LOIS PAK

“The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,  he is the one you are to fear,” 

 Isaiah 8: 13

Embarking on my STSM journey was simply a long-awaited response to a continuous stirring in my heart that God placed. It may have just been the heat of the moment, but it felt as if He wanted me to witness the great ways He plans to move in India and grow one step closer to understanding what it means to fear the Lord. I was very weary about going for a second time due to fears of what India would entail, worries about life back at home after the trip, and just thoughts that clearly represented what fearing the Lord does not look like. In looking for ways to surrender and somehow obey with my own accord, I was quickly grounded with a simple phrase: “Burn for me through obedience.” If my heart’s deepest desire was to move His heart and learn what it means to fear the Lord, I had to witness His greatness. In responding to the Great Commission, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve in South India. 

During our time in India, my team and I were graciously led by Dr. Abraham and his father Dr. Chung. We did VBS, discipleship, dances, skits, and prayed for a seminary, numerous schools, village churches, and cities in the South India region. The biggest school taught over a thousand students, the furthest village was more than five hours away, and some students left their native countries to attend seminary. As we ministered to these people and loved on them, our efforts were reciprocated with curiosity about Christ, positive responses from students, and memorable conversations with seminary professors. Looking solely at the actions, it seemed like obedience was fruitful and this rhythm undoubtedly showed me what it meant to rejoice and glory in the Lord. 

Three weeks of being in a Christian region and living a ministry-centered lifestyle flew by; the last ten days of our trip were meant to be in travel. During this time, we got to visit different cities like Kolkata, cathedrals of different saints, and explore the culture of the “real” India. The more I evaluated my experiences and learned about Indian culture and religious life, I was reminded that only 2.3% of India is Christian. Figures of idols and statues in hotels, chants and rituals in Varanasi, and the passionate faith in their gods seemed to overwhelm this nation. As soon as I started developing a fear that there is no hope for this country, I was reminded of Dr. Chung. This man alone founded multiple schools in Bangalore and villages like Berakai, an organization that supports church plants all over India, and even a seminary to disciple future pastors. It made me think, “If one man can do this much, how much more does God have in store for India?” Then I looked at my teammates and remembered that our small act of surrender this month was only meant to equip us for the greater and more powerful things God is calling us to.

India alone is not the mission field; every one of my surroundings, including home, is. Both hold much work to be done, but my calling is to serve as He has fearfully and wonderfully made me to do. The truth is that obedience rooted in surrender, inevitably blossoms into fruit that glorifies God. As long as the fear of the Lord, His holiness, and the love of Jesus dwells in our hearts, the desire to burn through obedience will endure.