2020-08-20-Pastor Ko’s Update

August 20, 2020

Recently several brothers and sisters said to me that I look much better now than in past months. I truly am very grateful to the Lord! During the first month of my chemotherapy, every two weeks I had to get blood transfusions and injections to replenish the white blood cells. Now those are no longer needed. I really experienced God’s tender care and grace upon me in the whole process of chemotherapy. I felt that the Lord has blessed me more than others. It is so true that he who put his trust in the Lord is very blessed. As the psalmist said: ” O LORD of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!!” (Psalm 84:12).

The doctor has scheduled my sixth chemotherapy for next Tuesday, August 25. The surgery may be at the end of September at the earliest. I am also grateful to the Lord for this timing. If the operation is at the end of August as originally planned, it would be during the time of short- term missions and Summer Retreat. That would dampen the spirit and mood of the mission team members, CWC coworkers and brothers and sisters when sharing the Gospel. I believe that it is God’s divine arrangement that my surgery will be after all of these events. This year’s short-term mission and the Summer Retreat will be held in-person. It truly would be the most challenging year. Thank be to the Lord! The short-term mission team is a group of courageous Christian soldiers. They overcome the fear of the virus, the danger of flying in, and the difficulties of sharing the Gospel in person during the pandemic. Coming to the Midwest, the team is our great example of Gospel warriors. May the Lord bless the work of the mission teams that many souls will be saved, and the desire of the local brothers and sisters in sharing the Gospel will once again be stirred up, that they will also go out to share the Gospel as well as attend church meetings. August mission starts this Friday, so I feel sorry that I will not be able to participate in person at this challenging moment. But I will pray for them fervently. Even though I can not fight along with my fellow workers like Joshua, but thank the Lord, the delayed surgery will allow me more strength praying for them. May the Lord demonstrate His victory during this time. Please pray in the next few weeks not just for me, but daily more for the mission teams and the Mid-America Chinese Christian Summer Retreat on Labor Day Weekend.