From the Desk of Sean Kim: Djibouti or Bust!

I remember a time, more than five years ago, several members of New Life, including myself, gathered together in the trailer house and began to pray for revival. Pastor Eric shared with us his vision of God pouring down an unimaginable amount of blessing onto New Life Fellowship, but those blessings were caught by a “sheet” held above our heads at its four corners. In the vision, as we prayed more and more, the blessings showered down more and more, and that sheet became heavier and heavier, ready to burst open. Now, five years later, that vision is coming to life, and I believe that sheet is bursting open right before our very own eyes! Let’s get ready to experience the flood of blessing that we’ve been praying for all this time!

I believe the reason God chooses to bless us and bring revival through us is because through our ministry and mission, we as a church, are being a blessing to others. In Genesis, God tells Abram:

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
So Abram left?”
– Genesis 12:1-4

The reason I decided to serve in Djibouti for one year is because I have been blessed so much, and I just want to share that blessing with people who are really in need. As I prayed and studied the unreached nations, the 10/40 window, and the physical and spiritual need in the world, I found that Djibouti, Africa was where God was telling me to go and serve this year.

As of right now, I have the best job in the world, a comfortable house with a loving family, and friends that mean more to me than you could ever imagine, but God asked me to give that up for a year to go and serve. Looking at the circumstances though, this is the perfect time to go: I’m starting graduate school in 2005, my family is secure, New Life is growing with leaders stepping up left and right, and I’m extremely single. Nothing is holding me back.

To provide you with more detail on my mission in Djibouti, the biggest threat to the nation is unemployment (50%), and coincidentally for me, the best way to get a job is to know English! Therefore, I will be teaching English to students there in the classroom setting (I am actually certified to do this!), and I will also aid in manning a bookshop where I will be used as a tutor, using Christian literature to teach English. The bookstore is owned and operated by the Red Sea Team International (RSTI) which is the missions organization I am going through.

I am so excited about this awesome opportunity, but I also want to give you, as the church body, a chance to get involved as well. First thing first: I need prayer support! Without prayer, there is no power. Starting now, please pray for:

– Great relationships with my English students
– Strength to endure the difficult living conditions
– Wisdom and sensitivity in adapting to a new culture
– Opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Secondly, I need to raise approximately $10,000 of which 20% will come directly from my own pocket ($8,000 of external support needs to be raised). RSTI and I both strongly believe that it is the local church that should be responsible for sending out its own missionaries. Therefore, I ask that you prayerfully consider supporting me in this mission and take part in reaching the nations for God’s glory!

$7290 – Living cost ($810 monthly to live x 9 months)
$2241 – Plane ticket from Houston to Djibouti round trip
$268 – Immunizations and vaccinations
$394 – Health insurance for a missionary in Djibouti
$20 – Visa

Lastly, I want to thank you for your love for God and the church. I have been so encouraged through the exponential growth and maturity that has taken place at this church even just this past year. Let’s continue to pray fervently for revival and expect the sheet of blessing to burst soon before our very own eyes! Perhaps the bursting has already begun?

Your fellow soldier in Christ,
Sean Kim