Deacon Bongsik Oh (Age 59, 22 Parish)


When I was young, I got an unexpected accident at work and lost my 3 fingers. I couldn’t live a day without tears for years.
I indulged in drinking and gambling. I spoke to my family harshly, and treated them violently. My parents avoided my calls because I called them at night and swore.
I became weak, and suffered from various diseases such as anemia, tinnitus, herniated cervical disc, hemorrhoids, hernia, duodenal ulcer, and prostatitis.
I often got off a bus when there was no seat because I couldn’t bear dizziness and nausea. When I walked a while I had to crouch down to take breath. When I did it, I couldn’t lift my head because people looked at me.
I couldn’t even do physical labor because I was sick. I couldn’t afford a pack of snack for my kids. I hated myself who was incompetent and poor. I thought I should kill myself. But I couldn’t because of my children.
The Lord Jesus pitied a person like me. I am the second of 5 siblings. I’ve loved the youngest sister very much, who is a pastor.
When she preached the gospel to me, I ignored her and talked to her flatly. When she visited me with my parish pastor, I slammed the door in their faces, but she continued to visit me, and I was a little bit moved. One day I said to the pastor, “I cannot go to church because I have to drink to get some sleep,” and she said, “Come to the church only for 6 months.”
In February 2007, I went to Manmin Central Church for Sunday service, thanks to my sister who prayed for me with tears for 10 years.
The sermon was at the worship service was Korean, but I didn’t understand it at all. I could not even sit still.
In August of that year when I attended Men Mission Summer Retreat in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, I had an amazing experience that I could understand the words of God in the bible. At the prayer meeting, I received the Holy Spirit, my life changed completely.
Whenever I smelled food on a rainy day, I used to think of drinking, but for some reason, I didn’t think of drinking at all. Since I began understanding the word of God, I came to long for worship since. When I felt like crying in prayer, I heard there is Daniel Prayer Meeting. So I attended it, and for many days I prayed with tears of repentance. It was not by my might, but by the work of the Holy Spirit.
A few months later, I received Dr. Jaerock Lee’s prayer, and I was healed at once of all the diseases I had. Hallelujah
After regaining my health, I could go to work again. As I continue to listen to the word of truth, I was too ashamed to see my wife and children because I realized what I uesd to be before them. So I helped my wife with household chores such as cleaning, washing clothes and dishes. I repented with tears before my two sons.
At first, my family couldn’t accpet me, but gradually opened their hearts to me. They accepted me as their wife, and father. And my parents also accepted the Lord when I preached the gospel to them. I finaly found the happiness that I couldn’t feel before. Moreover, I now found a regular job.
I give all thanks and glory to God the Father who made me realize that every moment of my life is His grace, and to the Lord who saved me.