Sangseo and Yun Na Park met and married in Korea, but they both felt God calling them to the nations.
“Once I personally met Jesus, I threw away my goals that I had in the world,” Yun Na shared. “I went to a church conference and while we were praising the Lord with a song called ‘I want to be Your joy,’ my soul started to confess the lyric deeply.”
She continued, “After I came back home, I was watching TV and I saw an African mom holding her child and she looked as if she had no hope. God poured the Father’s heart upon me, and I fell to my knees and prayed. I prayed to God that ‘if You wish, please send me to those who have no hope.’”
The Parks were two of 39 IMB missionaries who participated in the Nov. 8 Sending Celebration at First Baptist Church Columbia, South Carolina. This Sending Celebration was hosted by the South Carolina Baptist Convention in conjunction with their annual meeting. Missionaries were approved unanimously for appointment in a virtual meeting of IMB’s board of trustees held Nov. 4.
IMB President Paul Chitwood encouraged attendees from Romans 10:8-15.
Reaching the nations
“There are more lost people alive today than any time in human history,” Chitwood said. “More lost people will die today and enter hell than on any day that has gone before in human history. Unlike the majority of days and ages that have gone before, today we have the capacity to reach almost anyone, anywhere in a matter of days.”
Chitwood acknowledged that over 40% of Southern Baptists’ mission force has been cut since 2008. However, he reminded the congregation that the IMB is dedicated to sending the called to the nations.
“We’re not discharging soldiers,” he said. “We’re calling in reinforcements.”
The magnitude of those yet to be reached is, “why we’re still here. That’s why we’re here tonight. We’re here to send these beautiful feet to take the gospel to the nations,” Chitwood said.
He added, “Thank you for sending them so that they can share, so that the lost can hear, believe, call upon the name of the Lord, and be saved. Might God use us to that end and to His glory until Christ comes for His church.”
Executive Vice President Todd Lafferty led out in prayer for the newly appointed missionaries.
“Tonight, we’ve seen 39 be called out, but as you’ve just heard, we need more. Will you pray for more harvesters to go out into that harvest?”
The Sending Celebration was the 30th anniversary of Lafferty and his wife, Susan, being commissioned.
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