In Seoul, South Korea, a winter youth retreat took place January 8-11 under the theme of “Let Us Walk Hand in Hand.” During the retreat, the younger generation received the baton of faith through the testimonies of the older generation. The youth were challenged to stand as witnesses for the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a precious time in which they learned to discern the temptations of the world, chose to walk with God, and committed themselves to being pure vessels.

Throughout the retreat, which began on Thursday evening, youth groups from our churches in Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan opened the services. They gave announcements, led the congregational songs and prayer, and offered creative skits, bringing a lively atmosphere of joy to the meetings.

Each service included testimonies of faith from young and old alike. These ranged from a lifelong walk with God told by a seventy-year-old to new experiences of salvation and sanctification given by young people.

The sermons encouraged growth with such topics as “The Choices of Abraham and Lot” from Genesis 13:6-13, “Vessels Fit for the Master’s Use” from 2 Timothy 2:20-22, and “Let Us Go by the Holy Spirit” from Acts 2:1-4.

On Sunday, the final day of the retreat, District Superintendent Kim Jeong Min gave the announcements. He highlighted new outreach efforts into the South Korean provinces of Gangwon, Jeju, and Jeolla, as well as gave an update on the North Korea Mission Project. He also announced the transition of the Youth Leader position from Ra Mi-young to Park Mi-jung. In addition, he recognized Kang Kyun-yoon for faithful service and read a letter from Director of East Asia Work, Bill McKibben, congratulating her. She retired from pastoring the Okpo church on January 1.

For the sermon, Brother Jeoung Min took his text from Isaiah 6:1-8 and delivered a message titled “Let Us Walk with the Lord.” He said that just as a burning coal from the altar touched Isaiah and cleansed him, an application of the Blood of Jesus cleanses and makes holy today. He concluded by calling the young people to a life of obedience by responding to God with, “Here am I; send me.”

At the close of the retreat, Brother Jeoung Min commented, “We earnestly pray that the seed of God’s Word, which was planted in the hearts of the youth, will grow and bear abundant fruit in the days to come.”