“I attended Arise with difficulty, initially considering giving up due to the challenge of participating with my young son. However, upon hearing the news that part-time attendance was possible, I deliberated until the end. Because I know that if I have more children I won’t be able to go out much, so I decided to attend. Through Arise, I saw and experienced many things, including both challenges and concerns.

Firstly, I meditated on God’s presence in relationships. During door-to-door outreach, we encountered an elderly woman struggling with alcohol addiction. As we talked about the church, tears welled up in her eyes, and she questioned if she, as a bad person, could be accepted. I could sense the difficult years she had endured. She had rejected all forms of social assistance and her children had all left, leaving only her youngest son. Even he wouldn’t be able to stay with her forever, which made me feel deeply sorry for her. I found myself praying for her, unlike when I prayed vaguely for neighbours experiencing difficulties at home. A few words, comforting gestures, and eye contact made a difference in the relationship. I experienced how God leads me, who prefers to avoid relationships, into the storm of human connections, enabling me to pray earnestly for souls through relationships with family, friends, and neighbours.

Secondly, I learned to lower myself a little more through trusting in God’s omnipotence and faithfulness. During Sunday worship, Pastor Sammy asked the first-time visitors to raise their hands, and a man sitting to my right raised his hand. We had a joyful conversation, and he mentioned that he had come after seeing the pamphlet I had given him during evangelism. Surprisingly, his face was unfamiliar. If I had remembered correctly, I would have felt a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. However, I had to acknowledge that it was all God’s work, as I couldn’t remember this person at all. Previously, without visible results, I felt frustrated and unfulfilled. But now, even if I can’t see the fruit immediately, I trust God, who works faithfully according to His will. This helped me let go of the desire to see immediate results.

Thirdly, I experienced the joy of unity in Christ. We celebrated the birthday of an elderly man we had met through Arise. Although it was our first encounter, we sang a celebratory song together as if we were family. Both the elderly man and his wife were delighted, just like little children. We continued to bless Pastor Sammy and everyone, and soon we became one, praising the Lord together. It was a time filled with love and joy. The Spirit’s ability to unite selfish and diverse individuals in true joy is truly amazing. The joy experienced within the Spirit is incomparable to the world’s joy. Consequently, Summa joined in the praise, and even her siblings accepted Jesus. Hallelujah!

Lastly, I made a commitment to continue sharing the gospel in my life, regardless of the season of my life. While doing door-to-door evangelism, I thought about sharing the gospel with our neighbours, especially those in Flat 3 who smoke marijuana daily. I want to have deeper conversations with them like I had during Arise. After Arise, while sharing God’s grace at home, Pastor Park suggested that we evangelize every day if possible. Even though evangelizing once a week felt overwhelming, I agreed to do more. I hope and pray that when my children grow up, we can become a family that evangelizes together.”