children that came running towards me as I was unloading food. I stood stunned and awestruck: the children radiating a light of JOY and a brilliance of innocence beamed against the cruel existence of the slums. This shook a chord within me and ignited a deep seated yearning in my heart for the simplistic beauty of childhood. Why did God impress upon me the need to be a child again? 6 months before that mission trip, I lost my mother to cancer, and so in my mind, childhood was over.. Yet in this moment, God tugged at me, promising and showing me here that the beauty of childhood was possible even in the most dev“Heaven belongs to such as these” astating poverty-stricken conditions. Cebu, Philippines 2010 Fast-forward 4 years to this last semester, I participated in “Wheaton in Chicago,” where I lived and worked city. I was a legal intern reporting to the VP of a global company on a fast-track toward law school. But, unfortunately, in the midst of my effort to set myself up for success, I felt that this verse could define my life: “There was a man all alone… There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is meaningless, a miserable business” (Eccl. 4:6). I hit a crisis in my life: I suffered from severe depression, anxiety, and complicated traumatic grief. The epithet of Ecclesiastes could describe my life, “Meaningless, meaningless, all is vanity!” As much as I longed for selfreliance in my emerging adulthood, I realized that I couldn’t provide for myself meaning, purpose, or security; I became totally lost, still the bewildered child who lost his mother. But, here, God once again whispered to me: “I am your Father, come be my child.” I am glad to tell you that I am finally listening to that call now!! Youth With A Mission, a global movement with over 1,100 locations in 180 countries, was birthed from a vision of its founder, Loren Cunningham: “I was looking at the map… only the map was alive, moving! I shook my head and rubbed my eyes…Then I watched as young people covered the continents. They were preaching! Young people—kids really—going out as “The Forerunner of my Faith” missionaries!” The idea that children will evangelize to the world is a vision that matches my exThe faith that still leads, guides me perience in the Philippines where God made real the gospel that purifies and recreates us as a new creation, reborn as babes of Christ. I realized that sharing the word of God requires this kind of transformation! This is the gospel. I feel, therefore, called to join YWAM, receive healing, and to be equipped as a missionary for the children of God. Thus, I have chosen a track, “Restorers,” committed to restoring hearts, minds, and our identities to the way God intended. It consists of 3 months of lecture, 2 months of outreach, and a month for debriefing and discovering the calling of God. Thank you for hearing the adventure God has called me on! I am also writing for your prayer and financial support. The daunting costs for training and outreach will be over $10,000, so anything helps!! I know that many people who receive this won’t be able to provide anything; all I ask is that you stick it on your refrigerator and pray for me on my journey in YWAM! Blessings, John Choi
“Philippines: God’s fulfilled promise to my sister” My sister (Grace) and I
My contribution to Joo-Young Choi: I will partner with you through prayer ( ) I will partner with you financially ( ) One-Time Donation: ___ Monthly Donation: ____ Tax Deduction: Y / N Name: ___________ Address: ________________________ Email address: __________________________________ Please make all checks out to New Life Covenant Church, and mail this portion with your check to 1200 W. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL 60067 Please be sure to mark “Tax Deduction” as “Yes” if you would like to receive a receipt of your donation. Online: Donations may also be given through John’s YWAM Support” under the “Online Giving” page at newlifecov.org. Donations can also be received through Chase Quickpay Service: My Quickpay linked email address is john.choi@my.wheaton.edu