2020-09-25-Pastor Ko’s Update

September 25, 2020

The Lord Is My Fortress, My Stronghold

On Sunday, September 13th, because there was a need at Columbia Chinese Christian Church, the Lord led me to preach and spoke by faith with God’s power. On Saturday morning, I told the coworkers that in order for me to preach on Sunday, we need to have a plastic shield installed in front of the baptism basin to separate the backstage area from the congregation. The doctor said that my white blood cells would be very low after each chemotherapy and they do not want me to get infected. Several brothers and sisters came right away to the church building. They bought and installed the plastic shield, cleaned the small room backstage, and connected the sound system. They even cleaned the back landing outside of small branches so I had a separate door in and out of the church. Thanks to the Lord! So I stood behind the shield to preach, and thus attended Sunday worship service. We even moved the organ to that area so that I helped with music. Communion likewise proceeded. Thus I stayed after church to fellowship with brothers and sisters! Thanks to the Lord! With brothers and sisters working together, the remodeling was completed very quickly. It really touched my heart. Praise the Lord that there is a group of brothers and sisters who love me and always serve in one accord to help me complete the work of the Lord. I am very grateful.

By the grace of the Lord I went to church on that Sunday. It had been nearly four months that I did not go to church, nor to preach at the Sunday service in person. It is truly by His grace that I could preach again in the church and fulfill the mission He has for me. Once again, I experienced the mighty power of the Lord. Brothers and sisters were also thankful for this message. After the meeting, Mrs. Ko said, my message is not much different from the past except I have less hair! I am very grateful because even though I am still undergoing chemotherapy, the Lord does not treat me as a patient but continue to use me! He has blessed my body to be much better than the early stages of chemotherapy, stomach tumors are also shrinking a lot; I even eat more than Mrs. Ko, sleep better than before, and my weight and physical strength are gradually recovering without much discomfort. Being able to return to His church to serve Him is the Lord’s wonderful healing power upon me. As Psalm 144:1-3 said:

Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?

I’m truly nothing but a patient! But the Lord cares for me, sustains me with His love every day. As a fortress, His love and power surround and protects me. In my sickness the Lord has become my stronghold, that I may stand before the congregation to preach and share His Word. The Lord granted me with His wisdom and words, to teach brothers and sisters according to their needs, and to fight for His name. Thank God, He is the eternal victorious Rock and is our firm foundation.

Thanks to the Lord! I have finished the seventh round of chemotherapy on September 22. October 6 will be the last round. After that I get a six-week break before having the surgery in mid-November. Thank the Lord! Chemotherapy is coming to an end. Please continue to pray for my chemotherapy and surgery! May the Lord show His wonderful power upon me! I also thank the Lord that every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. I can join the online Bible study to learn the characters of the Lord’s worker in His Word and pray with brothers and sisters online. Thanks to the Lord for giving me the strength to serve Him.