Today I would like to introduce the Head Pastor (Jung Myung Seok) of CGM (Christian Gospel Mission) - a “development expert.”Let’s see how, through the Word of God, he develops and nurtures ordinary people, like you and me, to walk toward success
The Blooming of the New Era
The Man of Great Faith: Creating Life-masterpieces With God's Love
[Host: Tzu-chen Huang]
What kind of power enables young people to resist the dark and fallen culture and return to faith?
Today I would like to introduce the founder of CGM (Christian Gospel Mission) who is a development expert. Through the Word of God, let's see how he develops and nurtures ordinary people like you and me to walk toward success.
Testimony 1
My Dream: How a child from a military dependents' village became a National Outstanding Electrical Engineer
[Fu-ming Tsou, the Top Ten Most Outstanding Youth Electrical Engineers]
I came from a military dependents' village in rural Tainan.
It wasn't a very advanced village.
So, the education levels were quite low.
Among my peers, around five out of 10 of them caused troubles and picked fights.
Most of them either chose to study in a vocational high school or to attend a military school.
I was the only one who studied in a high school.
I was also the only one who went to university.
Because I grew up in that kind of environment, my dreams were considerably small.
After graduating from Tainan First Senior High School, my outstanding grades surprised everyone.
I got into NTU's dept. of Electrical Engineering.
And within God's grace, I directly went to graduate school after graduating from the undergraduate.
After graduating from grad school, I thought to myself, this is probably as far as I can go.
Now, I should start to look for a job.
But God had a different plan.
During the job hunting process, I encountered a lot of difficulties and obstructions.
I felt a lot of pressure at that time.
Because among my classmates, some didn’t serve in the military and the females had already found good jobs.
So, my pastor encouraged me to get a Ph.D..
Originally, getting a Ph.D. was never a part of my plans.
But while I was praying, God gave me a strong inspiration.
So, I decided to continue my path of studying.
During the time I was studying for my Ph.D., I realized how to unify faith and daily life and to apply this attitude at my workplace in the future.
But to be honest, it's not easy to maintain a good faith and daily life.
When my colleagues get off work, they would go study languages, have fun, go shopping, relax and so on.
But, in the same time, I chose to run church events.
In the process, I hope to get closer to God.
One day my manager suddenly asked me if I had reached age forty or not.
[Wife, Hsin-ying Li]
He wanted to recommend me to apply for the Chinese Institute of Electrical Engineering's Outstanding Youth Electrical Engineer.
[Fu-ming Tsou]
My first thought was, “Quit playing with me. Do I look like I have a lot of time? Why are you finding more work for me to do?”
[Wife, Hsin-ying Li]
He told me the news with an exhausted tone.
He came home very late that night.
I thought, “wow, this is wonderful!
What if you really do receive the award?
Wouldn't that be a great testimony!”
[Fu-ming Tsou]
So, the next morning when I prayed in the predawn, I repented to God for feeling burdened in the beginning.
The next day when I went into my office, my manager handed to me the resume of a previous applicant.
He told me that I could use it as a reference when writing my work contribution.
I really thank God because of this sign that Lord gave me.
I was able to write a well written, complete resume and work contribution.
However, I still doubted whether I would be selected since I wasn't a professor.
I didn't think I would have the chance.
Probably nobody would notice my application.
This is what I thought.
Then on October 24th, while I was waiting for the bus, I turned on the computer.
I checked my email, and I was surprised to discover that
I was elected as the Outstanding Youth Electrical Engineer!
I knew my company's president was a member of the review committee of the CIEE.
Therefore, I thought it was due to his recommendation that I could be elected for the award.
However, he told me afterwards that, “it was difficult for you to get elected because on the day of the examination, I was out of the country, so I didn't have the chance to recommend you.”
I was so shocked and realized that this was really the work of God.
[Outstanding Youth Electrical Engineer Award of year 2013]
[Outstanding Youth Electrical Engineer Award Ceremony]
If it wasn’t for God, none of this could have happened
I am grateful to God for all of this and thankful to Pastor Jung Myung Seok who taught me about God whenever I met difficulties.
He taught me to hold on to the words.
Only faith can be my strength and enable me to receive more blessings than I could have dreamt of.
The Lord is truly a living Lord.
He truly works while observing our hearts.
I give all glory to the Lord, Hallelujah!
Testimony 2
Once a poor kid with nothing at all. Because of the Lord's love, became a Management Consultant who everyone looks up to at the age of 21
[Leo Lin, meeting the Lord on the path of my dreams]
Ever since I was little, my dream was to become a CEO of a large firm.
But due to my environment of growing up, I became a very materialistic person.
A person who always prioritizes his own interests over others.
Materialism has always been my only purpose.
When I was in college, I put a lot of effort in finding all kinds of opportunities and attended all kinds of
business school's lectures.
Even though I learned a lot from these lectures, I never found the method that leads to success.
Eventually, I felt worried about my life direction and the dreams that I was chasing.
At that time, when I left my home to study in Taipei, I didn't have much money and I didn't know anybody there either.
So, I was mostly alone having a meal only now and then.
Good thing that there was a church friend who was very generous and shared most of my rent when I was living in Taipei.
This church friend was also very patient and attentive and he put a lot of effort in teaching me.
One time, I was very upset and yelled at him, “Why bother caring about me? I've never really listened to you!”
I was just saying whatever came to my mind.
But he laughed and replied, “because within Providence, Pastor Jung Myung Seok who taught me God's Words takes action like this way.
Rather than thinking it is me who's taking care of you, realize it is God who works through me to take care of you.”
However, I could not feel God at that time.
But one night, when I was heading out to get dinner, I only found 20 NTD (less than 1 USD).
I really wanted to blame God.
Instead, I remembered a phrase my church friend constantly told me – “when I am praying for you, I always feel that the Lord is right by your side.”
So, I thought if God really loves me, HE will probably feel upset seeing me like this.
Then I remembered – “What God expects the most, is the response of love.”
So, I strove to utter the Words, “Lord, I love you!”
I have never cried before.
But for the first time hot tears flowed down my cheeks.
At that moment I realized that even a person like me who has never had a friend and who was always neglected by my parents, I still had someone who cherishes me.
I realized that the Lord really does love me.
My church friend was right.
The Lord worked through him to love me and take care of me.
I realized my purpose of living was to love from that day forward.
I used the strength I received that day to start living a changed life.
From my heart, mind, and thoughts to my daily life.
I started to change every bit of myself.
Eventually, the hard work I put into my studies paid off.
I achieved the highest GPA since the establishment of the department (of finance).
[The year’s highest average grade in the Department of Finance at NCCU]
At the same time, I was also selected as the teaching assistant for the Minister, Ministry of Finance and President of Standard and Poor's Asia at the NCCU.
[The world's largest International Business Studies Honor Society the only representative of NCCU]
Currently, I am working at a well-known management consulting firm in Taipei 101as an consultant.
My firm has never have hired a college student before, but was willing to give a college senior like me the role of a consultant.
I worked hard to catch up to my peers.
Within less than an year, my manager commended me as the benchmark among my peers.
I was the first intern who was able to receive this honor.
Everything I have is due to the learning of God's Words.
It allowed me to focus more on practicing at a higher level.
When my efforts receive better feedback, I thank God even more and God then gives me even more blessings.
I also started learning how to give and care for the people around me.
This wasn't easy for a person who used to be cold and realistic
[Yuan Hao speaking of Jian Liang's change after knowing God]
He used to never smile.
The only thing on his mind was how to get higher grades in order to become successful in the future.
After learning the Word of God, I felt that he has completely changed.
He is now a person who likes to help others.
He shares the stories of how God worked upon him and he also treats others with the love of God.
He has turned into a loving person.
[Leo Lin]
As my heart is filled with the love of the Holy Spirit.
I am living a happier life through these efforts.
And now, God’s dream has become my dream.
I’m Lin Jian Liang, Leo.
The beginning of change is because of love, and by putting His word into practice.
I met God on the path of my dreams.
[And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
Job 8:7 ]
Unprecedented Life Trainer
[Host]
The president and founder of Christian Gospel Mission, Pastor Jung Myung Seok become the best example as one who is fruitful in all areas, no matter if it is in faith, art, humanities, sports etc.
He trained himself, even after failing to build a rock landscaping up to four times.
He continued with faith and succeeded on the fifth time.
His life also blossomed like the flowers within the beautiful Natural Temple.
His success philosophy has inspired countless young people.
Through faith, he kept training himself to pursue challenges.
In our following program, let us see how he was able to become the “teacher of life”.
The Peace Missionary Even Amidst War
The cruelty of war often makes people realize the precious value of lives.
The Second World War ended in the year 1945.
It was also the year Pastor Jung Myung Seok was born
It symbolizes that the turning point of peace had finally arrived.
Pastor Jung hoped to take on the mission of peace and to give his everything to save lives.
Let us watch the following testimony.
Testimony 3
Hi everyone, my name is Haishuerh.
I'm from Hualien County's Zhuoxi Town in Luantien Tribe.
I was born in the Bunun Clan.
I was baptised not long after I was born.
When I was in fourth grade, my dad had a stroke.
Therefore, my family became a low income household and (we) felt that life was actually pretty hard.
This is the tribe I used to live in, it was in the mountains beside the creek.
The National Chenchi University was a school located within the suburbs of Taipei.
Twenty years ago, it was a rather desolated place.
However, I liked it that way so I came to NCCU to study.
I applied for the Department of Political Science.
It was the year or the year before that when Taiwan started many democratic social movements and demonstrations, including our so called 520 Peasant Movement.
We also advocated the rights and interests of the indigenous peoples.
All of this happened during that time
In college, I also participated in the protests.
After finishing my military service, I got to know a few members from Providence.
Among them, there was a junior classmate who introduced to the Word of God to me.
I was enlightened to a new perspective of life.
Before I started listening to the thirty lectures (of Providence), I had always wanted to read the Bible.
Even though I was born into a Christian family, I wanted to understand the Bible.
I used to only go to church due to a habit, so I didn't actually know why I went to church and why I should believe in God.
I even had no idea who the Holy Trinity were.
I really did not understand (the Bible).
But after learning the thirty lectures, all the answers to the questions I wasn't able to unravel were revealed to me.
That was the time when Providence was facing the most difficult hardship of all.
Our pastor, Jung Myung Seok was being persecuted, misunderstood, and slandered by the media of Taiwan.
I actually felt that they were condemning the whole Providence.
But at that time, within Ethnology, there is a research method we call Participant Observation.
When you don't understand the organization or the group of people, you should not randomly judge or comment.
Having this in mind, I listened to Pastor Jung's preaching.
While also study the life of Providence members, I discovered that the members were mostly young people.
(They are) very young.
Most of them were college students.
I was surprised that there were so many young people who still attend church.
Because in most of the churches I've been to, the majority were either seniors or small children.
Whether it was a church located within the tribe or in the metropolitan areas you wouldn't see that many young people.
I am honored to have a chance to meet him, in this lifetime and to learn from him.
I've observed and seen how he led lives in sports or in art performances.
There was one time that left a deep impression.
Our church organized a soccer game.
He was also one of the players.
All of the players seemed to like him very much.
I saw that the players were very fond to him but not in an idol worshipping kind of way.
They respected him from the bottom of their hearts.
After the game, pastor Jung Myung Seok would always serve his followers.
I remember there were so many people.
I think there were about 300 to 400 of people.
He served everyone beverages and water one by one.
It was so hot that day but he still waited on us one by one.
I wondered if his arms would be tired after waiting on so many people.
I was so moved.
He wasn't serving with intention, but by habit.
He really wanted to serve them, really wanted to serve us.
I learned and realized a lot in this aspect – I realized that faith is daily life.
It is a life of love.
What is the love?
What is this faith based on?
It is God
Testimony 4
My name is Lin Yuanyu and I am a family doctor.
My family's financial situation was unstable when I was young.
My mom used to sigh and said, “life is a sea of bitterness, you must endure it.”
So I tried to study my way out of our financial problems.
Luckily, my studies went very smoothly and I got admitted into medical school.
Unfortunately, before my graduation, my mother who raised me through such difficulties was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at its final stage.
I told myself to stay strong.
My family's financial situation was very difficult at the time.
In order to earn the medical expenses for my mother's treatments, I would take medical specialist training in the daytime and work at a clinic at night.
It wasn't long before I became physically and mentally drained.
I also fell sick.
I went to the division of rheumatology to be examined.
I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Leukocytes were attacking my joints and bones (that) causing a series of inflammatory reactions.
All I could do was take painkillers and immunomodulators.
Fortunately, in 2002, I was able to meet Pastor Jung Myung Seok in Hong Kong.
After I told him about my sickness, he knew how very distressed I was.
He said he would pray for me.
When he prayed for me, I felt a strong heat wave which flowed from my head to toes.
At that moment, I could feel each adhesion spot on my spine was being released.
My sickness was miraculously cured!
As a doctor, it was very hard for me to believe what happened.
I worried if it was just temporary and would break out again the following day.
The next day, I meet Pastor Jung Myung Seok again.
I explained to him that what I had is an immunity disease and was not curable.
He listened until the translator finished.
He prayed for me again patiently and with love.
Then he told me, “If you really believe that God would work through my prayers, then your sickness will get better.”
After returning to Taiwan, I really did get better!
The pain never came back even after fourteen years.
I met God through knowing Pastor Jung Myung Seok and I was cured both physically and mentally.
Life shouldn't be a sea of bitterness but a sea of sweetness.
People aren't born to just get old and die but are born to practice God's teaching of love and truth.
The similarity of all these miracles is that they all encountered the mentor of the new era.
A Mentor Who Restores the Conversation Between God
[Host]
Christian Gospel Mission, Taiwan now has numerous teams including medicine, academics, law, sports.
Peace Orchestra, Bathe In Light theatre, and public service help to enrich our daily lives via culture, arts, and Bible studies and convey the love of the Creator to the world.
This concept originates from the founder of this organization – Pastor Jung Myung Seok.
He experienced the ruthless Vietnam war and its consequent poverty and was determined to learn the Truth from God in order to save the world.
His teaching doesn't come from his own will but from the Bible.
He hopes that everyone in the world can draw closer to God, restore the ideal time when people conversed with God and radiate the light of the blooming new era.