~ Deacon Min Sung (Sub-district Leader, 12-2 Parish; 1-3 Men's Mission)

"You two are both normal. In your case, it would actually be pointless to even try artificial insemination or test tubes."

Torment of sterility and miscarriage

When we were without a child during the first three years of marriage, my wife and I went to the hospital for examinations but were told that nothing was wrong with us. At first, both of us thought, 'We're still young. It'll happen to us soon.' As time passed with no apparent solutions, however, we became worried sick.
Then one day in 1999, Deaconess Junghyun Moon, who had been leading her life in Christ together with us at Manmin and suffering from the same problem as my wife, received prayer from Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee and received the blessing of pregnancy.
As my wife and I rejoiced with Deaconess Moon's family, we renewed our faith, prepared ourselves in prayer and fasting, and received the Senior Pastor's prayer. Soon afterwards, my wife became pregnant with our first child. Yet, the joy only lasted for six weeks as the child was miscarried.
'Why did this happen? Why did this happen to us?'
My wife and I, and our parents grieved. The Senior Pastor was also heartbroken for us and asked whether or not we had kept the Lord's Day holy and given God our whole tithes. Upon hearing that, I immediately looked back at my life.

Repenting of lukewarm faith

Born to my father Elder Bhum-mo Sung and my mother Senior Deaconess Soon Lee, I had been a Christian from the time I was in my mother's womb. I'd always confessed my faith in God but never experienced Him and been leading a tepid life in Christ.
I had also vowed to God that once my wife became pregnant with our first child, I would give him all of a month's income but because I was worried about operating and personnel expenses, I was unable to keep my promise with Him. I had also quit smoking but after my wife received the blessing of pregnancy, I found myself smoking with my friends.
"Father God! This is all my fault! You are indeed alive and at work but I had distanced myself from You!"
I thoroughly repented of my faith, by which I had believed the messages of Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee on God and salvation and countless signs and wonders taking place at Manmin only as knowledge.

Receiving prayer and another blessing of pregnancy in 6 years

Afterwards, the direction of my life switched 180 degrees. I began praying to God and trusting in Him more earnestly, wholly keeping the Lord's Day holy, and giving Him whole tithes.
Then one day in 2000, I saw the Senior Pastor in a dream in which he touched me from my head to toe and prayed for blessing.
"Father God," the Senior Pastor said in a dream. "A year has passed. Blessed them now with a baby."
I told my wife about the dream I had had and she also became convinced that she would soon become pregnant. About a month later, we went to the hospital and we found out the good news for which we had long been waiting.
"Congratulations! You're pregnant!"
I'm not sure how many people could relate to the kind of joy and excitement I felt at that moment; I felt like I was flying through the clouds! As my wife and I had already gone through a miscarriage, we never stopped praying to God to watch over the baby. We also made every effort to be faithful in our God-give duties.
In September 2001, my wife gave birth to a healthy boy. Hallelujah!
As I look upon my seven-year-old son Jin giving glory to God with dancing and praising he's learned at Manmin Kindergarten, I cannot help myself giving thanks and glory to God for pouring upon our family a true joy.

Joy at home and teeming blessing at work

God's blessings for our family did not end with Jin; He has made it possible for all of my family members to be His faithful workers in their respective capacities. My older sister Sook Sung is a missionary in the Philippines and my younger sister Deaconess Hyun Sung is a sub-district leader in the Women's Mission, while my youngest brother-in-law Deacon Song-yeol Ryu, after marrying my sister Deaconess Hee Sung and joining Manmin Joong-ang Church, is a faithful worker at Manmin TV. I'm serving as Sub-district Leader in my parish while my wife is currently an officer in the Cell Leader Association, a member of the Pearl Chorus, and a member of the Shalom Choir. Moreover, at my business at which I have been partnering with my father, we have been receiving financial blessings in abundance.
My life is an epic story. Today, my earnest desire is for all my family, with whom I have been serving Father God in this world, to enter the most beautiful of all heavenly dwelling places, New Jerusalem.
I give all thanks and glory to Father God for His true blessing and would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee for his prayer.