They Only Had a Year

2020 n05
The Grandmother was a Christian from way back. We can imagine she had been praying for years. Perhaps she even prayed her son would meet Christian men and women in the US when he brought his family to Knoxville for a year. 

One year: that’s all the time this Korean husband, wife, and two daughters had before they returned to their home county.

He was a visiting scholar at UTK, and he enrolled his family in adult English classes four nights a week. At three different churches, all of which were KIN partners.  

• On Monday, they studied English at Providence Church.
• On Tuesday, they went to classes at West Park Baptist Church.
• On Wednesday, they popped over to Laurel Church of Christ for FriendSpeak, a Bible-based English conversation program.
• On Thursday, they went back to West Park Baptist Church for English Bible study.

In each of these places, adult English teachers, encouragers, and others demonstrated Christ’s love to this family. 

MiJung Kang, one of KIN's founders and a current board member, got to know them through English classes at Providence, her home church. Being from the same country, she easily built a relationship with the wife. So when the family wanted to know more about why people loved them so easily, MiJung was ready! She began studying the Bible in Korean with the wife. “It was eye-opening for her,” says MiJung. At the same time, a male volunteer spent significant time with the husband. The wife accepted Christ rather quickly and was soon baptized. The husband had more questions and doubts.

The year passed quickly. Soon, the family packed their bags and returned to their home country. The following year, the husband returned to Knoxville for a few weeks, and he made time to be baptized while he was here. The family connected with a good church back in Korea, and they are growing in their faith. In addition, MiJung and others maintain long-distance relationships with them. 

READY TO GET INVOLVED?
First of all, pray for visiting professors and business people who come to metro Knoxville from all over the world for work. Pray that each one encounters Christ among His people here!

Maybe it's time for your church to start an adult English program. KIN can help! Contact us, and ask for our no-commitment ESL Start-Up Guide so you'll know what it takes.