(A Grain of Mustard Seed) The Meeting with the Pastors in Santiago

Pastor Ock Soo Park's Testimony from the Goodnews Magazine

“THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME.”

God worked marvelously in many ways during the Santiago World Camp. It was especially amazing how God worked at the meeting with the pastors in Santiago.

The Mayor of Santiago invited the representatives of many religious associations: Pastors, priests and many other religious leaders participated in the camp. Many pastors in Santiago had heard a rumor from Korean missionaries that Good News Mission was a cult, and they closed their hearts toward us. However, after listening to my sermon, they started to open their hearts, although they did not open them completely. We had a reception for VIPs after the opening ceremony where

I had a chance to preach the Word and talked about the Bible as usual. On the second day of the camp, we had a meeting at the church of the pastor who was representing the entire religious association. There, I preached the Word of God again, and many pastors who attended the meeting opened their hearts. Nevertheless, we could see that they still were apprehensive about us and distanced themselves. The mayor of Santiago talked to those pastors:

“I have been to Pastor Ock Soo Park’s church in Korea. It is a great church. I urge you to meet Pastor Park in person.”

On the afternoon of the last day of the camp, 47 pastors representing the Santiago religious body gathered and asked me to join them. When I went there, the chief pastor said, “I do not know about Pastor Ock Soo Park well. Since we gathered here today, you can see him and hear from him by yourselves to make your own judgment regarding him.” Then he gave me time to speak. I tried to talk about the gospel from the beginning, but I ended up expressing my thanks to the chief pastor.

“In Korea, many pastors speak ill of me behind my back and call me a cult leader, but no one has ever come to me face to face and said it. Thank you so much for having me here with you.”

“I BELIEVE THIS WORD WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE.”

Thankfully as our conversation went on, the pastors asked me many questions, listened to my answers, and opened their hearts. At that time, a pastor stood up and said, “I have heard that there were many conflicting views concerning the salvation that you and the Good News Mission are preaching. Can you tell me about your view on salvation?” I was very thankful to God since I really wanted to speak about the gospel. I stood up and started to talk.

“I did not know about the heart of God at all and lived inside of myself for a long time. I thought I had many sins, struggled following my own decisions, and prayed with tears to receive the forgiveness of sins. On the other hand, when I thought I did well before God, I was satisfied and pleased with that. I had no interest in knowing how God thought of my spiritual life. I lived my life relying on my own view of myself. If I considered myself a good person, then I thought I was good. If I considered myself as an evil person, I thought I was evil. Nevertheless, in a court of law, how meaningful is it for the accused to think of himself as a good person? Even though he insists he is innocent, his word has no power. Only the judge’s words have power. Likewise, in our spiritual life, judgment about me is not made by myself, but by God. I did not care what God was saying to me before, but one day I realized what God said about me was very important.”

I opened the Bible and read Isaiah 53:6.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

I continued my speech,

“The Bible says that it is not we who passed our sins over to Jesus, but God. Since God has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all, our sins are not on us, but they are on Jesus. Therefore, Isaiah 53:5 says, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. Jesus was wounded and crucified on the cross for our transgressions and for our iniquities. Hence, it is for sure that all of our sins are washed by Jesus’ death on the cross.”

Finally, I spoke about 1 Corinthians chapter 6,

“In 1 Corinthians 6:10, it says Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And verse 11 says, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Doesn’t the Bible say it very clearly? God says that our sins were washed by Jesus’ death on the cross, we became righteous and we became holy. I believe this Word, which is written in the Bible.”

“WE ARE GOING TO HELP YOU AT THE NEXT CAMP.”

All the pastors’ facial expressions began to change, and they started to show that they were moved. I witnessed all of them opening their hearts and receiving the gospel. When I finished my sermon, all of them stood up. One person grabbed me by my hands, and another person hugged me with tears saying, “Pastor, you are like my father.” There were also those who were saying, “Please lead us spiritually. We opened our hearts toward the Good News Mission, and we will work together with you. Now, we know that the view you have on salvation is the truth.” On that day, at that time, the Holy Spirit worked strongly among us. It was such a blessed time that all of us were led by the Holy Spirit.

All the pastors representing the Santiago religious body opened their hearts and became one with us. I was so happy that we could work together for the gospel. As I was hearing them say, “We will help you at the next camp,” I felt very thankful. I gave each of them a copy of the book of sermons, The Secret of Forgiveness of Sin and Being Born Again. We even had our pictures taken together and spent a great time together.

BECAUSE GOD LEADS PEOPLE TO US . . .

God changes people’s hearts. How thankful I am to see how many people, who closed their hearts and went against us, changed their hearts, came into the gospel and serve the Lord! God’s works in Santiago were unforgettable and valuable blessings.

Even now, God opens the door for the gospel in front of us, changes the people who went against us, and leads them to us. That is the reason why we can do God’s works even though we are so deficient. I give thanks and glory to God. (An excerpt from With the Gospel to the Ends, With the Lord to the Last by Pastor Ock Soo Park)